Our skill-building interventions amplify the local traditions in Majuli through training, the introduction of the latest technologies, and the creation of market linkages. Traditional livelihood training includes 1) weaving, 2) bamboo crafts, and 3) food processing. Additionally, we also do needs assessments and introduce training on livelihood interventions that are less prevalent in local markets in Majuli such as bakery training.
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Following the training, we either provide women with the tools or help women acquire loans from SHGs and government entities through which they can procure the required machinery and tools to start a business. For example, Jaya, one of our bakery trainees procured a loan to buy a fridge so that she could start a business selling cakes.
Skill Building
In addition to this, our team connects women to both internal and external markets. This can include local markets which are done through our shop Lekope. We supported the women’s SHG to form a bamboo collective and open a bamboo crafts shop in Phutuki, Majuli. These shops make our items available to tourists as well as local communities residing in Majuli. In addition to this, we have also supplied some products such as pickles to local shops in the town area of Majuli. We also connect our weavers with exhibitions happening across the country. Our team and weavers have traveled to Guwahati, Delhi, and other metropolitan cities to sell our products.
Following the COVID outbreak, we also understood the need to actively connect with external markets. We initiated this process through an online Instagram page Lekope. When we started receiving a demand, we also introduced sourced our products in external websites such as Little Local and shops such as Japi based in Bombay.