Pakistan, Asia
PAK01a - Sewing Centre - Rawat: Partnership Reports
Report Date: March 16, 2016
Report from BHW Field Director Following Visit 12th March 2016
Key person: Azam Gill
Recent Events
Activities
The Rawat sewing project is into it’s fifth year now. Azam and Barbara have tried to stop it and shift to another community but the locals will have none of it.
There are nine students in the course at the moment. Four are Christians and the rest are Moslems. More will join later in the year, around June, to take it up to around 15 students.
Personal Stories
While there at the centre with the 16 ladies who came I was able to get a bit of a picture of this community. Of the 16 in the room only 2 or 3 had husbands or fathers who had permanent jobs. Many of their men were daily casual workers and earned very little. In a good month they might earn US$100 but it’s more likely to be US$50. And this might be the only income for a household of 5, 6 or 7 people. So, if the women can earn anything it’s a help, most would earn at least US$30 per month, some of them much more.
The teacher here is very good and creates a good environment in the group. The girls all said they had made some good friends from attending the course.
One girl came from another community some distance away and heard about the course. She was so keen she shifted from her village to live with family so she could be at the course. It is great to meet and hear about people with that sort of vision to grow and learn.
Partnership's Influence within the Community
More than 100 people have been trained in the Rawat community. Most of them are now contributing to the income of their family / household. They are very happy with the programme and told stories about their friends being very envious of them. Their husbands and parents are very happy.
Many of the girls are asking for computer training and this may be introduced at some time in the future.
The church community has responded well to the project over the years. All the families have sent at least one woman for training. This helps them a lot to have another income source in the family, and of course, they never really expect the women to become income earners.
Current Issues and Challenges
They are going to try and close it again after this year but don’t have a lot of hope they will be able to!
Prayer and Praise Points
1) The ongoing impact in the community shown by the fact that they don’t want the training to finish.
2) That the church would take up the challenge of being more engaged in their community and not leave it to outsiders like Azam and Barbara.
3) That bridges are being built between faiths in the community.
Comments
This appears to be a positive influence in the community. The women are very enthusiastic about it and keep telling their friends to come. They have a great teacher and an ongoing interest from the community.
I think it’s worth continuing for another year at least.
