Soroptimist Poona visit to Eco Taaka to gift two sewing machines to the NGO. The meeting was attended by President Rashida Ansari, Kulsum Lukhmanji, Kinna Patel, Aditi De, Ranjan Taskar, Manisha Jamadar and Nanda Deshmukh. SI Poona gave 2 machines – one was donated by Kulsum Lukhmanji (Ex-President), which is a hand-held machine. Another machine was donated by Ms. Geeta Venketeshwaran, which is a German-made PFAFF, also given by Kulsum Lukhmanji along with some silk material that is often used in their projects. Eco Taaka is a women-led and women-run initiative aimed at promoting and maintaining sustainability. It has two aims: 1) To teach women stitching and make them economically independent and self-sustainable. 2) To reuse and recycle old fabric by giving it a new lease of life. During the visit, Shabnam Poonawala gave an insightful overview of how the NGO operates. No single piece

The Sewing Machine Project was proposed to the SI Poona by Ms. Malika Siamwala who was approached by Dr Naseem for Ms. Mohsina Isak Bagwan. Ms. Mohsina Isak Bagwan is a graduate herself and can work independently. But because her husband is undergoing dialysis treatment, she is unable to move out of the house and work. Our Soroptimist Members, President Ms. Rashida Ansari, Ms. Kulsum Bootwala and a well-wisher Dr Naseem on August 25, 2024 visited her residence personally and understood her plight and found her to be genuinely deserving for receiving the sewing machine which would help her to be empowered with additional income.   After a long discussion, it was decided that SI Poona will loan her the sewing machine and she will be responsible to use it for the purpose she has taken it. The effective use of the sewing machine will