Manipuri techie who owns a firm based in Singapore gives shaft of light to displaced women of violence hit state providing sustainable livelihood under the project entitled as “Project Stitching Hope”.
The ongoing conflict enduring from last 19 months has turned the lives of internally displaced people upside down. Thousands of them have been subjected to live with no source of income leaving their life in a traumatic condition.
Underscoring the hurdles of internally displaced people, many sections of society took the initiative of providing skill training to alleviate their suffering at least to some extent. In the same vein, “Project Stitching Hope” is constantly lending support to displaced women selling crochet-stuffed doll at international market for more than one year.
Project Stitching Hope is being carried out under One Million Heroes, a subgroup of tech firm owned by Karam Monish in Singapore. Through this project, as many as 50 displaced women have been providing skill training programme in crocheting amigurumi dolls for global sales since October last year to date.
“I feel so fortunate for receiving the training of doll making under One Million Hero. It was beyond my expectation that I would ever get such skill in my life. If we can get through tough time, we can get through anything. Likewise, now I have become a trained artisan. This project not only provide financial but also keeps our trauma and distress at bay,” said internally displaced woman from Churachandpur, Urmila.
She continued and recalled that her family consist of five members can generate good source of income running hotel and business in their hometown Churachandpur before the crisis. But the unprecedented crisis has compelled them to take any petty job as a source of livelihood.
Stating about how she is benefitting from One Million Project, she said that assignment is given to make crocheted doll once the completion of training. Raw materials are also provided at free of cost. Apart from this, they also take care of selling the items.
“As I have received training, I started making dolls of various types. At present I can earn at least Rs 3500 to Rs 4000 per month by engaging this work as part time spending at least 3 to 4 hours a day,” she shared and expressed.
Project Manager of One Million Heroes, Nomita Ningthoujam aid that they have engaged local trainers and visited various relief camps located in Bishnupur and Kakching for some months in the month of September last year. Around 50 internally displaced women have trained and of it, 40 plus woman are actively engaging in crocheting the dolls.
She said that their desire to extend some possible support to conflicted affected victims are source of their inspiration.
“When violence started, we are so desperate to help the internally displaced people as their life was shattered. Our team who all came from technical background comes up the idea of providing skill training after rigorous brainstorming session. We thought that this initiative would help in long run,” Nomita stated.
She informed that crochet stuffed doll such as tiger, rabbit, kitten was made in initial phase. Nowadays customised products also available with new set of items like Radha, Krishna and also accessories the doll so that item matches with the theme.
They will not just focus on selling the products but also tells the backstory of how, where, why and who has made the product, she added.
Manipur as a conflict-ridden state with lots of chaos, regular highway blockade and internet shutdown, the team face lots of challenges in effectively implementing their project.
“Most of raw materials are imported. Due to frequent bandh and blockade, we always try to get it in big bulk to prevent any shortages. As such logistic is one big challenge spending cumbersome delivery charge,” she expressed.
She also informed that the team developed a marketing strategies from both domestic and international. Apart from this they also promoted through e com site, exhibition, campaign to reach out.
Many goodwill people also get the finished product in large quantity.
The hard-work and dedication by artisan enabled them to produce their product up to mark. The credit of receiving good appreciation from buyers goes to artisans, encouraged the internally displaced women by Nomita who transform their hardship to resilience by crafting attractive amigurumi dolls.
The writer is an award winning reporter
