Livelihood
Sofia is running 8 vocational training centre through which we are training more than 4000 boys & girls in following areas every year:
- Computer
- Digital Marketting
- Customer Relationship and Sales
- Stitching & Tailoring
- Fashion Designing
- Calligraphy
- Urdu, Persian & Arabic
- Beauty Culture & Mehendi
- Electrician
- AC, Refrigerator Repairing Course
- Sewing Machine Operator
Promotion of Urdu, Arabic Language and Calligraphy
Sofia Educational & Welfare Society has been running an Urdu and Arabic Language Centre for the past 16 years, supported by the National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language (NCPUL), under the Ministry of HRD, Govt. of India. The aim of this program is to teach and promote languages such as Urdu, Arabic & Persian and Calligraphy alongwith graphic design and applied art. Over 10,500 students have successfully completed the program and received certificates.
Sofia recently showcased their calligraphy work at Hunar Haat, Jashn –e- Rekhta and many more events that celebrate traditional arts and crafts.. Throughout the year, we organize workshops and activities focused on calligraphy and graphic design.
Vocational and Financial Empowerment of Women
The key of empowerment of any society lies in the empowerment of its women. Girls lack access to financial capital and have limited opportunities to gain education, knowledge and skills that can lead to economic advancement. Inadequate policy frameworks and inequitable gender norms also create barriers to girls’ economic advancement. The factors that contribute to adolescent girls’ economic empowerment must have three main approaches – financial employment, life-skills and social support strategies. Vocational Empowerment triggers the capabilities of a woman to exercise control over her own life, to decision making which is essential to promote their well-being and socio-economic development process. An empowered woman is capable of making her own choices and plays a role of a change agent.
Vocational skills develop and nourish their knowledge and leadership ability. An empowered woman plays a transformative role, reduces unemployment and becomes an economically contributing member. Vocational and financial empowerment develops technical capabilities, entrepreneurship and business skills. The factors that indicate economically empowered women are financial independence, employment and life skills and social support strategies. Women’s economic empowerment does not only depend on creation of employment, but also on protective policy environments and community-based support for their entry into any business. Sofia Educational & Welfare Society has been working in the field of education, health, hygiene, advocacy, women empowerment, and providing vocational training like cutting and tailoring, dress designing, beauty culture and computer training to girls and women especially in the minority area and to weaker section of the society. Sofia works with an aim to make them self-reliant, self-confident and giving them placement. We have been able to train more than a thousand female candidates under various vocational training programs in the last 14 years. With a focus on connecting with livelihood, we have been able to place more than 70-75 percent in different companies and some of them are running their own business.
Sofia Educational & Welfare Society has been running various programs with the support of different agencies to provide vocational training and financial empowerment to women. These programs are as such:
- Study Centre of National Institute of Open Schooling, Ministry of HRD, Govt. of India- under this centre Sofia Educational & Welfare Society provides an authorized certificate (by NIOS, MHRD) after conducting an examination of every beneficiary which helps them to get employment in private or government sector.
- Vocational Training Program (VTP) registered under DGE&T, Ministry of Labour, Government of India.
- Urdu and Arabic Language and Calligraphy Centre since 8 years with support of National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language (NCPUL), Ministry of HRD, Govt. of India and has trained more than 10500 beneficiaries till date.
Livelihood & Employment
Sofia understands that to truly uplift a community, a holistic approach that encompass education, skill development and livelihood support is essential. As an important complement to our education and vocational training initiatives, we work with individuals to help them on their journey of becoming economically self-sufficient. We assist in two ways: we find jobs for those who have learned new skills at our vocational centres, and for those who are already skilled, we offer the support they need to start their own small businesses.
- Job placements are the ultimate end of the process of bringing young people into the mainstream. Sofia makes sure to extend its support and mentoring by continuing to maintain contact with these young adults and ensuring that they find stability, and then growth, in their work. Along with providing vocational training, Sofia Educational & Welfare Society also provides employment to the passionate, hard-working and needy students. During past few years, our 76% trainees got jobs in organization like Harshit Info Solutions Pvt. Ltd; Indian Institute of Technical Education, Parivartan Eduskills Pvt. Ltd.; AK Info, Big Bazar, Citi Info Service, Noida, Paisa Bazar, Mc Donald etc.
Through our concerted efforts, we have linked over 15,000 individuals to various livelihood opportunities, illustrating the success of our major initiatives:
- Sofia SMART Kitchen: Operated by domestic violence survivors trained at Sofia’s SMART Centre, this professional kitchen has expanded by partnering with food delivery services like Swiggy and Zomato, symbolising growth and resilience.
- Sofia Snacks Kiosk: At Jay Pravesh Chand Hospital in Shastri Park, two survivors run a kiosk offering hearty meals and snacks, achieving financial independence with steady daily earnings.
- Tiffin Service & Food Stalls: Sofia assists individuals in starting tiffin services, providing the initial support for setup. We also organize pushcarts and stalls, backed by financial assistance, for individuals too sell their food products.
- Rotary SMART Stitching Centre: In collaboration with Tech Mahindra Foundation and Rotary Club, this centre offers stitching work, enabling women to earn a stable monthly income by producing garments and masks.
- Sofia SMART Boutiques: Established with the NGO Goonj’s support, these boutiques run by domestic violence survivor groups in Dayalpur & Brahmpuri offer a sustainable income to each member.
- Sewing Machine Distribution: Sofia, with Goonj’s assistance, has distributed sewing machines, setting up 20 boutiques across the North East District of Delhi and catalysing the creation of small businesses.
- Shahi Skill Development Centre: Supported by Shahi Export Pvt. Ltd, this centre has trained and placed numerous women as sewing machine operators, providing them with a starting salary, provident fund and ESI benefits.
- Each initiative exemplifies Sofia’s commitment to not just skill development but also the establishment of a supportive ecosystem that nurtures continuous growth and independence.