FLO Kolkata, under the leadership of Chairperson Ms. Mansi Agarwal, organised the Rakhi Making Workshop – 2026 across its participating Apni Kutir centres on 10 August 2026, engaging 321 community women in a creative, skill-based and livelihood-oriented learning experience under the Life Skills initiative.
Conceptualised around the festival of Raksha Bandhan, the workshop brought together cultural appreciation, hands-on craftsmanship and entrepreneurial learning. The session commenced with an introduction to the significance of Raksha Bandhan and the values associated with the festival—love, care, respect and togetherness. This cultural context provided a meaningful foundation for the practical activity that followed.
The facilitators demonstrated the process of creating handmade Rakhis using red pom-poms, decorative stones and rhinestones, pearls, decorative borders and chains, glue, and other basic craft materials. Participants were encouraged to experiment with the available materials and develop their own designs, allowing individual creativity and interpretation to shape the finished products.
The hands-on format strengthened practical crafting abilities while cultivating patience, concentration, precision, and attention to detail. Completing a finished product from simple materials also gave participants an opportunity to experience the value of their own creative capabilities and understand how such skills can be translated into usable products.
Importantly, the workshop extended beyond skill acquisition into actual livelihood application.
Following the training, participants independently leveraged social media platforms to market and sell the Rakhis they had created, translating their newly acquired craft skills into tangible income. This progression from learning and production to digital promotion, market engagement, and earnings demonstrated the practical livelihood potential of accessible, low-investment handicraft skills.
The experience therefore introduced participants to a complete and meaningful skill-to-product-to-market-to-income pathway. They were able to see how a simple seasonal craft could move beyond personal creativity and become an opportunity for supplementary earnings when supported by product-making skills and basic digital outreach. The initiative also demonstrated the importance of accessible, locally adaptable skills in strengthening grassroots economic participation.
By using inexpensive and readily available materials, participants were introduced to a craft activity that does not require substantial initial investment and can potentially be undertaken from home or alongside other livelihood activities. With 321 community women participating, the workshop created a significant platform for creative engagement and practical skill development. Its impact extended beyond the festival itself by providing participants with a tangible example of how traditional creativity can be converted into marketable products and actual income. The workshop thus successfully connected culture, creativity, craftsmanship, digital outreach and economic participation, reinforcing FLO Kolkata’s commitment to equipping community women with practical capabilities that can contribute towards greater confidence, self-reliance and livelihood generation.
Participants were guided in working with red pom-poms, decorative stones and rhinestones, pearls, decorative borders and chains, glue, and other basic craft materials. The facilitators encouraged individual creativity while providing practical guidance throughout the activity.
The workshop adopted a participatory and experiential approach, enabling learners to progress from demonstration to independent creation. The subsequent use of social media platforms to market and sell the handmade Rakhis extended the learning experience into an initial market-facing and income-generating exercise.