Women’s empowerment: The art of turning skill into capital

Artisans exhibit work at the end of training workshop.

Working women should learn modern business techniques and become aware of their legal rights. This was stated by Potohar Organisation for Development Advocacy (PODA) while speaking at the concluding ceremony of a six-month training project at Lok Virsa, said a press release issued by PODA.

Titled “Empowering Women to Improve their Social Status”, the project aimed to enable 100 participants to capitalise on craft-making skills. The project comprised two categories: paper recycling to make papier-mâché and plastic recycling to make bags using crochet tools. The participants comprised women from both rural and urban communities of Rawalpindi, Chakwal and Islamabad.

The traditional Kashmiri skill of papier-mâché was used to design jewelry and household items. A new approach to recycling polythene bags was introduced to make a material that can be crocheted into shopping bags and other utility items.

Furthermore, the project imparted business development and legal literacy training to ensure that women are aware of their rights. The laws relating to contracts, and protection for working women were especially emphasised. The women were imparted training on starting up a new business.

The participants shared their experiences and exhibited their craft work. The project team has also produced a booklet designed to support further training of artisans in paper mashie and plastic recycling using crochet techniques so that the participants can continue to develop their skill after the end of the project and teach others also.

Later, certificates were distributed among the participants. Meanwhile, PODA staff explained some steps that the women artisans can take to be part of several networks that support women entrepreneurs and women artisans.

Zoobia Sultana, Programmes Director at Lok Virsa National Heritage Museum, said with the new crafts of paper making and plastic recycling, the women will be able to promote designs, earn a decent living and be recognised as artisans.

Fouzia Shahjahan, a master artisan who trained the woman artisans encouraged them to continue their work and become experts in their crafts.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 6^th, 2013.