Empowerment of Women Entrepreneurs

The role of women is crucial to any society’s formation. Today the world has recognized the need for promoting the the women entrepreneurship. Over the last two decades most donor agencies as well as Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) have developed and implemented Gender policies to ensure that within their programs women and men could get get equal chances to access their services. For this purpose NPO has taken various initiatives for the skill development of women entrepreneurs so that their income generation can be enhanced and also earn a better living for their family.

The initiatives are:

I. Establishment of Women skill Development Center (WSDC)-Kuri

NPO has established a Women Skill Development Center (WSDC) at F.G Girls Secondary School Kuri 12 km away from Islamabad, to enable the women hand embroiderers of the village to enhance their skills to cater to the demands of changing tastes of the costumers. The center which will be equipped with about a dozen sewing machines will have proper training facilities for the women of the village in hand embroidery, knitting, stitching. Headmistress of the school acts as the Coordinator of WSDC.

II: Workshop on Women Entrepreneurs

Over the past few decades, women have emerged as active participants in economic growth and development. In some Asian countries where women have held important leadership positions in society, a pool of women executives and entrepreneurs exists who have played a significant role not only in contributing to economic growth but also in upgrading the social status of women in general.

Therefore focusing on the empowerment of women entrepreneurs NPO organized One-Day Seminar on “Women Entrepreneurship Development” in collaboration with Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, at the premises of NPO office in Islamabad on May 12, 2005. The Women Entrepreneurs of both Islamabad and Rawalpindi attended this Seminar, besides officials from First Women Bank and MFI. The participants discussed about the problems presently facing by the women entrepreneurs like lack of technical training, improper funding and financial facility, and lack of market access for products – in local urban market. They stressed the need of these types of seminars and workshops to be held regularly and appreciated the role of NPO for organizing such event.

Quetta: In order to encourage the women entrepreneurs of Balochistan, NPO took the initiative and organized a workshop of Balochi Handicraftsmen/women in Quetta on July 4, 2003. About seventy artisans participated in the workshop. They were given the opportunity to discuss their problems and express their views about possible solutions. Accordingly, the second workshop was held on August 16, 2003, in collaboration with QCCI and Directorate of Industries. NPO suggested the formation of an association for the artisans of Balochistan to enable them to get their problems sorted out in organized manner. The society was formed by the name of Balochistan Handicrafts Welfare Society. NPO also arranged the participation of four lady hand embroiderers from Balochistan in the Second National Weavers Forum held at Fatima Jinnah Park, Islamabad from April 17 to April 25, 2004 in which these hand embroiderers displayed their products.

III.  Replication of APO Courses

In order to develop and strengthen the entrepreneurial and managerial capabilities of women, NPO invited nomination for an APO Training Course from the platform of Balochistan Handicraft Welfare Society and two ladies, Ms. Farzana Yasmin and Ms. Siemeen Mariam were nominated and were sent on a course “Development of Income Generating Business Activities for Women” in Cebu (Philippines) and Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia).