For over 54 years, Rural Development Trust (RDT), VFF USA’s local partner in India, has been creating opportunities for women to become agents of change.

RDT’s Sthree Sakthi (woman can) project it’s a great example. The project’s aim is to provide women with more income generation opportunities and equip them with the necessary skills to enter the diverse workforce.

In one of the latest income generation activities of the Sthree Sakthi project, RDT trained 23 women from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana to become autorickshaw drivers.

On February 15, 2023, the rickshaws were inaugurated and handed over to the women who had completed the training. Thirteen of these women were single mothers. These women have now the opportunity to have a better future for themselves and their children.

By supporting women and empowering them with the necessary skills and resources, we can create a generation of women who lead the future with confidence and perseverance and enable them to continue becoming the catalyst for change in their communities.

A beneficiary’s testimonial

How did you get to know about the Sthree Sakthi Project?

I got to know about this project through the RDT Women’s Empowerment sector. Since I acquired previously my driving license thanks to RDT, I was selected for learning rickshaw driving.

How does your family feel about you driving an autorickshaw?

At first, my mother had doubts about my driving skills. After much persuasion, she was convinced. Now she is the one complimenting me about my driving. I have two sisters and my mother feels proud that I’m the one who is providing for my family.

How do you feel about driving an autorickshaw?

I used to be afraid of driving. I thought about how people could drive with confidence, and I wanted to become one of them. Then, I got the opportunity to learn how to drive a car first and an autorickshaw later. This taught me that I could learn more skills and put them into practice. Now I feel confident about myself when I drive people around to their destinations. For me, driving an autorickshaw is more than just driving, it is something that has given me hope and strength.

Do you have something to say to other single mothers who would like to walk the same path sometime in the future?

People around me didn’t like the idea of a woman driving an auto at first, but they changed their mind when they saw how much I was involved and how I learnt to drive, which in the end, it was a very useful service for them.  People, especially women. say that they feel very secure when they are with a female driver. It has opened my eyes to the fact that I am no less than a man in any way. All that matters is that you try and do things by yourself, and keep doing them, and have confidence while doing them.

You can learn more about VFF USA Women’s Empowerment initiatives at: https://www.vffusa.org/women-empowerment/