Vocational Training Programme Hand Smocking & Embroidery For Rural Women Conducted By Mrs. Usha Venkateshwaran:

Introduction:

Smocking is embroidery on pleats that have been pleated before smocking. Smocking - its name derives from smock — a farmer's work shirt. Smocking was used most extensively in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Before elastic, smocking was commonly used in cuffs, necklines in garments where buttons were undesirable. Smocking was handed down from generation to generation.

Smocking usually involves reducing the dimensions of a piece of fabric to one-third of its original width. Smocking requires lightweight fabric with a stable weave that gathers well. Cotton and silk are typical fiber choices. Smocking is worked on a crew embroidery needle in cotton or silk thread and normally requires three times the width of initial material as the finished item will have. Smocking is used extensively on children’s garments.

Women & students from the region of Dombarnahalli, thuruvekere thaluk, Hullekere, have been trained in Hand smocking & embroidery.

September:

Hygiene Awareness Programme

Since it is a known fact that people listen to doctors rather than normal people, a series of talks by Health Inspector Mr. Boregowda, and others, was organized by the Trust.

Mr. Boregowda, who works in Turuvekere, addressed students of Sri Someshwara High School, Dombaranahalli, on Sept 17 on topics ranging from personal and dental hygiene, diseases like swine flu and malaria, food poisoning and HIV/AIDS. The programme was well-received by the students who appreciated Mr. Boregowda’s use of real life examples. They look forward to more such talks in the future.

Personal Hygiene Awareness

A series of talks on personal hygiene was organized by the Trust on Sept 11 in Dombaranahalli and Sept 15 in Harikaranahalli and Karigondanahalli. The talks were directed at students from three local schools and an equal number of boys and girls from low socioeconomic backgrounds were chosen from each school. The children learnt the proper way of brushing teeth, bathing, etc. They were happy with the activity and look forward to more in the future.

Genital Hygiene Programme

Girl students (7th – 12th standard) from two local schools in Dombaranahalli were addressed on genital hygiene by Ms Kala Charlu from the Mitu Foundation on Sept 16.

Ms Kala spoke about important issues including how periods are natural and not a curse and that they have to occur regularly for good health. The students were initially uncomfortable with the topic and some did not even know why periods existed. However they were impressed with Ms Kala’s talk and hope for more such talks in the future.

October:

Community partnership programme McDonalds India:

McDonalds India the world’s leading food service retailer provides quality employment and long term careers to the Indian People in need. In co ordination with McDonalds India, Bangalore R.K.Foundation has Placed 20 women candidates from low socio economic background.

November: