MSK Handicrafts

Our ViSion

Benefits of education for women have been well-documented. They range from having more decision-making power in determining family size or use of household resources, being less dependent on the husband’s economic status as well as having better health outcomes for themselves and their families. However, we know little on how education can lead to transformative shifts in ideas of gender roles and elimination of gender-based biases. Can education and access to digital information be the causal links to bringing such transformative change in how people perceive gender issues while gaining relevant skills to earn a decent living? This proposed project will help to draw on curated digital resources to reflect on their own identity in preparation for guiding women participants through the process of unlearning their gender biases and assumptions in order to more effectively utilize digital tools for their own economic, civic and personal empowerment. 

80% of our girls are school-drop-outs. 85% are illiterate and cannot take advantage of existing poly-techniques. Previously they expressed desire to learn computers and English. Existing cyber-cafes are deemed unfit for women. We need opportunities to bridge the gap towards achieving 21st century learning skills as well as becoming harbingers of an eco-friendly planet.

Curricular Content

The “Computer Center for Women” is a re- imagined vocational courses. An eco-friendly focused center is built using bamboos stalks and old sarees is built with a vision to connect girls with their immediate physical environment. The project’s main solution is to provide a “brave space” where participants are encouraged to challenge their engrained biases and assumptions, particularly those that serve to repress themselves, using digital tools to access new information and to share ideas and communicate with women who have faced similar challenges outside of their immediate circles.

The training sessions are held at the Center equipped with computers and connectivity, during hours that best fit into the participants’ schedules, most likely in the evenings, and is for girls only. The Information, Communication, and Technology training curriculum will encompass the following:

•Blended courses on garment designing, fabric cutting, stitching, color mixing.

•Online banking and accounting tools.

•Photography and social media for marketing and collaboration.


•You-tube videos on safety skills.


•English, Entrepreneurial skills and Computers.


•Games to address gender issues while building comfort with using ICT.

• Soft skills- Confidence building and others.

The Impact

The project beneficiaries are women between the ages of 18 to 35 year old. These women are from the Dwarka Nagar colony. The colony was the worst hit during the Chemical Disaster. There are approximately 500 women who are making use of the services of the Computer Center in some form or other.

Our Hope

Mahashakti facilitates conversations to break-down mental-barriers and enable women to access technology. Women will become confident citizens aware of their rights. They will be able grow their businesses and engage in civic-life for improved life quality. This transformational change will be slow on the up-take, but seeds of change must be sown now to close the gender-divide within the current generation. ICT enabled educational materials could be used by other local-partners aiming for similar objectives. We will also be able to show how SDGs can be met locally through solar powered Center and by making eco-friendly products.