Womens Education And Economic Development Society

Through skill development program we have trained 180 youths and provided them employment opportunities. Human Rights education to college and community youths were given often. Internship and field work opportunity given to UG & PG social work students of several colleges. They will be trained about governance, project proposal, laws and community development education.

Environmental awareness is the understanding of natural environment protection and the activities that can cause harm to the environment. Conservation of environment is vital important in this era as we are heading to severe drought and extreme climate change in the seasonal patterns. WEEDS has been in forefront to create awareness among rural communities about the conservation & protection of environment.

The PoSH Act seeks to provide a secure and enabling environment for women employees, including domestic workers, against sexual harassment at the workplace. The Act makes it mandatory for all workplaces, including homes, universities, hospitals, government and non- government offices, factories, and other formal and informal workplaces to constitute an internal committee for redressal of complaints. WEEDS have been conducting awareness training on sexual harassment of women at workplace for the safety of women.

Through Prevention of Sexual Harassment (PoSH) Act, 2013 training we have trained employees from Hyundai Transys Lear Automotive Pvt Ltd, Centro Motion (Carlisle Brake & Friction), Toprun Automotive India Private Limited, Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited (CPCL), Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd, Bright River India Private Limited, StanFab Apparels Private Limited, S M Lulla Industries Worldwiden Private Limited and 30+ other companies.

WEEDS has 1400 self-help groups in Kanchipuram, Tiruvallur, chengalpattu and Chennai districts of Tamilnadu. Through this programme we aim to empower individuals, promoting self-reliance, and improving the socio-economic conditions of the members. We provide resources, guidance, and support to SHGs, enabling them to become self-sustainable and contribute to their communities.

The project was started in the year 2016. Through this programme we give tailoring training to women from deprived community. Later we decided to provide employment opportunities from different garments by seeing our trained women’s interest in going for a dignified job in order to support their family. Now WEEDS tailoring unit is providing training and job placement opportunities for the women who get trained under our tailoring unit. Our tailoring unit is located at Managdu & Kundrathur Municipalities.

Other than Tailoring Training, WEEDS encouraging Entrepreneurship activities as believed women can empower only through economic independence. So, WEEDS in network with various agencies train and encourage women to develop their skills & entrepreneurial activity.

During flood, COVID -19 pandemic and other natural disasters, WEEDS have been always ready fight the crisis and support the community. During 2015 flood we have supported 200 families with humanitarian kit worth Rs.10,000/- and in the present COVID-19 pandemic 3536 families received Groceries and also provided financial assistance to poor families. WEEDS Self Help Group volunteers were engaged in COVID relief work along with the municipalities.

WEEDS has played vital role in promoting women's rights and empowerment in the districts of Tamilnadu. We have conducted several Women Rights rallies during its inception. In the 90’s, consumption of counterfeit liquor has taken away many young family men’s lives and it’s caused women and children to be abandoned. WEEDS took up this issue and conducted several rallies and awareness Training programs in Mangadu region which impacted the lives of many women in our community. Empowering rural women is very essential in today’s world; with the help of local SHGs we have organized awareness on women rights and empowerment based training for many women at Grass root level. Income generating activities are considered as those initiatives that affect the economic aspects of people’s lives through the use of economic tools such as credit. It is being increasingly realized that women’s income in a family is very important in relation to the nutritional, economical and educational upliftment.

DattopantThengadi National Board for Workers Education and Development is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Labour & Employment, Government of India. Workers Education aims at achieving the objectives of creating and increasing awareness and educating the workforce for their effective participation in the socio-economic development of the country. This training is conducted among unorganised working women about Health, Entrepreneurship and Financial literacy. Through this program we were able to reach 3000 women in the community. The awareness among the women was created by our volunteers, interns, and professionals.

As WEEDS work in the community among people from low income families we have observed that there are highest numbers of school and college drop-outs among students. One of the main reasons behind this is poverty. When earning and taking care of the family members has become a primary matter of concern in one’s life, education stands little or, very often, no chance of pursuance. For the underprivileged people in India, education is perceived as a high-priced luxury, and this negative outlook continues on with every new generation. And the current COVID-19 has increased many school and college dropouts.

We identify the student from below poverty level or student from low income family and help them continue their education without any financial stress. Currently we are supporting 200 students to pursue education.

When school reopens a child’s small wishes would be like having new bags, pencils, pens, paper, geometric box, lunch box, lunch bag, guide, watch, textbooks bat and many other things for taking to their new academic year and this wishes are been fulfilled with the support of our donors. This gives happiness for a child’s first day at school.

We give special concern to the children of Scheduled tribes students as we believe to educate them through various support like Bicycle sponsor, school kits distribution to encourage to study well and to come up in life by winning all the struggles.

“Build your Generation” is our online and offline program where we take sessions for school students about WHO’s 10 life skills, Financial literacy,Goal Setting, Friendship/Social skills, Kindness, Trustworthiness and other topics to make sure the next generation are guided in right path. Through this program we educate Secondary School children about social behavior and basic knowledge on handling finance at a young age which will help them in future. Higher Secondary students are given training on career guidance and college going students are trained under Personality Development. Most of the sessions are handled by our volunteers from various companies/colleges.

WEEDS has been giving training to children about their safety and making them aware about issues happening around them. Children from the age group of 09-15 will participate and get actively involved as they get to know about their rights. WEEDS one of the core activities is fighting for child rights. Over the years WEEDS diligently involved in children rights programs along with other child right activists in creating awareness in the community, schools where we work in.

During the lockdown with schools closed and many children spending more time on the Internet and being at home than usual, there were increase cases in child sex abuse during the COVID-19 health crisis. As the children were not aware about whom to approach or talk about this when any sexual abuse happens to them. Due to which the children go through depression, childhood traumas and committing suicide increased, WEEDS decided to give awareness among chidren about POCSO act 2012 which is partculary created for children who under go through heinous crimes and protects a child from sexual assault, sexual harassment and pornography. We started creating awareness in our community, Government schools and Private schools.

Housing project has been the flagship program of WEEDS in the past years. Responding to requests from various poor homeless in Mangadu,kattupakkam area, WEEDS collaborated with Habitat for Humanity India to support the homeless to have their own houses. This program is actually a support to the beneficiaries in addition to their housing loan got from the Government of Tamil Nadu. As the government loans are inadequate to complete the construction of the houses.

The program is aimed at enabling economically poor families to complete the construction of their government aided houses in its full. The whole program was supported by Habitat for Humanity India. The project was completed during the year (2009 – 2014) enabling the 189 beneficiary families each with hall, Room & Toilet.

WEEDS involved in giving awareness among community about Health, sanitation through Skits, dramas, street plays and discussion. WEEDS touch various livelihood topics and aware people about issues which should be take concern. Colleges collaborate with WEEDS in giving awareness. Students from Madras school of social work (MSSW),Loyola College, Madras christian College, Karnataka Central university are among one who coordinated with us in creating awareness in the community.

WEEDS working in the field of healthcare since from year 2000,This program focus on making healthcare accessible to the poorest and the most deprived people in the community.

- In collaboration with World bladder cancer patient coalition conducted Bladder Cancer awareness programme among rural women. WEEDS will be planning to conduct awareness programmes in all the villages of kancheepuram, Thiruvallur & Chengalpet Distircts.

- Immunization Programmes – Anemia, infant and maternal mortality continue to be daunting challenges even today. WEEDS has pursued Programmes to reduce the incidence of the same.

- Women’s World Day of Prayer German committee (WWDP) created awareness on promotive, preventive, curative ways to enhance the health status of rural poor women in kancheepuram District.

- Joining with the State government of Tamil Nadu we have trained women on “how to prepare nutritious food and feed their children”.

- Health and sanitation

- AG&P Pratham Chennai, a gas distribution company in collaboration with our NGO distributed 150 school kits to deserving students identified from Manthangal Village, Ranipet District, following with community development activities. As a part of CSR initiative WEEDS in partnership with AG&P company conducted walkathon and presented saplings to the participants.

- Whats On India Media Private Limited a part of Nielsen Company has supporting to conduct “Rural Students Computer Literacy & Lifeskills Training Programme” by setting up computer lab facility at 2 Public/Government schools in Kundrathur Block, Kancheepuram District.

- A special volunteer program was conducted by Tata Consultancy Services at our office where 35 women have gathered to attend the awareness sharing presenting by the staff of TCS, Chennai. And TCS has contributed five Sewing machines to five deserving women to improve their living standard.