Our Impact

Lives that had an Impact

Explore this page to see the milestones we’ve reached, the stories of resilience and triumph, and the difference your support makes every day. Together, we’re building a brighter, more inclusive future.

CHIGURU

Empowering rural women through skills, entrepreneurship, and sustainable livelihood opportunities

CHIGURU is Shramjeevi Foundation’s flagship women empowerment and livelihood initiative launched in 2024 to support rural women, Self-Help Group (SHG) members, widows, and rural youth. The program was established with the vision of creating sustainable livelihood opportunities and promoting economic independence among vulnerable communities in rural areas.

Through CHIGURU, participants receive practical training in tailoring, bag making, embroidery, and quilting, enabling them to develop marketable skills and improve their earning potential. The program focuses on transforming skills into livelihoods by providing hands-on learning, mentorship, and encouragement to pursue self-employment and entrepreneurship opportunities.

Many women in rural communities possess talent and determination but lack access to training and income-generating opportunities. CHIGURU bridges this gap by equipping participants with vocational skills, confidence, and entrepreneurial knowledge. The initiative empowers women to start home-based enterprises, contribute to household income, and build a more secure future for themselves and their families.

Since its inception, CHIGURU has positively impacted hundreds of lives by fostering employment, self-employment, entrepreneurship, and livelihood development. Through continuous support and community engagement, the program is helping create stronger, more self-reliant families and communities.

Our Vision

Building confident, skilled, and financially independent rural communities.

Our Mission

Providing quality skill training and entrepreneurship support to create sustainable livelihood opportunities.

Values

Empowerment • Inclusion • Dignity • Innovation • Sustainability

Our Challenges

Many rural women are unable to attend training centers located far from their villages due to household responsibilities, childcare, agricultural work, and limited transportation. Financial constraints and lack of awareness further restrict their access to skill development opportunities.

As a result, many women remain dependent on seasonal income and have limited opportunities for employment or entrepreneurship. To address these challenges, the CHIGURU Program brings skill training directly to villages, enabling women to learn close to home while managing their daily responsibilities. This approach increases participation, reduces barriers, and creates sustainable livelihood opportunities for rural families.

Our Solution

The CHIGURU Program brings skill development opportunities directly to rural villages, making training accessible to women who are unable to travel to distant training centers. Through village-based training in tailoring, bag making, embroidery, quilting, and entrepreneurship, women can learn valuable skills while continuing to manage their household and agricultural responsibilities.

By providing practical training, mentorship, and livelihood support within the community, CHIGURU empowers women to earn an income, start small enterprises, and improve their family’s economic well-being. The program creates sustainable pathways to employment, self-employment, and financial independence for rural women.

CHIGURU has transformed the lives of rural women across villages in Hukkeri Taluk by bringing skill development opportunities directly to their communities. Through training in tailoring, bag making, embroidery, and quilting, women have gained practical skills that help them earn a sustainable income while managing their household responsibilities.

To date, the program has reached more than 350 beneficiaries across 6 villages, creating opportunities for employment, self-employment, and entrepreneurship. Many participants have started earning from home-based businesses, improved their family income, and gained confidence to become active contributors to their communities.

Geographical Coverage of the Program

At Shramajeevi Foundation, our impact is measured by the lives we transform. Through our skill development, health, and livelihood programs, we’ve empowered countless women, youth, and persons with disabilities to achieve financial independence and personal growth.

My name is Praveen. I have been working here for ten to seven years. I have learned all kinds of sewing and bag making here. The ladies here have helped me with bank loans, Mudra Yojana, and Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana. They have also helped me to get my daughter married and my son a job in Bangalore. I am grateful to the Shramjeevi Foundation for helping me to become financially independent.

Praveen Mulla Chikalgud

My name is Nethravathi Shivanand Kadam. I am from Kanagal. I was very happy when the foundation opened in Kanagal. I used to stay at home and only do housework. Then I heard that they were offering free stitching classes for women. I was very excited and immediately enrolled my sister. She encouraged me to join too. I was hesitant at first, but I eventually decided to go. I was very happy to learn how to use a sewing machine. We learned how to make different types of bags, including potli bags, vanity bags, travel bags, and more. I was so proud of myself and my husband was very supportive. He encouraged me to learn more and even helped me buy a sewing machine. I am now able to make my own clothes and even teach others how to sew. I am very grateful to the Shramjeevi Foundation for giving me this opportunity. They have helped me to become financially independent and to improve my life.

Nethravathi Shivanand Kadam Kanagala

My name is Kavita. I am from Mysore. I was very happy when the foundation opened in my village. I used to stay at home and only do housework. Then I heard that they were offering free stitching classes for women. I was very excited and immediately enrolled my sister. She encouraged me to join too. I was hesitant at first, but I eventually decided to go. I was very happy to learn how to use a sewing machine. We learned how to make different types of bags, including potli bags, vanity bags, travel bags, and more. I was so proud of myself and my husband was very supportive. He encouraged me to learn more and even helped me buy a sewing machine. I am now able to make my own clothes and even teach others how to sew. I am very grateful to the Shramjeevi Foundation for giving me this opportunity. They have helped me to become financially independent and to improve my life.

Kavita Mysore

An Inspiring Story...

Shramajeevi Foundation was born out of the inspiring journey of our founder, Sharavva, who overcame immense challenges to create a meaningful impact in her community. Raised in a small village in Karnataka, Sharavva faced financial hardships from a young age. She moved to Goa with her family in search of better opportunities and started selling fruits and drinks to tourists. It was during this time that she met an Irish tourist, Mrs. Annee Doyle, who encouraged her to explore her passion for crafting, igniting a spark that would shape her future.

Life took a difficult turn when Sharavva lost her husband while she was seven months pregnant, leaving her to navigate motherhood alone with limited resources. Returning to her family for support, she turned to sewing and crafting to sustain herself and her son. Her entrepreneurial spirit led her to establish ‘Rural Arts,’ a brand showcasing handmade cloth bags, quilts, and home décor rooted in traditional Indian craftsmanship.

Despite initial success, the COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted her business. However, with resilience and determination, she sought support, expanded her network, and empowered other women by forming the Matha Savithri Bhai Self-Help Group (SHG). This initiative provided livelihood opportunities to many women, helping them gain financial independence and confidence.

Today, Shramajeevi Foundation stands as a beacon of hope, dedicated to addressing unemployment and promoting sustainable livelihoods. Inspired by her journey, Sharavva’s mission is to empower women, youth, and persons with disabilities by providing them with the skills and support they need to build a brighter future.

Making an Impact

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Testimonials

Each success story is a testament to the collective effort of our team, partners, and supporters, driving sustainable change in communities across the region.

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Shiva Shiva

Etoile ORB - Founder

Sufiyan Mulla

Web Developer

Shrinivas Balaraju

Smart Sutra - Founder

How you can make a change?

Make A Donation

Your generous contributions enable us to expand our programs and reach more women in need. Every donation, big or small, helps provide essential resources for skill development, health, and livelihood.

Become A Volunteer

Share your skills and experience to help us create lasting change. Whether through training, mentorship, or community outreach, your involvement will directly impact the lives of women in rural areas.