Through Vocantinal & Technical Training We Empowered Women Of Swat

SWAT – Vocational training centres are empowering women in the Swat Valley against poverty and extremism.

Women can take knitting, sewing, embroidery, computer, language, porcelain, glass painting and cosmetology courses.

The Taliban banned female education and employment when they virtually ruled the valley with an iron fist from 2007 to 2009.

“Thank God they (the militants) are not in this area any more. We have suffered a lot because of them. I feel as if I am a newborn baby,” Uzma Nawaz, administrator of Al-Nisa Vocational Training Centre, Bari Kot, Swat, told Central Asia Online. “Students are showing keen interest in computer courses and spoken English language.”

About 300 females have taken classes at Al-Nisa in just one year, she added.

Such centres were initially started by the Pakistani Army, but the responsibility has since shifted to the Sarhad Rural Support Programme (SRSP).

“Our mission is not to rule the area. Gradually we are handing over administrative affairs to the local authorities,” Col. Arif, of Inter Services Public Relations, Swat, told Central Asia Online. “As the situation is now improving, we have reduced the checkpoints in the region. We want to restrict ourselves only to security affairs.”

The education centres have opened new opportunities for women.

“From childhood I was having a craze to be a painter, but here, in our education system this course isn’t included,” said Afshan, 25, a student from Thana at the institute. “Although it’s too late for me, still I want to fulfil my dream.”

Women in a Swat vocational training centre learn embroidery May 10. [Nazar Ul Islam]

Faiza, 12, of Barikot signed up for English lessons.

“Academically I am good in it, here it’s the best opportunity for me to gain fluency,” she told Central Asia Online. “Apart from English, I am also interested in computer education. … Nowadays without computer literacy, life is completely dull.”

SRSP sees the centres as a way to help women, who were traumatised during the militancy.

“So far over 800 females have completed their training (in Swat), and now they are running their own businesses,” Shakeel Khan, monitoring and evolution officer, SRSP, told Central Asia Online. “We want to encourage them, so that they can stand on their own feet.”

After two years of militant rule, some traditional female trades need a revival.

“The Swat militants banned the work of beauticians. Many girls suffered, as their jobs were finished by (the militants),” said Nighat Khan, a 23-year-old teacher of cosmetology courses at Al-Nisa. “Girls of every age are taking beautician courses.”

Some might pursue jobs as beauticians, while others might simply apply the learning to themselves.

“It doesn’t matter if a woman is educated or illiterate; everybody wants to look beautiful,” Nighat said.

 

Source : http://twitter.com/#!/MianShakeel