Her story
The Khakhra Training Program was started to uplift the lives of marginalised women by imparting income-generating skills. The collaboration between Gramshree and Share & Care has been fruitful thanks to a long chain of empowering activities across Gujarat’s rural and lower-income areas.
The Khakhra Training Program is a transformational wave that has empowered many lives. One such instance happened in Kada village where, out of 35 participants, an enthusiastic woman named Tejalben made optimal use of the programme and benefited from it.
Tejalben is an ITI graduate with ambitions to achieve more and reach greater heights in her life. However, the responsibility of marriage and two children kept her from taking up full-time employment.
But, as the saying goes, “where there’s a will, there’s a way.” Tejalben’s innate enthusiasm and curiosity to learn enabled her to be trained in the art of Khakhra making. She learned to cook different styles of Khakhra and, as is the custom, offered the Khakhras to her neighbours. Soon the word spread, as the deliciousness of Tejalben’s Khakhra attracted many people.
In a month of Khakhra making, Tejalben earned her first remuneration of ₹5,500 by working three hours a day. Hence, an entrepreneur was born.
Tejalben could see her hard work paying off, and soon she began frequently visiting Gramshree’s Khakhra centre supported by Share & Care Foundation, and took other trained women along to be part of a team. Gradually, Tejalben’s confidence and income began to grow.
Today, her diligence, hard work and passion for doing more are transforming many lives in her community. She aims to produce Khakhras on a large scale, which helps boost the economy of the village and empowers women to be catalysts of development.
