@extends('layouts.app') @section('title', "Women's Education & Literacy Program | JOYA") @section('description', 'JOYA project empowering 900 women through literacy and vocational training in Badakhshan and Takhar provinces of Afghanistan.') @section('head') @endsection @section('content')
Education & Empowerment

Women's Education & Literacy Program (WLSEP)

Empowering 900 women through literacy and vocational training in Badakhshan and Takhar provinces, creating sustainable pathways to economic independence and community leadership.

Project Year

2018-2019 (7 months)

Location

Badakhshan & Takhar Provinces

Direct Beneficiaries

900 Women

Budget

$139,500 USD

Donor/Partner

SCA (Swedish Committee for Afghanistan)

Status

Successfully Completed

Project Overview

The Women's Livelihood and Skills Empowerment Project (WLSEP) was a transformative initiative aimed at breaking cycles of poverty by equipping 900 women in remote areas of Badakhshan and Takhar provinces with essential literacy skills and vocational training.

Through tailored courses in sewing, tailoring, handicrafts, beauty services, and carpet weaving, we created sustainable pathways to economic independence. Each participant received business development guidance and market linkage support to ensure the long-term success of their enterprises.

This project not only provided vocational skills but also focused on building confidence, leadership abilities, and community participation among women who had limited access to formal education and economic opportunities.

Key Impact & Outcomes

  • 900 women gained marketable vocational skills in traditional crafts and services
  • 180 women-led businesses established or expanded within their communities
  • 40% average increase in household income for program participants
  • 12 women's cooperatives formed to ensure sustainability and collective bargaining power
  • 95% satisfaction rate among participants with the training quality and support received
  • Enhanced social status of women within their families and communities

Main Activities & Implementation

  • Tailored vocational courses in sewing, tailoring, and traditional handicrafts
  • Beauty services training including hairdressing, makeup, and salon management
  • Carpet weaving workshops preserving traditional Afghan craftsmanship techniques
  • Basic literacy and numeracy training for women with no formal education background
  • Business development workshops covering entrepreneurship, financial management, and marketing
  • Market linkage establishment with local buyers and regional markets
  • Formation and training of women's cooperatives for collective economic activities

Project Statistics

900
Women Trained
180
Businesses Started
40%
Income Increase
95%
Satisfaction Rate
12
Cooperatives Formed
7
Months Duration

Success Story

"Fatima, a 28-year-old mother of three from a remote village in Badakhshan, joined our program with no formal education and limited prospects. Through our tailoring course, she discovered her talent for design and craftsmanship. Today, Fatima runs a successful tailoring business that employs two other women from her village. She sends all three of her children to school and has become a role model for other women in her community, proving that education and skills can transform lives."

Stories like Fatima's demonstrate the transformative power of education and skills training. Beyond economic benefits, the program fostered confidence, leadership, and community respect for women who had previously been marginalized.

Sustainability & Legacy

The project's sustainability was ensured through several key strategies:

  • Formation of sustainable women's cooperatives that continue to operate independently
  • Training of local trainers who can continue skills transfer within their communities
  • Establishment of market linkages that continue to benefit graduates
  • Community ownership and support for women's economic activities
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