In 2004, ECHO founded vocational centers for women in two villages, the Dass Bala and Yagum communities. The donation of 20 sewing machines motivated the women to make a commitment to protect the environment. Currently, three school shifts are running: morning, afternoon and evening (due to limited space) to train female students. The students have demonstrated overwhelming enthusiasm in receiving free sewing lessons, which will empower them by learning survival skills for possible future cottage industries. Each shift holds at least 25 to 30 students in each school. At the ecological training meetings, women are taught practical lessons from how to conserve scarce firewood to basic household sanitation and disease prevention. They are encouraged to actively guide their children to attend school.