“The 2018 floods swept away my home and my livelihood. The training in masonry helped me rebuild my life – layer by layer, brick by brick” says Thankamma.
Living in the remote village of Mundar, Thankamma and her husband worked as daily wage labourers. The floods devastated their village, cutting them off from civilization, denying them basic amenities. With no income coming in, they tried desperately to make ends meet.
It was then that Thankamma heard about the month-long masonry course offered by SSP in her village and immediately decided to train as a mason – not letting frailty and age – she was 56, come in the way.
Two years on, Thankamma is a highly skilled mason and trains other women in masonry. Inspired by her, other women have joined this profession, contributing a valuable INR 10,000-15,000 (USD 135-200) to their family income.
“Women must step out and work. They have the courage, the determination and the fortitude to make a difference and change not only their lives, but that of their families, community and the society” says Thankamma.