Saheli Centers
Saheli means "Lady Friends." Hence the name Saheli Centers
Background: India, a country of 1.1
billion people will soon pass China in total population. Predominately a rural country, 72% live in villages where the average crop land per person has shrunk by half in
the last 30 years. India has been a pioneer in family planning with public reproductive health programs available since the 1950s. Even so, its population has
doubled in the last 30 years. Poverty, illiteracy, and suspicion prevail among millions - even though there is little religious opposition or taboo connected with Family
Planning. Condoms are free from the Indian government, but have less than 10% use. Other methods are usually only accepted by the upper, educated class. Over 350
million people live in dire poverty and 400 million are illiterate. Project  In rural India women lack economic and social security and are subject to exploitation. 87% are employed in
agriculture with an income of US $1 per day.
- In District 3250, Rotary clubs in the last few years have established 18 Saheli training centers in the states of Bihar and Jharkhand in northern India
- Long term, this Rotary district expects to establish a total of 80 centers to cover 75 cities in the states of Bihar and Jharkhand
The basic currriculum in general is designed to:
 Increase awareness and knowledge of the
potential for improving social and economic conditions in their community- Impart skills and knowledge to initiate development activities, improve health and nutrition
- Train rural women for vocational activity
- Empower them by giving them the skills that will improve the quality of their own life, their family, and their community
- Thereby, they allieviate poverty and remove inequality based on gender
 The curriculum includes,
- Computer skills
- Sewing and handicrafts
- Literacy
- Primary Health
- Reproductive Health
- Child Spacing
Multiply Benefits of Training
- Return to community to share new ideas for improving their home and educating their children
- Encourage participation of additional ladies at a Saheli Center
Methodology Since literate and vocationally trained women always choose fewer children, the success
of the Saheli Centers is a critical key to solving problems in this poor region of India.
 The training staff in each institute must have 5
or more years of experience in training rural women in vocational skills- Former trainees are encouraged to join as trainers
- Each center is managed and run by a local Rotary Club with or without the cooperation of other local organizations.
- A Chairman and a working committee of Rotarians and spouses monitor the functioning of the center
- 18 centers were operational by the end of 2006 that train 7200 women each year with vocational skills
Above right, Past RI President Frank Devlyn congratulates graduates of a Saheli Center.
Past District 3250 Governors Kamal Sanghvi and Sandeep Narang are two key leaders working with Rotary clubs to expand and maintain this vital program.
Long term  it will be necessary for the Saheli Centers to obtain continued help from Rotary,
other NGOs, Foundations, and perhaps private businesses. What is consistently observed is that women in India
have an intense desire and hope for the opportunity and tools, not only to educate their sons and daughters, so that they can climb the economic ladder.
It is the universal dream of every parent. At right, PDG Rehka Shetty, RFPD Asia Area Coordinator explains the Saheli Center objectives to a large audience. The Inner Wheel Women's club D 3250 observed World Population Day on July 20, 2004 by distributing birth control packages to women to make
them aware of contraception techniques. A 20 minute DVD Rotary Club Program on the Saheli Centers can be obtained from RFPD for
$3 each. Please contact RFPD at: rfpd@aol.com
or write:RFPD
270 Langley Drive
Lawrenceville, Georgia
30045 USA
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