by Father Vivian deSouza for BISMumbai

The Don Bosco Development Society [DBDS] Chinchwad, organized a training workshop on ‘mask making’ for 07 women from the slums in Chinchwad, on 17 September 2020, under the aegis of the ‘COVID-19 Pandemic Emergency Relief Work’ supported by AXA business services.

The objective of this training was to impart skills and knowledge for increased supplementary income to the families connected to this project. Manisha Kshirsagar was the resource person for this training programme, wherein the women learnt to make 03 types of masks, namely, Round Double Cloth Mask, Double Plate Mask and Triple Plate Mask.

Kshirsagar also took a session on business development and management. She guided the women on marketing, costing, budgeting, pricing and branding of products. Roughly, each mask would cost Rs. 8 to Rs. 13 to make and fetch a sale price of Rs. 15 to Rs. 30, thus allowing the women to net a profit of Rs. 7 to Rs. 17 per piece.