Supporting Chapter: New York City

Amount: Rs.239400

The Kuteera shelter in Kolar (dist) Karnataka, provides a safe space for women from violence and suicidal or homicidal dangers. Supports for about 30 – 35 women at a time so that they could heal and be in a safe space while their domestic problems are being sorted out through negotiations/legal interventions.

Kuteera attempts to:

•  Provide skills and livelihood training(like tailoring, knitting, painting, craft training and beauty parlor) to the women staying in the shelter and the young women in local communities such that they are able to explore different options to build sustainable and secure lives
• Build up women’s support groups in the surrounding villages
• Strengthen and deepen community based dispute resolution initiatives like local panchayats to sensitize the community to issues related to violence against women
• Make the land around the shelter cultivable and productive without the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, providing a model for organic cultivation for the farmer communities around
• As part of this effort, also started a vegetable and fruit garden in which women are engaged to work in the open with nature
• Host conferences and workshops