Imagine a world where all women have the power to support themselves and make their own choices. Industrial skills training can make this dream a reality. While the developed countries have a diverse workforce of both men and women, the developed countries still need to do so!
In Pakistan, many women face challenges finding jobs and supporting themselves financially. Restricted by cultural and religious issues, the women have been unable to stand on their two feet.
However, it’s time for a change! How? The solution is simple, and it’s through vocational training for skill development.
Let’s explore how acquiring these skills can transform lives, boost confidence, and open doors to new opportunities. Remember, learning these valuable skills can help women achieve economic independence.
Understanding Economic Independence
Economic independence means that women can earn money and take care of themselves without relying on others. It gives them the freedom to make their own choices and decisions, feel stronger, and be in control of their lives.
Historically, women have encountered difficulties in obtaining education, job prospects, and fair wages, impeding their economic empowerment.
However, for the country to progress, it’s essential for women to join the workforce and contribute towards household expenditures. With industrial skills training, these barriers can be shattered. Women can develop valuable skills that are in demand across various industries.
Not only will it improve their standard of living, but it will also allow them to be financially independent.
Learning Different Skills
Vocational skills refer to practical skills directly related to specific trades or industries. Women can gain from acquiring skills like sewing, embroidery, tailoring, handicrafts, and cooking. Such abilities empower them to establish home-based enterprises or find work in related sectors.
Industrial skills training offers a wide range of opportunities. Women can learn technical skills like welding, carpentry, or operating machines.
They can also master digital skills like graphic design and computer programming. After all, in today’s digital age, computers, and digital skills are essential for almost every job.
Because who says skills for women have to revolve around stitching clothes and doing embroidery only?
Learning different skills is crucial for women in Pakistan to empower them and enhance their economic independence. Acquiring diverse skills equips women with the tools they need to access better job opportunities, start their own businesses, and contribute meaningfully to society.
Boosting Confidence:
Learning industrial skills helps women become more capable and boosts their confidence. Therefore, they can confidently pursue better job opportunities and negotiate for fair pay.
Reducing Gender Inequality
Skilled workers tend to be more productive, leading to better output in various sectors. Skill development programs enable women to be more productive. That, in turn, contributes to economic development and competitiveness on both national and international levels. Not just that, but when women are more skilled, they can ask for better wages leading to economic independence.
In Pakistan, there is often a gap between what men and women are paid for the same work. By gaining industrial skills, women can improve their chances of getting better-paying jobs and narrow the gender pay gap.
It’s time to challenge gender roles and promote financial freedom!
Creating Job Opportunities
Skill development programs provide individuals with specialized knowledge and expertise that are in demand in various industries. As a result, they become more employable and can compete effectively in the job market.
Women with industrial skills can start small businesses or work from home. That creates job opportunities not only for themselves but also for others in their community.
With improved skills, women can also access higher-paying and more stable jobs. That leads to increased earning potential and financial stability, enabling them to support themselves and their families.
Poverty Alleviation
Economic independence through skill development can lift people out of poverty. When individuals can secure stable jobs or run successful businesses, their standard of living improves, reducing poverty levels.
According to a UN report, when women earn, they re-invest 90% of the income in children’s healthcare, food, shelter, and education. These earning members of the household contribute towards long-term economic growth and create social benefits for their families.
In big families with more mouths to feed, women, through skill development, can ensure that their needs are met. That means the children get to go to better schools and have better access to healthcare facilities.
Remember, when women earn an income, it often leads to a fairer distribution of resources within households and an improved standard of living.
Rural Development
Providing skill development can empower women to engage in income-generating activities, especially in rural areas where poverty is often more prevalent.
These skills can include agriculture-related skills and handicrafts. That boosts rural economies and contributes to poverty reduction at the grassroots level.
Access to Formal Financial Services
Women with improved skills and income are more likely to access formal financial services like banks and credit institutions. That facilitates savings, access to credit, and investments, providing a safety net during economic hardships and encouraging economic growth.
Unpaid work and informal economy
The informal economy is where people work without formal contracts or legal protections. It includes jobs like street vending, small-scale businesses, and home-based work.
Due to a lack of training and understanding, many women are forced to be a part of the informal economy in Pakistan. Not only do they face exploitation and are given low wages, but they also are left with no legal protection.
Providing skill development training will help women secure better jobs and become part of a formal economy. That means more protection and better pay!
Raising empowered women
If you empower one woman, you are empowering a whole generation. Women who are financially liberated can make better decisions for their children. That means they raise the next generation of women to be empowered and self-sufficient.
“When you empower a woman, you empower the whole world.” – Ruth Mumbi, founder, and national coordinator, Bunge La Wamama, Kenya.
Ayesha – The Seamstress Entrepreneur:
Ayesha’s inspiring story is proof of how skill development can change women’s lives.
Ayesha, a young woman from a low-income neighborhood in Lahore, has always had a passion for sewing and design. However, her family’s financial constraints prevented her from pursuing her dream. One day, she learned about a local skill development center offering free sewing and tailoring courses. With determination, Ayesha enrolled in the program.
After completing her training, Ayesha started her small sewing business from home. She began taking orders for custom-made dresses and alterations. With her dedication and skill, her business flourished, and she eventually expanded to a small boutique.
Today, Ayesha is financially independent and employs a few other women from her community, empowering them with similar skill development opportunities.
Conclusion
Through industrial skills training, women in Pakistan are breaking free from poverty and inequality. They become agents of change, contributing to their families, communities, and the nation’s progress.
