The Sahodari Foundation actively promotes entrepreneurship among underprivileged transgender individuals. To date, we have empowered 70 transgender persons by providing them with essential skills and infrastructural support to launch their own small businesses.
One notable success story is our annual transgender food festival in Pollachi, Tamil Nadu, which began in 2021. The inaugural festival featured the culinary talents of 12 transgender caterers, each presenting a unique dish. This resulted in a diverse offering of 12 exceptional items, including four main courses, six side dishes, and two desserts, each priced individually. The caterers operated individual stalls, showcasing their respective creations.
The public response was overwhelmingly positive; within two hours of opening, all food items were sold out, a testament to the quality and appeal of their cooking. The caterers, wearing aprons and caps, expressed immense joy and confidence, many experiencing unprecedented appreciation for their culinary skills. We extend our gratitude to the Lions Club of Pollachi and Lions Coordinator Rajasekar for their invaluable support in making this initial festival a success.
Building on this momentum, we organized a larger and even more successful food festival in 2023. This event further demonstrated the power of food to transcend gender barriers, with attendees enthusiastically embracing the diverse culinary offerings. Once again, all food items were sold within two hours.
Partnering with Zomato
In June 2024, the culinary expertise of three of our chefs was recognized on a national platform when they were invited by Zomato’s Corporate Office in Gurgaon, Delhi, to prepare a meal for 150 employees and share their inspiring stories of empowerment through entrepreneurship. This invitation highlights the growing recognition of the talent and resilience within the transgender community.