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Summary
Sabala is a NGO based in Bijapur, India and has a primary focus on the empowerment of women. Since 1986, Sabala Organization has been creating initiatives and supporting the surrounding community. Sabala intends to empower marginalized women and children, including the tribal Lambani, through enabling financial freedom, political voice, social acceptance, and educational opportunities.
History
In 1986, Mallamma Yalawar founded the Sabala Organization. She gathered a team whose passions aliened with the empowerment of women. The Sabala team strives to further their cause through all stages of life by education and providing opportunities. Along with the empowerment of women, Sabala also aims to revive the traditional banjara art forms. Through their initiatives that include Sabala Handicrafts, Chaitanya Mahila Sahakari Bank, Evening school, and over 320 self -help groups, Sabala has been able to make progress towards improved lives and sustainable development.
Sabala Handicrafts The social enterprise, Sabala Handicrafts was created to provide economic opportunities to the Lambanies (Banjaras) and all other marginalized women. Sabala Handicrafts is organized as a linked enterprise and is run through their craft center. The women are hired as artisans and trained in the art of embroidery, weaving and or sewing. Although the Craft Center is the head of the operations, much of the work is done villages of the locals as the Sabala Handicraft team transports materials and finish goods throughout the area. This allows the artisans to tend to their households and children while maintaining employment. Sabala Handicrafts is part of Fair Trade India and Asia as they abide by the fair trade agreements. This social enterprise has resulted in financial independence for the women involved and has led to an improvement in the quality of life through the ability to afford education for their children, purchase and improve houses, and save money for the future.
Self-Help Groups
The Sabala organization has set up over 310 self-help groups. They function on a weekly meeting schedule and allow women to take loans, pool money and combat social issues. The social issues they discuss and combat include land entitlement, woman’s rights, child labor, domestic violence, and child marriage. To combat the issue of children falling behind in their education, Sabala has established night classes and schools. These programs aim to catch drop outs up to normal school standards and enroll them back into the school system. At this time six out of ten children who have taken night classes have been reentered into the school system.
Chaitanya Mahila Sahakari Bank
Chaitanya Mahila Sahakari bank is a bank of women, by women for women. Any woman who has reached the age of 18 can become a member. The bank is recognized by the Reserve Bank of India and has about 7400 members. The bank was established to provide financial facilities to women who otherwise would not have access and has resulted the ability for women obtain financial freedom.