Anchal Inc

ANCHAL'S MISSION IS TO ADDRESS THE EXPLOITATION OF WOMEN AROUND THE WORLD BY USING DESIGN THINKING TO CREATE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND PRODUCTS THAT SUPPORT ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT.

IN 2023, ANCHAL PROUDLY PROVIDED VITAL SERVICES TO 214 WOMEN IN AJMER, INDIA, WHO HAVE SURVIVED EXPLOITATION IN THE COMMERCIAL SEX TRADE, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, OR POVERTY. OUR HOLISTIC PROGRAM OFFERS TEXTILE AND JOB TRAINING TO WOMEN WITH NO PRIOR EXPERIENCE, FOLLOWED BY FULL-TIME EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS, HEALTH SERVICES, AND ACCESS TO AN INTERNATIONAL MARKETPLACE. THIS COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH ADDRESSES THE COMPLEX NEEDS OF MARGINALIZED WOMEN, HELPING THEM REDISCOVER CONFIDENCE, INDEPENDENCE, AND CREATIVITY IN A FINANCIALLY REWARDING WAY, BOTH WITH ANCHAL AND BEYOND. TO DATE, WE'VE EMPLOYED OVER 500 WOMEN, SUPPORTED 95% OF OUR ARTISANS IN LEAVING THE SEX TRADE OR REDUCING CLIENTS, AND PRODUCED OVER 130,000 ECO-FRIENDLY PRODUCTS.IN 2023, WE ALSO HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF RECONNECTING WITH OUR TEAM OF 214 ARTISANS IN AJMER - THE FIRST VISIT SINCE 2019. THIS VISIT WAS A POWERFUL REMINDER OF THE PROFOUND IMPACT OF ANCHAL'S WORK, ALLOWING US TO RECONNECT WITH ARTISANS AND MEASURE OUR PROGRESS IN PERSON. EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES LIKE THOSE PROVIDED BY ANCHAL ENABLE WOMEN TO CULTIVATE ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE, EMPOWERMENT, AND SELF-SUFFICIENCY FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR CHILDREN. PROJECT ASSISTANT SHAMA SHARED, "I HAVE DREAMED FOR MANY YEARS ABOUT BUILDING MY OWN HOME, AND NOW I HAVE DONE THAT. IT IS SMALL, BUT IT IS MINE, AND I AM HAPPY. MY OTHER GOAL WAS TO EDUCATE MY SONS, AND I HAVE DONE THIS TOO. MY ELDEST IS 20, AND HE IS FINISHING A TRADE PROGRAM, AND MY 18-YEAR-OLD IS IN HIS FIRST YEAR OF COLLEGE!" WHAT RESONATED MOST DURING OUR VISIT WAS WITNESSING HOW THE COMMUNITY AND SISTERHOOD FUEL THE STRENGTH OF THIS RESILIENT GROUP OF WOMEN. AS RUKSAR SHARED, "IT WAS NOT EASY AT FIRST TO MAKE THIS CHANGE IN MY LIFE, BUT I FEEL MORE CONFIDENT NOW AND REFRESHED WHEN I COME TO THE WORKSHOP. I CAN TALK TO ANYONE HERE AND FEEL SUPPORTED BY THE WOMEN HERE. I FEEL HAPPIER AT WORK THAN I DO AT HOME. WHEN I AM HOME, OLD LIFE CHALLENGES ARE THERE." ANCHAL UNIQUELY FOSTERS AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE WOMEN CAN BUILD A SUPPORT SYSTEM THAT MAY BE LACKING IN THEIR HOMES, ENABLING THEM TO UPLIFT ONE ANOTHER, NAVIGATE OBSTACLES, AND INSPIRE THEIR CHILDREN.ADDITIONALLY, WE MOVED OUR HEADQUARTERS TO A LARGER SPACE THAT ACCOMMODATES OUR FIRST-EVER STOREFRONT, EXPANDING OUR MISSION TO CONNECT WITH THE LOUISVILLE COMMUNITY. WE ALSO PROUDLY DEBUTED AN EXCLUSIVE COLLECTION WITH BLOOMINGDALE'S. ANCHAL'S PROGRAMS DEMONSTRATE THAT SYSTEMATICALLY ADDRESSING EMPLOYMENT INEQUALITY EMPOWERS WOMEN TO UPLIFT THEMSELVES AND CREATE POSITIVE CHANGE WITHIN THEIR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES, LEAVING A LASTING GENERATIONAL IMPACT.