Swati hopes to help with her mother’s medical care

16 year old Swati lives in Pune, India with her older sister, her sister’s husband and their two children because her parents are unable to provide her with a stable home. Recently, Swati’s sister, Jyoti, heard about a basic tailoring class held daily at the Ashraya Institute for Children (AIC) Health and Community Outreach Centre, and the two sisters immediately jumped at the opportunity to join.

Sometimes, Swati regrets she wasn’t able to study past the fifth grade, but since starting the tailoring class, she has a renewed sense of purpose and motivation. She is committed to work hard, better herself, and continue her learning in a variety of ways. The class is taught by a skilled instructor that takes the girls and women under her wing and accommodates their wide range of skill and literacy levels. Swati and the other ladies in the class have begun learning the basics of tailoring, and, after they graduate from the six month basic course, will also have the option of moving up to the intermediate class.

Swati is determined to finish the entire series because she knows that, with her limited education and difficult family circumstances, this opportunity is her best chance at securing a future for herself. She is also very concerned about her mother’s health, as her mother suffers from liver problems and requires ongoing treatment. Your generous donation, Robin, will help ensure that Swati can generate income from her tailoring work and support her mother.