Over the course of two years, The Women Empowerment (WE) Project, funded in part by the United Nations Democracy Fund, has empowered over 3,000 women in the Indian states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu with an enhanced ability to participate in the democratic process and strengthened capacity to make decisions at the individual, family, and community levels. Economic empowerment is fostered through Ammachi Labs’ computerized vocational education and training (CVET) programs and social-democratic empowerment through Life Enrichment Education (LEE) tailored to the needs of the community.

Over 18 months, we opened 18 Women Empowerment Centers as well as 9 mobile centers across Kerala and Tamil Nadu. We trained 3,134 women. These graduates went on to start 29 self help groups, 6 small businesses, and earn a collective amount of over 1 million rupees by the end of the project. Furthermore, the graduates have been champions for change, spearheading 73 community awareness activities ranging from alcohol awareness campaigns to environmental cleanups. By focusing on women, Ammachi Labs is creating a ripple effect that improves the welfare of the community at large.