Before:
Swati Dipak Gawande, 39, from Ghansoli, Navi Mumbai, comes from a low-income family and lives with her husband and two children in a rented single-room house. Her husband, a cab driver, was the sole earning member, but his income was irregular and often insufficient to manage rent, household expenses, and the children’s education. Though Swati had completed her 12th standard and had a strong desire to become independent, family pressure and lack of skills prevented her from pursuing her dream.

Intervention:
Through Aarine Foundation’s skill development support, Swati received counseling, motivation, tailoring training, guidance for starting her own work, and a sewing machine. Over a period of 6 months, she was encouraged to build her confidence and develop practical tailoring skills that could help her earn from home.

Transformation:
With training and continuous support, Swati began taking tailoring work from home. She now stitches blouses, petticoats, frocks, and children’s clothes, gradually contributing to the family income. The support from Aarine Foundation helped her move from dependence toward self-reliance and gave her the confidence to work toward her bigger goals.

Current Status:
Swati is now working from home and earning through tailoring. Her confidence has improved, and she is steadily building her identity as an independent woman through her skills and hard work.

Future Goal:
To start her own fashion designer tailoring shop and create employment opportunities for 3 to 4 other women.