INDIACSR News Network
BARODA: Celebrating the onset of the festive season, the Setco Foundation, CSR arm of Setco Group of companies, organized a one-of-a-kind handicrafts exhibition at Hiya Gallery to showcase the efforts and creativity of the women they empower. Themed ‘Mirrors of Expression’, the exhibition featured a range of eco-friendly products from hand-made decorative items to traditionally crafted artifacts and handicrafts like diyas, trays, rakhis, clay pots and jewellery to name a few.
‘Mirrors of Expression’, showcased innovative and unique traditional items, meticulously made by the women of Setco Foundation. A group of 40 to 50 women from the villages had joined forces to exhibit their creativity at this platform. Speaking at the exhibition, Ms. Urja Shah, President – Setco Foundation, “The Setco Foundation has always championed the empowerment of women. By training them in these skills we are enabling them to make their own choices both financially and socially. We believe that empowered women will demand and ensure basic rights like nutrition, education, healthcare for themselves and their families, thus leading to a positive effect on the true human development index of their community.”
“These women have been trained in Kutchi embroidery, mirror work and clay modeling by a skilled craftsman from Kutch. An expert from Kolkata has also trained them in pottery making. The Setco Foundation conducts special skill-training workshops for women for various activities like tailoring, embroidery, mehendi, rakhi-making, in a bid to help them attain economic independence. Setco’s mission is to drive positive change by enhancing the skill capacity of the tribal women of Panchmahal, thereby creating a strong, self-sufficient and progressive society,” added Ms. Neethu Sheth, Executive Director – Setco Foundation.
The Setco Foundation was set up in May 2007 to implement the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives of the Setco Group of companies, with a focus on health and nutrition, education and empowerment for the society at large. The Setco Foundation model works on the basis of a strong partnership between the government, the corporate and the community. Their key current initiatives are the Nandghar Project and the Women’s Empowerment Project.
Setco which contributes 5% of its annual net profits to its CSR activities believes in voluntarily giving back to the stakeholders at large and the community they work with by improving the quality of life as a whole. Through their CSR initiatives they have been able to bring about significant progress in the community by dramatically reducing child malnutrition, improving school readiness and empowering women to become more independent, confident and involved in their family and community decision making.
Since 2009, Setco has adopted and built six Anganwadis (a corporate and government sponsored child-care and mother-care center in India) in the backward Panchmahal district of Gujarat to impart basic education and nutrition for the well-being of more than 300 under-privileged children.
As of 2013, the Setco Foundation has adopted six more Anganwadis, bringing their outreach to a total of twelve Anganwadis which will allow Setco to contribute to the welfare of more than 1100 children, 250 pregnant and nursing women, and 400 adolescent girls.
