top of page
Learning the skills.jpeg

"An empowered woman is powerful beyond measure and beautiful beyond description."
— Steve Maraboli

​​

During the 1990s changing scenario and landscape, many women suddenly found themselves at the center of fulfilling immediate needs, caring for their families, managing households, and seeking ways to sustain livelihoods in the absence of their husbands or fathers. It was during this critical period that HELP Foundation began its mission to support and uplift these women, recognizing their resilience and potential as changemakers within their communities.

Over the years, HELP Foundation has designed and implemented a range of women-centric initiatives that promote self-reliance, skill development, and social empowerment. From establishing self-help groups and vocational training centres to facilitating micro-finance access and market linkages, the Foundation has enabled thousands of women to build sustainable livelihoods. These efforts not only provided economic support but also fostered confidence, leadership, and a sense of community among women across different districts of J&K.

Today, HELP Foundation continues to work at the grassroots level, ensuring that women — especially those from vulnerable and underserved backgrounds — have the opportunities, resources, and support systems they need to lead empowered and fulfilling lives. HELP Foundation works for providing a helping hand to the women who are hit by traumas of life. The aim is to provide means to them so that they will have a self-sustained and a dignified life. And make them capable enough to provide for their children a healthy and conducive atmosphere for upbringing.

We at HELP Foundation strategize to help women reach their fullest potential and achieve their personal best by identifying the challenges they face. We strive to support  women to successfully manage their own livelihood options and improve their security for a dignified life.

​​

WHY AND HOW WE DO IT

​​HELP Foundation while working with orphans tried to understand their plight and how their life can be made better. It came to light that one of the factors that made these children suffer is the economic state of their home. Also women were suffering emotionally and financially which had an impact on the growing kids. In order to improve the situation and cater to the needs of the children and their suffering mothers, skill based training centres were started by HELP Foundation where different types of skill trainings were imparted to these women.

These training centres had two fold purposes. They acted as therapy centres for the women, where they could meet each other, give vent to their feelings and also acquire the skills to give wings to their creativity and create beautiful products.

​The Foundation also provides a marketing platform for the sale of products made by the trained women artisans. HELP Foundation created a separate entity by the name SHEHJAR in the year 2005 at saida kadal in srinagar. A shop was established for the purpose that marketed the products made by these trained women. Later the shop was shifted to Raj Bagh and is currently located at Bait ul Meeras in Aali kadal srinagar. Besides shehjar is now also promoting the sale of these products through social media handles and portals. Over the years shehjaar has become atrustworthy brand for genuine hand made products and has developed a  strong customer base in the country and abroad.

​​

​​​​​

​

Skill Development & Livelihood Initiatives for Women’s Empowerment.

 

Since inception Foundation started training cum production centers for traditional Art & Crafts, Cutting & Tailoring and Food Processing in Srinagar and Kupwara districts for the under-privileged women with the objective of their empowerment, providing them necessary skills and enabling them to take gainful self employment opportunities, so that they can support the basic household needs and education of their children, and most importantly avoid exploitation by intermediaries and earn with dignity.  

  • In 2001, Shehjaar Trademark was registered by HELP Foundation as a production and marketing platform for the small scale women artisans to market their produce.

 

  •  In 2007, Shehjaar Skill development & Livelihood Support Centre was established at Inderhama Srinagar. The centre has now turned as a training hub and production centre, besides providing certified computer courses to girl students.

 

  •  A major Initiative was taken up in Kupwara district, by setting up a collaborative venture with a nationally and internationally reputed Trade Union, SEWA (Self Employed Women's Association) Ahmadabad, which seeks to provide professional skills to thousands of women and assist them in setting up their own small business ventures.

 

  •  Initiated a micro-finance facility for women called as Kashmir Women's Credit Cooperative Ltd. and also through commercial banks.  Showed a remarkable progress in consolidating and banking linkages of more than 300 women from lower strata of the society.

 

  • In 2013, project for empowerment of women was executed with GPI at Inderhama. The project trained 500 girls in skills like Kashmir Craft and Fashion designing. The preliminary survey and follow-ups revealed that almost 30% of these trained girls have started earning their livelihood through their respective skills.  

 

  • HELP Foundation has completed a livelihood & education support project in 2021. The project titled “LIVED” was implemented in partnership with TATA Relief Committee. In this project a comprehensive strategy and result oriented approach was followed for rehabilitation of most flood-affected rural households of Pulwama District.

 

  • HELP Foundation implemented mushroom-cultivation, vermi-compost (organic manure production) project at Inderhama.  Besides food processing activities like spices grading & packaging, pickles, Jams & dry fruit processing activity is being regularly carried out at Inderhama Srinagar.

 

  • Initiated formation and hand holding of Women led Farm Producing Organization in Kupwara district called as Bangus Valley Women dairy farmers. The Programme is executed with the support of NABARD, J&K and showed remarkable progress in consolidation 300 plus women in the cooperative.  

 

  •  In 2022 HELP Foundation supported 20 families in Kupwara district with livelihood projects. Under the Project supported by Mukul Madav Foundation sheep units were distributed to each women/widow headed family. Under the project each family received four ewes and one Ram for the purpose. The sheep are reared for selling after the number increases and for shearing of wool.  

 

  • HELP is also part of an amalgam of Organizations across India called as Co-Live support group initiated after covid 19 pandemic. The platform is used for funding, sharing of experiences  and market support.  

 

  • With the support of Finolex India and Mukul Madav Foundation HELP undertook distribution of Garlic seed to marginalized women farmers in Budgam and Pulwama in 2023. Under the project 50 families were supported with high quality seed and fertilizer support free of cost. The farmers harvested a bumper crop and improved their economic condition. HELP has also undertaken other Agri-based projects on large scale for potato and chilli plantation across various districts.

bottom of page