Vocational Training for 5,000 Women in Pakistan

For this report we want to highlight an outcome of the Business Trainings conducted in October of 2018 with 100 women.

Asma* and 5 other women who attended our Business Training in October of 2018 decided to form a "co-op" together. They realized while working together during the training that they all shared the passion to start a business sewing school uniforms (based on the need they saw in their community) but lacked the start up funds, time and all the skills needed to pursue this endeavor on their own.

Asma and her team decided that by coming together to work on this business would benefit them all and they drafted a small business plan. They approached the MDF head teacher to see if they could use the school sewing machines after hours until they could secure their own, they pooled some funds for fabric and they elected Asma to go around to each school to announce the business and take orders. The women come together 3-4 times a week to sew their orders and each take turns watching the little children so they can each contribute equally.

So far they have taken about 20 orders of new uniforms and are being mentored closely by the MDF training coordinator to ensure their success. They are hoping to open a joint bank account to put all the income they make on their sales in the near future.

Asma says that she is “...thrilled to have found such a supportive group of colleagues, ” and (with tears in her eyes) says “I never thought I would ever have 'colleagues'!”

Asma and her team do face many challenges but find that by working together none of their family members can try and take any of their assets (like the income or supplies) because they explained that it belongs to the group and not one person. This has empowered them to continue their business and we are excited to follow their progress!

Thank you for making this possible!!

*Names changed for privacy and security