By Anuksha Dey
2020 was a hard year for businesses across India. However, for 47-year-old Madhu Ahuja, the year provided her with an opportunity to follow her lifelong dream of working in the social sector. She is helping women become financially independent by teaching them new skills for free, and is even paying some of them for their time spent in educating themselves.
“We were on the brink of closing down Grapevine (a cafe in HSR Layout that closed shop last year), I was looking for an NGO to donate all my baking equipment when I realised I could use it to train women to be employable.” This realisation led to the origin of Good Measure Foundation, a social enterprise that helps women from economically-vulnerable backgrounds attain financial independence through baking and other life skills.
Empowering women from all socio-economic groups
Madhu’s cause is designed for women who want economic independence. Her course is not just aimed at those who the society may consider part of the low-income group. Instead, it is for any woman who needs support. “Women from extremely wealthy households are often economically vulnerable,” she says. “Even in upper-class homes, it is often the men who control all the money.” The organisation is especially keen on reaching out to victims of abuse and those who have been abandoned by their families. The only requirements for the course are that the women should be aged between 20 and 40 years, proficient in their mother tongue, and have a primary school education of up to 5th standard.
Helping talented women gain the skills they need
The Good Measure Foundation offers a free three-month certificate course in the basics of baking. The course is designed by Madhu, and the organisation employs two external trainers to assist the students. The syllabus is structured to involve recipes of varying levels of difficulty.
According to Madhu, her greatest achievement so far has been the love for baking, and the commitment to the course that she has seen in her learners. “The first time we met our student Pritha, she seemed a bit sad… now there is a spring in her steps,” she says. “We discovered she was extremely talented. The first cake she iced looked as good as the 10th or 12th cake I had iced. She was so serious about the course that she gave up an employment opportunity as a telecommunicator to continue her career in baking.”
Preparing women for economic independence
The Good Measure Foundation, however, does not simply teach women the art of baking. The three-month course also includes modules such as computers, etiquette, spoken English, grooming and financial literacy. Besides, the foundation provides work experience and tries to provide placement opportunities. The foundation also mentors women who want to set up their micro-enterprises. “We try to provide a support system for any woman who needs it,” says Madhu. “One of our students wants to eventually set up her business, so we are supporting and mentoring her on how she could begin her business with existing infrastructure and slowly scale-up.”
Focus on wellbeing
The organisation also provides mental health support for its students. Madhu, who has a background in education and psychology, understands the importance of counselling. “The therapy sessions with my counsellor have helped me become more empathetic,” she says. Madhu tries to provide the same kind of support to her students.
Soon to start the second batch
Recently, Good Measure Foundation had its graduation ceremony for its first batch of five women from Bellandur and Agara. One student dropped out and another was forced to postpone her course. However, two women who completed their course were absorbed by The Grapevine Bakery as staff, and the third graduate was supported in getting employment externally. The second batch is scheduled to start later this month.
Madhu says she has been having a tough time getting students to enrol this time around. “I have been getting 3-4 enquiries every day but people are hesitant to enrol,” she says. “The organisation is based in HSR Layout, and many applicants are weary of travel. Long course hours is also another area of concern for them.” Therefore, the organisation has decided to provide a travel allowance for women along with a stipend of Rs 2000 a month. The course structure may also be adjusted in the future to accommodate those who cannot commit full time.
If you or someone you know would benefit from the program offered by Good Measure Foundation, you can call Madhu at 99406-93011. You can call the same number if you want to order from the Grapevine bakery.
