HOPE ENHANCES WOMEN EMPOWERMENT THROUGH VOCATIONAL TRAINING

HOPE (Health Oriented Preventive Education) is a Karachi based NGO providing services of health and education for the poor and needy in Pakistan. It was established in 1997 and has grown from a band of street volunteers to a huge national network of schools, hospitals and vocational centers. HOPE - An NGO in Pakistan does not focus on only one aspect of life, in fact, it believes in integration and aims to provide quality education and health with vocational training and community development to the underserved. HOPE believes in educating the masses along with vocational training so that with education, they can also acquire skills to get better job opportunities.

Women empowerment induces sense of self-worth in women. It ensures their right to determine choices in their lives, thus giving them power to control their own lives, both within and outside their home. A woman has the right to have access to all the opportunities and resources as an equal member of the society.  Dr. Mubina Agboatwalla - A child specialist in Karachi does her best to create opportunities for women and girls to expand freedom of choice for them in order to empower them. An empowered woman is the one who is self-confident, who critically analyses her environment and exercises control over decisions that affect her life.

It’s been a decade since HOPE – An Educational NGO in Pakistan  has been running vocational centers for the underprivileged women of Karachi and rural Sindh. There are many girls who not only get training at HOPE vocational centers but are also enrolled in HOPE schools located in their area. These vocational centers provide training of cutting, sewing, stitching and embroidery. The course is designed to cater the needs of the women at their own pace. Shifts are set in a way that not only the local women but the women from other nearby localities can also come to get training there. They can easily manage their family responsibilities side by side this training. Though travelling across the area is difficult for the women coming for training from distant areas. The training gives them confidence to apply their skills practically. After getting this training many women and girls became able to start their own micro level business by working in their free time at homes. This is how a tiny step can change their lives and eventually the overall living standard of their family.  It will result in economic growth of the society.