The Women’s Studies Centre of Thiagarajar College, Madurai – 09, organized a Craft-Based Entrepreneurship Skill Development Workshop on 29th December 2025 at 2.00 p.m. at the Botany UG Laboratory, in alignment with Sustainable Development Goal – 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth). The programme aimed to promote women empowerment by fostering entrepreneurial skills and encouraging income-generating opportunities, especially for women from home-based backgrounds.
The programme commenced with the Introduction of the Resource Person by Dr. R. Aruna, Director, Women’s Studies Centre, who highlighted the significance of skill-based learning in enhancing women’s self-reliance and economic independence. She emphasized the role of creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship in empowering women to contribute meaningfully to their families and society.
The resource person, Kalai Nanmani Mrs. Thulasi Kannan, Fevicryl Certified Specialist, Ajanthaa Arts and Crafts, delivered an inspiring and informative session on women’s financial independence. She spoke extensively on how women can balance family responsibilities while becoming economically independent by acquiring creative skills and transforming them into sustainable sources of income. She also elaborated on the effective use of social media platforms to market handmade products, reach wider audiences, and build small-scale home-based businesses.
The workshop included a hands-on training session of three hours, during which the resource person demonstrated and guided the participants in making Zen tealight holders and fridge magnets using moulds and painting techniques. Students actively engaged in moulding, casting, detailing, and painting the products, gaining practical exposure to craft production techniques and finishing methods. The session not only enhanced their artistic skills but also instilled confidence to explore entrepreneurship in the craft sector.
The interactive nature of the programme enabled students to clarify doubts related to material selection, cost estimation, pricing, and marketing strategies. The workshop successfully motivated participants to consider creative crafts as viable income-generating ventures.
The programme concluded with an interactive discussion and informal feedback from the participants, who expressed appreciation for the practical training and motivational guidance provided by the resource person. The workshop was highly beneficial in nurturing creativity, entrepreneurial thinking, and self-employment skills among women students, thereby fulfilling the objectives of the Women’s Studies Centre and the institutional commitment towards women empowerment and sustainable development.
