Lend-A-Hand India: Photo Gallery

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Vilas is a student from the tribal community with no exposure to city life and city schooling. His father was a poor farmer but he wanted Vilas to get some vocational training that was funded by Lend-A-Hand India	Students learning fabrication as a part of the Diploma in Basic Rural Technology	Here Vaibhav and Bhargav learn the art of heavy metal welding. Vaibhav failed his 9th grade exams in school. He never liked sitting in classrooms and listening to theoretical lectures but loves the focus on practical skills.


Sarika Lashake, daughter of a maid servant with an annual income of less than $250, plans to pursue further education and work as a lab assistant to support her education and her family. She dreams to start her own lab one day.	The Mechbull - "mechanical bull" - is a mini-tractor designed by a 15-year-old student of Vigyan Ashram. It is smaller and cheaper than conventional tractors, that many farmers in this rural area simply cannot afford.	Fifteen-year-old Sheetal wants to become a teacher after she graduates from the vocational training program. She already has a place in a school as an instructor and is looking forward to earning her first wage packet.


Vocational training program encourages innovation and creativity in its students. One student, Kasim Inamdar, designed and built these domes as low-cost housing options that are also earthquake-proof.	Khemchand, a son of parents living on daily wages with an income of $20 a month, finished the vocational training and now works with a water sports resort company.	Proud graduates of the Class of 2004 of Diploma in Basic Rural Technology. Most of them have secured jobs and internships in small and medium sized enterprises and intend starting their own businesses soon.


Kisan Pande, a high-school graduate, finished the Diploma in Basic Rural Technologies course in April 2005. He plans to start a ground water testing lab in his village to help the farming community.	Embroidery class in progress. Embroidered patterns add value to the tailoring services provided to the customers.	Participants learning tailoring


Pattern making class in progress - participants learn to make patterns in the tailoring class. Many who have completed the three month training program have started home-based business serving the community around them.	Participants learn the art of temporary tattoo making traditionally called 'Mehndi' - this involves drawing beautiful designs on the palm of the hand during auspicious occasions such as marriage	Participants learn the art of temporary tattoo making traditionally called 'Mehndi' - this involves drawing beautiful designs on the palm of the hand during auspicious occasions such as marriage

Project Swadheen (meaning self-motivated) provides vocational training and career guidance to young boys and girls from urban and rural communities in pre-identified trades. Training is provided in 20 different skills such as poultry farming, garage mechanics, fabrication, carpentry, electric maintenance, tailoring, nursing assistance, construction, pathological analysis, housekeeping, tatoo making, and personal grooming.