Vocational Trainings
NED Scholars Vocational Training Program: Empowering Women Through Skills Development
The Crisis of Female Unemployment in Pakistan
Pakistan faces a severe gender gap in workforce participation, with women disproportionately affected by unemployment and limited economic opportunities.
Key Statistics:
• Only 22% of women are part of the formal workforce (World Bank, 2023)
• Over 12 million girls drop out of school before secondary education (UNICEF Pakistan, 2023)
• 81% of families in rural areas prefer early marriage for girls over higher education (Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, 2022)
• Less than 5% of women in low-income communities have access to vocational training (ILO Report, 2023)
“When girls are denied education and employment, entire communities suffer. Vocational training is not just a skill—it’s a lifeline.”
How NED Scholars’ Vocational Training Program Began
During the execution of our “Save A Child” initiative, we discovered alarming trends in Karachi’s outskirts:
✔ High female dropout rates – Most girls left school after 7th or 8th grade
✔ Early marriage pressures – Families prioritized marriage over education
✔ Boys forced into labor – Sons were pushed into low-wage jobs to support households
Our Solution: Vocational Training as an Alternative Pathway
In 2020, NED Scholars’ management and economics students proposed an after-school vocational training program to provide girls with employable skills.
First Center: AlMustafa Educational Center (Allah Bukhs Goth, Karachi)
• Focus: Cloth stitching & sewing machine operation
• 110 girls trained since launch
• Sewing machines awarded to top-performing students
• Next Step: Social media & app-based marketplace for their products
Upcoming Expansion: Khadija Qazi School (Karachi)
• Planned courses:
◦ Electrician training
◦ Plumbing & pipefitting
◦ AC repair & maintenance
How the Program Works
1. Training Structure
• After-school sessions (3-4 hours daily)
• Hands-on skill development (No theoretical overload)
• Certification upon completion (Recognized by local businesses)
2. Economic Empowerment
• Earning potential:Trained girls can earn $80–$150/month
• “Darzi” App (Under Development) – Connects girls with customers for stitching services
• NEDUET Stalls – Showcase and sell handmade products
3. Long-Term Sustainability
• Micro-entrepreneurship model – Girls support their families
• Community impact – Reduced early marriages, increased financial independence
• Scalability – Replicable in other underserved areas
Success Stories
📌 Ayesha, 17 – Went from school dropout to earning $50/month stitching clothes
📌 Fatima, 19 – Received a sewing machine and now trains other girls
📌 Sana, 20 – Supports her siblings’ education with her stitching income
“This program didn’t just teach me stitching—it gave me dignity.” – Ayesha, Program Graduate