On the occasion of International Women's Day, we celebrate the work of the Ismailia Helping Society (IHS) in India. Established in 1936, under the guidance of Mawlana Sultan Mahomed Shah, IHS was established to promote the economic advancement of women in the Jamat. Over 80 years later, IHS continues to empower women who leverage their traditional skills in art, crafts, and beadwork to create lifestyle products.
Supported by a strong network of female mentors, IHS women have gone on to create strong financial futures for themselves, often migrating to larger towns and cities, to secure the future of their families. The platform has also helped to keep alive the traditional art of bead-craft, which remains iconic to IHS's work, even to this day.
Today, on International Women's Day, we celebrate their hard work and triumphs as they reflect on how IHS's work has helped them to find their voice, financial strength, and determine their future.
