An east London social enterprise teaching women to become seamstresses has taken home a major award at the 2025 Mayor of London Adult Learning Awards.
Kundakala provides sewing and textile training to women from ethnic minority and low-income backgrounds, teaching them the skills they need to turn sewing into a sustainable career and become financially independent. Founded in Hackney in 2022 by social entrepreneur Poornima Kirloskar-Saini, the organisation now educates women from all over London.
Last month it received the Mayor of London Outreach and Engagement of Adults into Learning Award at the mayor’s annual event, which celebrates organisations and individuals helping Londoners to enhance their skills.
Kundakala was recognised for its work supporting women who face a number of hurdles which may block the way to traditional adult learning. These can include childcare commitments, financial burdens, language barriers and a lack of confidence.
“Our trainees are women who have faced enormous challenges, yet show extraordinary strength every day,” Kirloskar-Saini said. “They come to us seeking skills, confidence and community - and they leave as trained seamstresses, ready to build brighter futures for themselves and their families.”
Kirloskar-Saini founded the organisation in memory of her late mother, Kunda Kirloskar, a classical sitarist who was a passionate advocate for women’s independence and confidence in the workplace.
Video: Supplied by Kundakala
She added: “This award is an incredibly meaningful milestone for Kundakala. When I founded the organisation in memory of my late mother, I wanted to build something that honoured her creativity, resilience and belief in women’s potential. To receive this recognition in just under three years of building the business makes me incredibly proud, and truly makes all the hard work worthwhile.
“This recognition from the Mayor of London’s Awards validates the importance of that journey, and it inspires our team to keep pushing for a fairer, more inclusive skills system for every Londoner.”
The awards ceremony was hosted at City Hall on 13 November, recognising recipients across 10 categories.
Other categories included the Champion Employer for Skills and Progression Award, which was given to the Wellcome Collection; Apprenticeship Employer of the Year Award, which went to Marlborough Highways; and Inspirational Adult Learner of the Year Award, which went to Hamzeh Mouallem, who earned a Higher National Diploma in business with distinction and is now studying for a degree at the University of West London after fleeing the Syrian civil war in 2019.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: “I’d like to congratulate all of the award winners and nominees of the fourth Adult Learning Awards. They have inspired others to learn, train and gain new skills.
“I’m committed to supporting Londoners to access good quality courses to help fulfil their potential and access well-paid jobs. I will continue to do all I can to ensure adult learning is accessible to all as we build a better, fairer and more prosperous London for everyone.”
You can learn more about Kundakala on its website.
