October 2014

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LIFE&FAMILY
146 October14
Where can we buy Ladli-produced products here?
Ladli is currently working with the brands Baliza, Stones that
Rock and Tamarind Living. It hopes to expand the number
of its clients, both here in Singapore and in other countries,
to ensure Ladli’s self-sufficiency. This is a unique way for the
NGO and its participants to create value, and, they hope,
secure income for reinvestment.
Baliza (balizapartners.com)
available at Simone Irani Boutique
Stones That Rock (stonesthatrock.com)
Tamarind Living
available online at
Some popular items can be bought direct from Ladli at
Tell us about some Ladli success stories.
Mahaveer (22) joined
Ladli a number of years
agoandstudied tailoring.
His first contact with
i-India was via its street
school programme. He
belongs to a nomadic
community whose main
occupation is working
on construction sites or
begging. Now working
full time at Ladli teaching and training new students,
Mahaveer’s skills provide him with a regular income that
supports his family. Importantly, he has his own bank account
and savings programme.
Tulsi (22) joined Ladli when
she and her three siblings lost
their parents. Through her work,
she has been able to save money
and is now studying nursing. She
recently married aman who works
with i-India’s Child Helpline.
Hailing from one of the poorest
slum areas of Jaipur, Santosh
(21) has been involved with Ladli
and i-India since 2000. She lost
her parents in a road accident
and was brought up by her elderly
grandmother. Childhood polio
and lack of proper medical treatment relegated her to walking
with crutches. Unable to perform tasks on her own, she was
plagued by guilt and distress at
being a liability for her family.
Under Ladli’s outreach initiatives,
Santosh received counselling
and gained self-confidence by
learning skills in jewellery-making
and handicrafts. Now working at
Ladli, her regular income and
savings have allowed her to assist
her poor family with daily food and
health care, and she is saving
money to invest in a secure future.
nch of Ladli
Ladli was started by i-India and operates as a social
enterprise. i-India is a non-profit NGO based in Jaipur.
It started in 1993 and now reaches approximately
4,000 children daily through its street schools
programme, residential homes, child helpline and
vocational centres such as Ladli. There are 130 local
staff members on modest salaries; over 95 percent of
donated funds are dedicated to its programmes. The
Street Child Project has been raising awareness for
i-India and Ladli for a number of years now.
streetchildproject.com
i-indiaonline.com
Find out more
Ever wondered how much the workers that sew those
ridiculously cheap T-shirts available in the big clothing
retail stores get paid for their efforts? Or how sequined
garments can be so cheap, despite the intricate work
required to create them? Consumers looking for
answers about where products are made, and under
what conditions, can check online to see if a particular
company has an ethical sourcing policy. Alternatively,
visit one of the many independent websites that
help recommend companies that are doing the right
thing; these include goodforus.info, goodguide.com,
ethicalconsumer.org and csrhub.com.
The concept of the Ladli
programme is to empower
participants through skill
enhancement and financial
security, with a taste of
independence and ownership