Mijwan Welfare Society

Presented by: Akash KumarAman kumar,

Anamika sonai,Nidhi Chauhan,

Rimjhim bharati,Shaheb kumarPresented to: Ettishree Rajput

Mijwan Welfare Society

Mijwan Welfare Society (MWS) is an NGO founded by Shabana Azmi’s father and famous Urdu poet, Kaifi Azmi in 1993 that works for the empowerment of villagers in a small village, Mijwan in Azamgarh UP where he was born.

The various institutions here reflect the literacy and cultural heritage. Kaifi Azmi believed that in a country like India where 80% of the population lives in the villages, we will need to empower villages if India is to make any real progress.

After he passed away on 10th May 2002, Shabana Azmi, along with her godchild Namrata Goyal, has taken on the task of carrying her father's dream forward by steering MWS which runs:

Kaifi Azmi High School for girls Kaifi Azmi Inter College for girls Kaifi Azmi Computer Training Center Kaifi Azmi Sewing and Tailoring Center

When 21 year old Namrata Goyal became the Youth President of MWS, she brought fresh energy and a new perspective. She got her young friends involved and went all out to ask my colleagues from the Film Industry to lend their support.

Shabana Azmi and Namrata Goyalwww.dnaindia.com

Shabana Azmi and Kaifi Azmiwww. mws.com

How Fashion Helped in Improving Conditions?

Girl Education

Orthodox Beliefs

Struggle for Equality

Early Marriages

Initiatives

•MWS focuses on the major problems persisting in the village Mijwan ,which includes gender inequality and dependency of women in a patriarchal society.• After the death of Kaifi Azmi ,his efforts are carried on by his actress daughter Shabana Azmi and Namrata Goyal.

•The Objective of the Society are Employment, Self-reliance, Sustainable development.Through Empowerment ,MWS brings Social and Economic equity to the villagers.

•Today through their collective efforts ,they have not only generated 100% women employment in the village but also improved education conditions, and removed social injustice such as child marriages and dowry system.

Designer for a cause

Nothing can be better than when fashion and charity comes together and this is what MWS has achieved.

In the past one year , the label of Manish Malhotra has taken initiative to promote regional handicraft and workmanship from rural areas of India.

Such initiative is taken with Shabana Azmi’s “Mijwan Welfare Society” for their intricate and exclusive hand embroidered chikankari .

The label has adopted 45 girl workers from the village of Mijwan

Charity Shows

MIJWAN SONNETS IN FABRICS 2012 ,WILLS LIFESTYLEMEN FOR MIJWAN ,FASHION SHOW 2014www.delhistyleblog.com/2012/10/manishmalhotra.html

The needle work by the Mijwan girls is exquisite and phenomenal which has gained recognition even on the international platforms

www.delhistyleblog.com/2012/10/manishmalhotra.html

MANISH MALHOTRA S5 2013 MIJWAN SONNETS IN FABRICS

www.delhistyleblog.com/2012/10/manishmalhotra.html

MANISH MALHOTRA S5 2013 MIJWAN SONNETS IN FABRICS

MEN FOR MIJWAN 2014 FASHION SHOW

Men For Mijwan

The Mijwan Collection by Manish Malhotra

Date:    1st April 2014 

Venue:  Grand Hyatt Mumbai  ‘Men for Mijwan’ is the fourth fashion show by

the NGO that showcased stunning chikankari of

the Mijwan girls.

 Manish Malhotra’s ‘Men for Mijwan’ on April 1

in support of women empowerment.

http://www.mijwan.org/events-press-media/mijwan-sonnets-in-fabrics/55-dance-in-the-rain-mijwan-sonnets-in-fabrics-2012.html

Ranbir Kapoor, Men for Mijwan, April 2014

http://www.mijwan.org/gallery-images-videos

Amitabh bachchan in men for mijwan April,2014

http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywoo

d

Sonnets in fabrics ,2012 Manish malhotra

RECENT FASHION SHOWS

https://www.google.co.in/search?q=men+for+mijwan

https://www.google.co.in/

search?q=anita+dongre+for

+mijwan

Lakmi fashion week 2011, Namrata Goyal

(contd.)

The Women For Mijwan

Designer Anita Dongre showcased an exquisite

collection at the ongoing Lakme Fashion Week

(LFW) Winter/Festive 2011 featured embroidery

by the women of NGO Mijwan run by

actress Shabana Azmi.

She introduced handcrafted chikankari lehenga

embroidered accomplished by craftswomen

of Mijwan .

ANITA’S COLLECTION FOR MIJWAN

http://wonderwoman.intoday.in/story1/ngo-women-create-anita-dongres-lfw-collection/1/91781.html

Anita Dongre

Embroidery and Sewing Centres

Weaving threads of change In 1994, Kaifi Azmi Embroidery and Sewing centre was set

up on land donated by him. This Centre began in a small two room building with one sewing teacher. Kaifi lobbied with Runa Banerjee of SEWA Lucknow to send trainers to Mijwan to teach the craft of chikankari.

In year 1999 Nilima Sabharwal, the founder of Home of Hope Inc. helped construct a production centre and donated several sewing machines to Kaifi Azmi Sewing and Embroidery centre.

Later MWS was linked to Crafts of Hope founded by Rupali Saiyya based in California engaged the services of the girls to produce crochet articles to be sold on ebay.

In 2009, renowned fashion designer Anita Dongre visited Mijwan and was impressed enough to take them on board under her label AND grassroots. This was a huge boost for the girls' sense of self-esteem.

In 2011, leading fashion guru and Bollywood designer Manish Malhotra visited Mijwan and was enchanted by the fashion show put up by the girls from the Kaifi Azmi school. He saw tremendous potential in them and decided to adopt the Kaifi Azmi sewing and embroidery centre.

The 2012 edition of the show showcased embroidery done entirely by the girls of Mijwan. Manish Malhotra translated work done by Mijwan girls into contemporary modern designs.

Today it runs 10 centres all over Eastern U.P. WWW.MWS.COM

Weaving threads of change(contd.)

Mijwan Welfare Society(MWS) ensured empowerment and financial independence to cent per cent girl/women through its Chikankaari Center. Chasing it's own dream, MWS has inspired women of adjacent villages to follow the suit to increase the family income through it's Chikankaari Center.

These girls, who previously lacked a formal education were now being offered a structured program in sewing and embroidery. MWS in collaboration with Crafts of Hope(Crafts of Hope is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping the disadvantaged women and children earn a livelihood by learning and applying a valuable skill.) engaged the services of the girls to produce crochet articles to be sold on ebay.

Products manufactured by the students of Home of Hope's Mijwan project are offered for sale on a web site. Girls are paid for their work and any net profits are donated for the cause. Currently available online, there are hats, beanie hats, shawls, scarves, crocheted caps and matching sets. Soon, there will be cardigans, dog sweaters and more, with prices ranging from $6.95 to $32.95. 

http://www.pinterest.com

Crafts of hopeCraft of hope’s page www.facebook.com

Sewing center of mijwan www.mws.com

New Horizons

Through Empowerment, MWS brings social and economic equity to the villagers.

By promoting village based small-scale industries and supporting it with marketing skills and strategies, MWS facilitates viable Self Employment. It is heartening that the craftsmanship skills of Mijwan, are being recognised the world over. Their work goes to Mumbai Lucknow and USA.

A Mijwan lady at one of the centres

Crafthope.typead.com

Naomi Campbellwww.mws.com

Recognition: Newspaper clipping from Hindustan

CONCLUSIONIn the globalised world of fashion India scores because we have craftsmanship that the West does not. This is our USP and that’s what we need to focus on. Mijwan is a microcosm of what India has to offer the world. We have a long history of the warp and weft of design aesthetics.

It is heartening that the craftsmanship skills of Mijwan, are being recognised the world over. Their work goes to Mumbai Lucknow and USA.

It’s time we rediscover ourselves and go back to our roots.

Today Mijwan is a model village. But it was a long and ardous journey filled with obstacles that had to to be faced with many a hurdle from vested interests. Once when Shabana asked her dad, ' Abba don't you get frustrated when change doesn't occur at the pace you want it to ?' he answered with equanimity, 'bete when you are working for change, you should build into that expectation the possibility that the change might not happen in your lifetime. But you must have the conviction that if you carry on working with dedication then the change is bound to occur - even if it happens after you'. 

Thank you