Thirankoodu literally means “nest of skills.”
This is what Satya Special School’s project, inaugurated in 2022, seeks to become, for mothers of children with special needs.
Samosa pouches made by the mothers at Thirankoodu
Puducherry-based Satya Special School, started in 2003, has been working for the inclusion of people with disabilities in all sectors: be it education, jobs, community, or decision and public policy making. The organization works not just with the children, but extensively helps their mothers with flexible livelihood options. Unfortunately, many of the mothers are abandoned for birthing a child with an intellectual or developmental disability.
Thirankoodu is part of that attempt. Chitra Shah, director of the school, likens the project to a shared office space, where women can come in and work towards fulfilling orders for projects taken up by the centre. They can also come in and work on their own business, such as pickle-making, with the centre providing them space for bottling and labelling, etc.
Women getting a sampling of tailoring at the Thirankoodu centre.
Some of the skills imparted to the mothers are tailoring and mat weaving. At the inauguration of the second Thirankoodu centre at a village called Villianur, about fifty women came in to see what was on offer. Ms. Chandrakala, a mother of a child with special needs, said, “I think I will come in for mat weaving first. I think I will do it well and can make some extra money instead of sitting at home.”
Women of Satya Special School created products exclusively designed for members of Club Artizen like the samosa pouch, with guidance from our designers every step of the way. Check them out here.
Club Artizen features products made by people like Chandrakala, facilitated by organizations such as Satya Special School to ensure grassroots development.