The Fempowerment Foundation is a microcosmic organization of global priorities focused on outcomes of social impact, sustainability, and environmental conservation, operationalized by the empowerment of socioeconomically disadvantaged populations. Consistent with this narrative, we observe that women have been generationally deprived of financial independence, personal growth opportunities, and therefore their voice in critical decisional positions within the scope of their families, bodily autonomy, maternal & child health, medical, and non-medical security. While generational disparities between men and women cannot have a singular intervention that resolves them, reducing the disproportionate burden on women via their financial independence is a promising vehicle towards empowerment.
At the community level, the Fempowerment Foundation arranges training sessions in life-skills, fundraisers, medical checkups, and events supporting arts and culture. We teach marketable life-skills to women from the weaker economic strata to achieve self-sufficiency. To this end, we provide them with multifaceted training sets - sewing, beautician, basic computer skills, in-store salesperson, office administration, to list a few - that match equivalently diverse opportunities. Our continuous support, expertise, and specialized services for these women ensure financial independence while also enhancing their personal growth. Investments in women empowerment sees spillover benefits for males through reduced migration to the metros in search of higher wages. Since the men need not move away from their families, this will foster a safe environment particularly for rural women who are vulnerable to abuse in isolation.
We will help disadvantaged women in establishing personal bank accounts and acquiring Aadhar Cards (Government issued Identity Cards) which will seal any crevices in financial security. Women, therefore, will be able to exercise their rights in their daily life and make healthier choices for their children and families. This milieu created by our empowerment mechanism will create equal opportunity for a girl child when it comes to education and nutrition. As quality of life for the socially disadvantaged women improves, both physically and mentally, they will become increasingly receptive to recognize the necessity of personal hygiene, importance of sanitary pads, awareness/prevention/treatments of UTIs (Urinary Tract Infections), preventative mammogram screens, etc., while supporting other family members to engage in these protective health behaviors. Tangible benefits notwithstanding, we suspect that our initiative will yield intangible returns through women’s confidence and self-respect, giving them an unprecedented, central sense of partnership in decisional capacities within families and societies. Thus, they will be able to lead a life of dignity, receive a fair chance for a happier life, and most critically, be harbingers of prosperity for the next generation.