We believe:
Weaving Lives
A livelihood project for the mainstreaming of HIV affected and infected women of Trivandrum and Kollam districts
“Weaving Lives” aims to improve the living situations of women within the districts of Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam. The failing health prevents them from having a job and increased treatment expenses have worsened the lives of these women, who are mostly widows. To break this vicious circle of poverty and to save these lives, we are here with a plan to empower them through a life changing strategy.
We believe:
TRAINING PROGRAM
Increasing the earning capacity of women has a major role to play in the women empowerment. Financial freedom opens for her various ways to success in life. Aiming at the sustainable development of unemployed women, De Care- Vincentian Social Services conducted three day stitching training for women at Vincentian Ashram, Vattapara. The CSR wing of ESAF Bank funded the entire training program. Around 20 participants from different parts of Trivandrum attended the training.
Vincentian Social Services Completed training programs as part of the Weaving Lives Project. Altogether 40 women were given stitching training in Trivandrum and Kollam and the machines were distributed. At Kollam, the training was conducted at QSS (Quilon Social Services). The training was organized under the CSR initiatives of ESAF Foundation. In the further phase of this project, we will monitor and try to establish market linkages.
Stitching Training and Enterprise Support
Empowering Women, Weaving Livelihoods
As part of the Weaving Lives initiative, Vincentian Social Services launched a targeted livelihood support program for women living with HIV/AIDS from Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam, in collaboration with Kerala State AIDS Control Society (KSACS). Recognizing the double burden of social stigma and economic vulnerability faced by these women—many of whom are widows—the project was designed to restore both dignity and self-reliance.
Key Highlights:
- 45 tailoring machines were distributed to selected beneficiaries to help them start home-based income-generating activities.
- Prior to the distribution, a two-day tailoring training program was held at Vincentian Social Services, Thiruvananthapuram, and QSS, Kollam.
- The training and machine distribution were funded through the CSR initiative of ESAF Bank, whose support enabled the smooth execution of the program.
This initiative goes beyond skills training. It is a meaningful step towards poverty reduction, women’s empowerment, and promoting decent work and economic independence among women living with HIV/AIDS.
Sustaining Impact:
Going forward, Vincentian Social Services is committed to:
- Establishing market linkages to help the women sell their products and gain stable income.
- Monitoring and follow-up to assess the long-term impact and address challenges.
- Creating a supportive community that celebrates their skills and success stories.
This project reaffirms our vision of a society where every woman—regardless of her background—has the opportunity to build a dignified life with economic freedom and social acceptance.
Empowering Women Through Livelihood: Glove Inspection Unit
In collaboration with Madonna ITI, Anchilippa, Kanjirappilly, and Hi Care Gloves, Vincentian Social Services launched a pioneering glove inspection unit—a dedicated workspace aimed at empowering women from economically and socially marginalized backgrounds.
This unit currently employs over 50 women, most of whom were previously unemployed and without any steady source of income. Today, each of them earns a minimum daily wage of ₹500, significantly improving their family’s financial stability and quality of life. On average, a single worker inspects around 3,000 gloves per day, reflecting both their productivity and growing confidence.
More than just a source of income, this initiative provides a space for women to rediscover their self-worth, redefine their roles in society, and reclaim their dignity. The overwhelming response from other job-seeking women in the region underscores the demand for such livelihood opportunities.
This glove inspection unit stands as a successful model of women-centric entrepreneurship, creating meaningful employment while addressing poverty at its roots.
The entire project was envisioned and brought to life through the unwavering efforts of Fr. Tony Kuthiramattathil, whose commitment to social upliftment was instrumental in transforming this vision into reality.