A group of one hundred and fifty women in London have acquired sewing skills through a social enterprise aimed at empowering and enhancing the abilities of women from low-income households.

Kundakala is presently providing 70 women across four boroughs in London—Islington, Camden, Hackney, and Lambeth—with the chance to earn a qualification.

Founded by Poornima Kirloskar-Saini, the initiative seeks to equip women with knowledge in tailoring and entrepreneurship.

“I believed it was important to offer them skills that could help them save money, lower debt, and potentially create a source of income,” she shares.

“However, I also recognized that women from certain ethnic minority backgrounds often occupy well-defined traditional roles within their households; they are primarily caregivers for children and elderly relatives while men typically serve as the primary earners.

“Thus, I envisioned providing them with a skill they could practice from their own homes, which led me to consider tailoring.”

The social enterprise offers various programs, including a “make and mend” workshop, as well as a more advanced class focused on “alterations and upcycling.”

“Our primary aim was to assist them in saving money and alleviating debt. However, we have also seen significant enhancements in mental health, social connectivity, and the formation of lifelong friendships,” Poornima notes.

Out of the 150 women who have participated in the program thus far, 15 have transformed their skills into microbusiness ventures.

Some produce items to sell at local markets, while others provide alteration and repair services.

Several women take their skills into offices and workplaces, where they offer alteration services and are compensated directly by clients.

“Given the pandemic, the cost of living crisis, and rising energy bills, this initiative helps them feel more secure in their financial circumstances,” Poornima explains.

In addition to generating income, the sewing skills have enabled the women to cut down on expenses, as per Poornima’s observations.

“Women from ethnic minority backgrounds often prefer traditional attire for festivals, but acquiring and altering such garments can be costly, particularly when off-the-shelf items may not fit correctly, especially for children.

“Anecdotally, participants in our programs have reported saving hundreds of pounds.”

One beneficiary of Kundakala’s offerings is Maggie Oparebea, who embarked on a sewing journey two years ago and believes it has been transformative.

“I can create make-up bags and sell them. I can also do repairs,” she states.

“When people contact me for alterations, I can charge them and put money in my pocket.”

Poornima emphasizes that her social enterprise is dedicated to guiding women toward education and empowerment—an endeavor she considers her life’s purpose.

“Learning a skill boosts their self-esteem and confidence. Some of the women who take part in our programs have little to no formal education, and this initiative sets them on a path towards acquiring more skills, greater confidence, and therefore elevated self-esteem.

“This empowers them to become role models for their children, both sons and daughters.”