Training for Women as part of the Sustainable

Enterprise Development in the Auroville Bioregion

(SEDAB) project

In November 2012, 12 wo-men selected by the Auro-ville Village Action Group and approved by the Auroville Bamboo Centre descended on the Cen-tre. Anitha, Eagavalli (two women with the same name), Deivanai, Gowri, Kalpana, Kanthamani, Mala, Radhi, Rani, Uma and Vijaya were ready to start their four month trai-ning program to learn to make bamboo products. They were quickly taken under the wing of Lead Trainer Santhi, a long-time employee of the Bamboo Centre and the leader of the women’s team.

The idea was that if the women were successful in completing their training, they would be offered employment at the Centre. This being an initiative funded by the SEDAB project, the women could undertake the training resting assured that they had a monthly income for the duration and could focus fully on the task at hand which included for example learning to master the holes machine, necessary for the manufacture of many products.

on the course curricu-lum need treatment before actual produc-tion can start, and the women also learned to master the hot tre-atment oven whereby the bamboo is dried in order not to soak up moisture whilst in use.

First things first, the women trainees were introduced by the main carpen-ters as well as helpers and others to the steps of the process applied to prepare the bamboo for production, from selecting, skinning and cleaning the bamboo to treating it. The Centre has a treatment bath and the women learned about the different solutions and timings applied for the material to be fit for purpose. Subramani, an in-house helper and gardener, helped the women manage the full-length bamboo during foil treatment.All of the different bamboo products

Smaller pieces, like hollow bamboo pie-ces to be used for jewellery and scre-ens, are soaked in a neem oil and turmeric powder bath in order to deter insects from attacking the finished bamboo products. As Santhi explained to the trainees, this also helps give the bam-boo an especially nice shine.

During the time that the women were being trained at the Auroville Bamboo Centre, an idea that was being tried out was a screen. An interior design item to be fitted in door openings so as to keep at bay insects and flies, it is a product that offers a range of design possibilities, and the women much enjoyed employing their creati-vity to try out variations.Having learned a few different techni-ques through the making of one rea-dy-designed screen, the women were

encouraged to come up with their own de-signs. Two of the wo-men, Uma and Anitha, were particularly inspi-red by this and Uma had the idea to make and use paper balls as part of the process, in addition to the glass balls already utilised.

One of the product categories tradi-tionally fully managed by women em-ployed at the Bamboo Centre, from design to finished product, is jewellery based on bamboo.

The making of bamboo jewellery in-volves a whole range of process steps, from cutting and sanding, to making holes, where necessary, and burning. Finally, the bamboo is treated with linseed oil to give a good shine, be-fore being threaded to make up the finished ornamental pieces.

An interesting, and not uncomplica-ted, addition to the Lively Bamboo product range, the picnic set, involves the making of a knife, a fork and a spoon and also this product was en-thusiastically approached by the wo-men. The product was taught step by step, again to make the correct selec-tion of bamboo and treating it, then drawing, cutting and rough sanding with the machine as well as sanding by hand.

Eagavalli and Rani get instruction from Ma-nibalan, the Centre employee normally re-sponsible for the ma-king of the picnic set and a whole range of other products. During sanding protective gear is worn to protect from dust particles.

Another experimentation and actual production that happened to be on-going was within the area of bamboo musical instruments. At the time of training well-qualified instrument ma-ker Velu was on site and able to give expert training for finishing products to the highest standard. For the rattle a koli seed is also used.

Instruments produced at the Centre are mainly destined to be used by various musical groups that come under the Mohanam umbrella. The Mohanam Community Centre and the Auroville Bamboo Centre offer classes, training, tours and perfor-mances to help support and deve-lop local Tamil village communities and preparing the instruments is part of this.

Finally, the women were introduced to and thoroughly trained in the area of finishing all types of bamboo pro-ducts. Whilst carpentry, such as for construction and furniture, is traditio-nally a male dominated area, when it comes to finishing even those types of products normally need the fema-le touch. The 12 women also learned about painting bamboo and were encouraged to let their creativity loose to spruce up traditionally plain

bamboo channel tray products.During their four months of training at the Bamboo Centre, finishing made up an important part of the schedule as it is an essential part be it for a bamboo pen or a chair.

The bamboo oil burner lantern requires very advanced cutting work but as far as the training is concerned the women could le-arn and practice using fine tools to provide the very detailed fini-shing needed. For this purpose they also lear-ned to use the buffing machine which gives the bamboo great lustre.

Evaluation sessions with the training beneficiaries were undertaken on a regular basis, in order to discuss and overcome difficulties encountered. The purpose was always to try to help the women excel in their work. In the end, the individual efficiency and performance of each woman were assessed and they could themselves express whether they would be interested in joining the Bamboo Centre as an employee. Many of

the trainees graduated with the skill level to deliver, within given timeframes, bamboo products with the required quality and quantity.The Auroville Bamboo Centre is open to helping to guide the women who chose not to be employed by the centre in case they initiate their own bamboo-related enterprise. We will be offering them full support in their independent entrepreneurship initiatives. We are seeking opportunities to market and sell the products made by our women who have successfully graduated from trainees to professionals.

Thanks:Our deepest gratitude to SEDAB team, Pathway to Potential team and special thanks to Katherine Burns and friends.