Vocational Education

Providing skills to mothers and women in the communities we work

Thanks to donations provided before, during and after the matching campaign opportunities through GlobalGiving in 2010 we now have back-up generators at two of our school locations. We are now poised to launch our vocational education program which will help women in underserved communities to develop tools necessary to start successful businesses, generate income, send their children to school and lift their families and communities out of poverty.

On our visit to Pakistan in October, 2010 we toured educational facilities operated by IKI Foundation and were most impressed with what they have started. We are happy to announce that we have signed a formal partnership with the organization and will be strengthening and expanding projects and providing women with training to develop products that are desired in the international market. We have already established several market linkages and identified and secured commitments from end-market buyers. We plan to pilot sample products in spring 2011.

By maximizing IKI operations and our current space already being used to educate youth in the primary schools, mothers and older sisters of students can utilize the classrooms and the accompanying space of the buildings to come together in a safe and secure space. In the conservative Muslim culture women are not permitted the same freedoms to work where she would please. By designating space where women can congregate in a socially accepted manner these women can then improve upon existing skills and participate in activities that contribute to her family income. Proceeds of the project will also be re-invested to assist in the long-term sustainability of the project.

Click here to learn more about the limitations women face.