Vocational training: Women aim to supplement family incomes

Tailouring course opens new avenues.

Proudly clad in shalwar kameez suits they had stitched themselves, 36 underprivileged women were awarded certificates and sewing machines by the Karrar and Haseena Kizilbash Trust on Monday.

Ranging in ages from 16 to 40, they enrolled in a training course from June 16 to August 5.

The participants learned marking, cutting and stitching of the traditional Pakistani dress in these eight weeks, said an official. The women now aim to augment their family incomes by stitching clothes.

Adeela Manzoor from last year’s batch of graduates said, “This training has helped me supplement my income as a cleaner.

The extra money from stitching a few suits each month gives me and my family more security.” She makes about five suits per month for Rs400 each.

Fazeela said she would continue to cultivate the friendships nurtured over the past eight weeks, as most of her colleagues live close by.

“I and a few other mothers brought our children to classes and it was such fun,” she added.

“The best part of this training is that it has taught us to be productive with our time,” commented Saadia Sarfraz, who topped the class with 13.5 out of 15 marks.

She completed her Matric three years ago but was idle until now. Sarfraz proudly announced that she can stitch a suit in about an hour.

Noshad, 28, said, “I’m moving back to my village soon, so I figured, if I have the certificate I can show it to gain employment.”

Published in The Express Tribune, August 7^th, 2012.