Women of Hunza, excelling in “male dominated” fields
Young women in Karimabad, in the Hunza valley have proved that they can work in male dominated fields and become accepted in the society. Norway has since 2008 sponsored a project which aims at giving poor young women the opportunity to self-sustainability through income in non-traditional sectors.
More than 100 young women in Karimabad in the beautiful Hunza valley in Gilgit Baltistan have been introduced to a whole new way of life through developping their skills in non-conventional domains like ia. carpentry and furniture making. They learn construction techniques, surveying and design drafting.
The Norwegian ambassador, Ms. Cecilie Landsverk, visited the Hunza valley on 31 June – 1 July and met the project candidates and their families. She was impressed by the way this project had contributed to the young women’s increased mobility, growing self confidence in their own potential, and how it had given them income opportunity. What was also very positive to see, was they had been accepted by the society in Hunza in their new role.
Norway has so far contributed nearly 1 mill. USD to this project, which has now acquired the name of CIQAM; a local Burushaski word, meaning prosperity and green. The logo can be seen as representing figures of women who stretch out and go beyond their traditional boundaries while being rooted in their own cultural heritage.
Our project partner is the Aga Khan foundation. Through this foundation the Norwegian Embassy has also contributed to the rehabilitation of historic buildings in Hunza, like the Baltit Fort, which is a pride to the valley and to Pakistan.
Source: http://www.norway.org.pk/News_and_events/Women-social-enterprise-i-Hunza/
Excellent. Such innovative approaches should be up-scaled to other parts of the region as well. This would give a hope to the women, the most neglected segment of our society, sodden for our ignorance and extreme limits of illiteracy prevailing in the region.
Constructive collaborations like this may bring revolution in the socio-economic and cultural spheres of life of the people of the region, through encouraging productive use of human capital.
Partners, implementers and beneficiaries deserve our gratitude for these results and outcomes.