Stitches of Tibet (SOT) is a non-profit vocational training program initiated by the Tibetan Women’s Association (TWA) in 1995. The project provides opportunities for Tibetan women to become self-reliant. Priority is given to those refugees who have recently arrived from Tibet. An eighteen month course is given to approximately ten women in traditional Tibetan tailoring skills, western shirts and trousers. In addition the women receive an education in English, computing and maths.
Due to the current increase in unemployment of Tibetans in exile because of school dropouts, lack of academic or vocational qualifications, an influx of newly arriving refugees, unskilled and illiterate women, and single mothers with no source of income, TWA initiated “Stitches of Tibet.” SOT serves as an income generating project that aims to eventually become self-sustaining. Every eighteen months approximately ten trainees are selected. TWA ensures that 80% of the positions are reserved for newly arrived refugees and 20% of the positions are reserved for exile based. Priority is given to those applicants from low socio-economic backgrounds.
SOT is a project that promotes economic stability for Tibetan women living in exile. The positive effects of this program greatly improves the lives of many children and families living in exile. Withmore women being educated, our Tibetan community grows stronger and more empowered.
There is one full-time paid tailor, part-time subject tutors and also Tibetan and English language volunteers. As some of the women have not received any formal education, it is crucial for them to learn how to read and write in both Tibetan and English, as well as gain valuable skills in computing and maths that will help them in future employment.
Since 1998, SOT has been running by selling the products produced during the training period and additional handicrafts. This project aims to eventually become totally self-sufficient by generating income through selling items produced by the trainees. Former trainees are now working in well-established handicraft and tailoring centers in various Tibetan settlements.
Prior to 2011 this project had been running out of TWA’s own fund, with the little income generated not enough to cover all expenses. As of October 2011, new funding support from the Horizon Foundation has enabled TWA to expand the teaching of SOT (to add computing, maths and English lessons).
This project has been running with great success, as it is well accepted and received by the Tibetan community, however there is only a small fund to cover the women’s expenses. TWA is able to provide a Rs.2400 (approximately $50 – $60 USD depending on exchange rate) monthly stipend to each woman while she is enrolled in the program, but this is hardly enough to fully fund their daily necessities when many care for families.
View July 2011 report on the activities of SOT, including case studies and photographs.
If you are interested in sponsoring a woman in the SOT program or would like to provide funding for the overall functioning, please contact us or see our support TWA page.
Recent Stitches of Tibet news:
Observational Report on Stitches of Tibet
02-02-2012 Economic Empowerment of Tibetan Women
Observational Report on STITCHES OF TIBET
October 2011 to January 2012
Since October 2011, with major funding support from Horizon Foundation, Stitches of Tibet (SOT) has been running successfully with a new separate class room for English, Math, Tibetan language & Computing classes. English classes are held three times and computing classes are held twice every week. Tibetan and Math are taught respectively on 1st and 3rd Saturdays of the month.
...TWA holds opening ceremony for new 2011-12 Stitches of Tibet program
10-06-2011 Dharamsala, October 6: Yesterday morning Tibetan Women’s Association held the opening ceremony for the new Stitches of Tibet (SOT) classroom and beginning of the 2011-12 program. The guests of honor at the ceremony were Khenpo Lopon Sonam Tenphel, the deputy speaker of Tibetan Parliament -in- Exile and Louise Garrett from Horizon Foundation. The program was attended by TWA executives and staff members, the trainees at SOT and media persons.
The program started at 11am with a brief introduct...TWA welcomes new Stitches of Tibet manager Tsering Wangmo
10-04-2011
Dharamsala, October 4: As of Monday 26 September, TWA are delighted to welcome the new member of staff, Tsering Wangmo. Wangmo will work as a full-time manager of vocational training program Stitches of Tibet (SOT), teaching English and computing as part of the new expanded 2011 curriculum, as well as looking for marketing ventures. She will also be responsible for pur...TWA is Hiring: Grants cum Capacity Building Manager
09-03-2011
Job Position: Grants cum Capacity Building Manager
Job description:
You will administer and magnate TWA's Grants and Funding programs
You will manage the Stitches of Tibet (SOT) project of TWA
You will teach English, basic maths and basic computer lessons to the SOT students
You will strengthen TWA's Capacity Building Projects
You will work as a team with TWA members for TWA;s manifold projects
Criterias and Qualifications;
The ideal candidate will:
Be a fema...TWA looks back on 16 years of Stitches of Tibet and plans for the future
08-10-2011 Stitches of Tibet (SOT) was created in 1995 and extended in 1998 to sell handicrafts produced by the trainees. Around 10 Tibetan women (with priority given to refugees and those from a low socio-economic background) spend 18 months learning handicrafts as well as studying Tibetan and English.
This year, 2011, we have put together a comprehensive report for our supporters and those interested to learn more about the backgrounds of the trainees and the benefits of the program. The report also p...Stitches of Tibet: Stitching the Economic Gap of Tibetan Women in Exile
10-24-2006 Dharamsala, 24 October 2006: Initiated in 1995, it has been eleven years since Stitches of Tibet (SOT) has successfully functioned as a source of financial support for many of the destitute Tibetan women in exile, especially new arrivals from Tibet. The driving force behind Tibetan Women's Association's (TWA) establishment of the handicraft and tailoring project called SOT is to enable the "economically disadvantaged women, who lack employment and educational opportunities, to be self-reliant...
Read all past Stitches of Tibet news from Tibetan Women's Association.
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