In India, nearly 75% of the population lives in villages, where life has long depended on agriculture. In many of these rural communities, women are financially dependent on the men in their families, usually their fathers or husbands. But when those men fall ill, become disabled, or pass away, everything can fall apart. Women are often left with no income and no way to support themselves or their children.
This reality became clear to our founder, Ria Garg, during a visit to a food drive in India. She saw dozens of women standing in line to collect food, not for themselves, but for their families, because their husbands were too sick or injured to work. What stood out was that these women weren’t unwilling to work, they simply didn’t have the means or opportunity. That experience stayed with her. It made her realize that while food drives provide temporary relief, they don’t create lasting stability. What these women really need is a way to earn.
That moment led to the creation of Her Helping Hands.
We knew that real change meant creating opportunity, not just offering aid. Inspired by the idea of “Kutir Udyog,” or home-based businesses that empower women, we launched a free sewing training program for underprivileged, unskilled women from households with no stable income. Over the course of three months, participants learn how to sew, and when they complete the program, they’re given a sewing machine at no cost. This allows them to start earning from their own homes and become financially independent.
The bags these women create are then sold, and 100% of the profits are reinvested back into the program, funding more training, materials, and sewing machines for future participants.
In just three months, we’ve already helped 30 women become self-sufficient. With continued support, we have the potential to reach hundreds more.
Her Helping Hands isn’t just about sewing. It’s about dignity, independence, and creating a stronger future, one woman, one skill, and one stitch at a time.