SRPO PRESS RELEASE

SRPO, SEF Organize Stipend and Certificate Distribution Ceremony

Sindh Rural Partners Organization (SRPO) organized stipend and certificate distribution ceremony in collaboration with Sindh Education Foundation, Government of Sindh at Adolescent and Adult Learning and Training Program (AALTP) Village Qadir Bux Laghari, near Mirpurkhas city on Monday. Commissioner Mirpurkhas Division Mr. Abdul Waheed Shaikh was chief guest, while Mr. Ashfaq Hussain Meerani, Regional Head of Sindh Education Foundation (SEF), Government of Sindh and Ms. Zahida Detho, Executive Director SRPO were also guests of honour. Commissioner Mirpurkhas Division Mr. Abdul Waheed Shaikh pledged the need to see flourishing skill development centers for illiterate and semiliterate young females, who after losing their traditional source of earning (agriculture) are looking for better alternative source of livelihood. The program attracted a large number of women learners, village notables and officials representing SEF and SRPO. As per plan 55 young women have received stipend for which they were motivated to have sewing machines and required stuff to continue their job at house level and live sustainably. The commissioner appreciated the organizers for their achievement to teach skills to these illiterate and semiliterate women, who now are able to work and earn to ease their families. Ms. Zahida Detho, Executive Director SRPO said it is for the first time that majority of these women came to learn skills at the center and now they are capable to earn little on their own to ease their families. "We with the support of SEF have provided skills through two separate centers. These women have received four-month course to get know how about basic education to learn, read and write. Imparting skilled training to this young cadre was also the main reason to make their lives purposeful," she said. She said majority of rural women have been engaged in agriculture sector, but due to use of machinery and increasing trend of corporate farming they have lost their traditional sources of income. Now it may be only way out to motivate young peasant women cadre to learn different skills and have alternative source of income. Mr. Ashfaq Mirani, regional head of Sindh Education Foundation recalls the day when he came to see these women four months ago to start the course with SRPO team, saying almost all of them were eager to learn skills. Now, he said after completing the course the same women have achieved task of learning and looking forward to launch their own entrepreneurship at village level. "It is good achievement for SEF," he said. Earlier, the skilled women set up stalls and displayed their products in premises of the center. Divisional commissioner, SEF regional head and other guests visited the stalls and saw prepared designs of dresses, which the skilled women claimed to have market value. The commissioner appreciated this initiative and emphasized the need to promote such constructive activism of village women, who wanted to launch their own small-scale business venture.