Imparting skills: For a better tomorrow, honing the artisan in you

HHRD and SDC join hands to train poor artisans.

A government institute and a non-government organisation have joined hands for imparting training to artisans to produce special crafts and market their product in a better way.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) to this effect was signed by Skill Development Council of Pakistan (SDC) and Helping Hand for Relief and Development (HHRD) Pakistan here on Tuesday, said a press release issued by the NGO. Under the agreement the two organisations will cooperate in imparting training, organising artisans, specialising products, improving quality and marketing handicrafts.

Under the MoU, which was signed by HHRD Country Director Fazalur Rahman and SDC Chairman Mian Akram Farid, thousands of people from across Pakistan are expected to benefit.

Rahman said that HHRD is providing skill development trainings to the poor community, especially women from all the provinces of Pakistan and Kashmir region. Around 21 skill development centers, five industrial homes and five institutes of technical education have been set up for the purpose.

Around 5,692 beneficiaries have passed out from these centers after acquiring relevant skills, he said. Alongside developing the skills of poor, SDP is also promoting the traditional skills of all regions of Pakistan and AJK. SDP adopted a comprehensive implementation strategy under the slogan of “Aik Ghar Aik Hunar” (One skill in one home) to ensure the sustainable livelihood.

Rahman said that 36 per cent of Pakistan’s total population is living below the poverty line and Helping Hand is striving hard to provide better opportunities to these people.

Skill Development Program of HHRD had applied to SDC Islamabad to authorise it for serving the community in this regard, said an official. After examination of the whole process, visiting some centers and after complete observations and analysis Skill Development Council Islamabad declared SDP-HHRD as an authorised programme for training, he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 29^th, 2012.