Suman continues to advance her skills

Eighteen-year old Suman recently had a very proud moment: she graduated from the AIC Basic Tailoring class to the Intermediate Tailoring class! Perhaps because she was not able to complete her formal education and dropped out of school in 7th standard, the achievement that this graduation ceremony stood for was all the more meaningful.

Suman is one of her parents’ eight surviving children. So many mouths to feed has meant that Suman has been forced to sacrifice a great deal for her family, and spends her days selling clothes on the side of the road to contribute to her parents’ income of only 2,500 rupees ($55) each month. Six months ago, however, Suman decided to take a step that would shape her future for the better: she joined the AIC Basic Tailoring class. After six months of attending the class daily and learning from the very patient, engaging tailoring teacher, Suman was more than ready to move up to the Intermediate course with all of her classmates. Your generosity, Bill and Colleen (x2), Pradeep, Peter and Mahendra (x2), made it possible for Suman to enter the Intermediate Tailoring class, where she will learn more challenging techniques and skills, and will start to fill orders for custom-made outfits, in preparation for one day being able to begin her own tailoring business.

Suman is grateful for the opportunity to learn something new, while also making new friends and enjoying time to herself away from the chaos of life on the streets and the stress of her home environment. And last but not least, she always enjoys the daily meals provided to the tailoring class participants, especially since she comes directly to the class from a long morning of working on the streets.

Thank you, Bill and Colleen, Pradeep, Peter and Mahendra, for helping Suman learn a skill that will make her economically independent.