Women Trained in Fashion Design, Digital Skills

Thirty-four young women in Lower Chitral, Pakistan, have completed vocational training under the Ba-Ikhtiyar Women Project, marking a significant step towards economic independence. The program, conducted at the Drosh Institute of Computer and Technical Education, included twenty women trained in garments and fashion design and fourteen in food processing and value addition. Participants also received comprehensive training in digital and financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and life skills, enhancing their practical abilities and confidence for livelihood pursuits. This initiative was funded by the Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF) and implemented by Takal Welfare Organization (TWO), with additional support from various organizations including PTCL, Ufone, and UBank, which provided participants with smart phones, SIMs, and bank accounts to promote digital and financial inclusion. At the certificate ceremony, organizers and participants stressed the need for ongoing support from government, financial institutions, and the private sector to connect these women with financing, markets, and mentoring, ensuring their newly acquired skills translate into sustainable livelihoods and increased household incomes.