CherYsh Skilling & Entrepreneur Program
Women empowerment is one of the cornerstone principles at CherYsh. Some pivotal programs under this principle are the “CherYsh Skilling Program” and the “CherYsh Entrepreneur Program.”
These programs empower women and help them escape agricultural bondage and debt cycles, enabling them to sustain their families and support their children’s education through CherYsh’s after-school learning programs. These efforts uplift communities by improving living standards and promoting financial independence.
With a strong presence across 50+ villages, CherYsh continues to foster economic resilience by empowering rural women, nurturing their potential, and ensuring long-term sustainability for their ventures.
CherYsh is addressing the challenges faced by rural women in Haliyal district, including limited work opportunities, underutilized skills, and barriers to market access. An example is quilt making, while a valuable skill, is labour-intensive and often unsustainable due to insufficient demand.
To tackle these issues, CherYsh has launched an Entrepreneurship Development Program aimed at empowering women to build sustainable businesses. The program includes training in business development, financial literacy, project writing, and marketing strategies. Partnerships with organizations like KLE Tech University, Selco and the Deshpande Foundation provide mentorship and support to help women establish and manage sustainable enterprises. Additionally, the program offers financial literacy training, scheme orientation, and market linkages, indirectly benefiting over 200 women.
Key Initiatives for Women’s Livelihoods
- Teaching as a Career: A unique 12-month CherYsh Learning Facilitator (LF) Program transforms rural women into confident educators and master trainers. The training includes over 50 hours in-person sessions, online learning, and subject-specific coaching in pedagogy, English, Math, and Computing. Women are equipped with tablets and digital tools to deliver engaging lessons. Over 500 women have graduated as LF educators, earning a steady income while improving local education standards.
- Food Products: Community kitchens enable women to create and market local food products.
- Agriculture: Cash crop nurseries and organic fertilizers provide sustainable agricultural livelihoods.
- Retail Clothing: Women produce and sell hand woven woollen shawls, leveraging their craft skills.
Rural Teaching A Flagship Program: Learning Facilitators & Technology Educators:
CherYsh has developed one of the most recognized Learning Facilitator (LF) & Master Trainer programs in rural India, partnering with esteemed institutions to ensure excellence in training. Key collaborators include:
- CFTE: e-classroom modules in STEAM education
- Pi Jam: Coding education modules and master trainer programs
- Raspberry Pi: Hardware and user training
- KLE Technological University: Coaching in English, Math, and Computer Science
- Intel Corporation: Technology infrastructure support
- Deshpande Private Industrial Training Institute (DIPTI): Multimedia training
- ThoughtWorks: Software Training
Transformational young women that aspire to be confident educators from Haliyal’s rural communities are selected for a rigorous 12-month LF program. The curriculum focuses on pedagogy, technology, and subject expertise in English, Math, and Computing. Weekly coaching sessions ensure participants develop into capable educators with regular incomes.
Innovative Training Approach
- Each LF trainee is equipped with a digital tablet preloaded with educational content from CherYsh’s partners.
- Training includes modules on digital tools, computing, English, and Math.
- Expert-led coaching sessions are complemented by practical teaching guidance from a senior program director with extensive experience.
- Technical training is delivered by Pi Jam, Intel, KLE University, and DIPTI, ensuring comprehensive knowledge in multimedia, computing, and internet technologies.
This flagship program not only empowers women with teaching skills but also transforms them into independent, confident contributors to their families and communities.
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