Empowering the Rural Women & Youth Since 1994
AWARD PAKISTAN
"Turning Challenges into Success."
My name is Noreen and belongs to Chak#:60/JB Essa Nagari, Faisalabad. I am a beautician as well as a proud grant beneficiary of AWARD Pakistan, Faisalabad. Before receiving this support, life was extremely difficult for me. I belonged to a very poor family, and although I had skills in basic beauty services, I never had the resources to start my own small business. Most days, I worked from home with very limited tools, earning just enough to survive.Everything changed when I heard about AWARD’s grant program under project URAAN (A flight towards socio-economic sustainability). I applied with the hope that maybe this opportunity could help me stand on my own feet. The day I was selected is a day I will never forget, it felt like someone had finally believed in my abilities. AWARD not only supported me financially but also trained me in business management, customer dealing, and how to market my services at local level.With their business grant of Rs. 65000, I bought essential beauty equipment, a facial steamer, makeup products, hair styling tools, and proper furniture for a small setup at my home. As soon as I started offering complete services, my customer base began to grow. Women from my neighborhood started visiting regularly, and many recommended me to their friends and relatives.Today, I am running my beauty business with confidence. My income has increased, and I can support my family with dignity. I am even planning to expand my setup in the future.This grant completely changed my life. It turned my skills into a successful business, and for that, I am truly grateful to AWARD Pakistan.
"Her courage was her crown”
My name is Shakeela Bibi, and I live in Ch:280 Duggal, Toba Tek Singh. I am 36 years old and a married woman. I have four children—three daughters and one son. I am separated from my husband due to personal reasons, and I have been the sole breadwinner for my household, taking care of all my children’s expenses.
Previously, I worked under a woman who gave me dupattas to decorate and then paid me for the labor. However, this income was not enough to meet my family’s needs.
One day, I heard about AWARD Pakistan and participated in an orientation meeting held at Duggal Catholic Church, which invited community members from both Christian and Muslim communities. During the session, we learned about their Poverty Reduction Project and human rights, especially women’s rights.
Afterward, I met Miss Uzma Amir, who visited my home, observed my talent, and suggested that I start my own fancy dupatta-making business. Since I did not have enough money for investment, she advised me that AWARD Pakistan, under its Poverty Reduction Project, provides interest-free loans. I appeared for an interview, and after being selected, I started my own business of fancy dupatta-making.
My daughters also help me in this work, and together we now earn a good monthly income, which helps me cover school fees, bills, and other essential expenses. Moreover, I am now able to provide livelihood opportunities to two marginalized women from my local area.
Currently, I earn approximately PKR 50,000–60,000 per month. AWARD Pakistan has empowered me to become a businesswoman and enabled me to provide employment opportunities to other women in my community.
Strength in Struggle – The Journey of Mai Laila
In the devastating floods of 2022, caused by 15 days of nonstop heavy rain, the people of Village M. Tufail Cheema lost almost everything. Homes, lands, livestock, and livelihoods were washed away. Families were left with no shelter, no food, and no hope. Among those affected was Mai Laila, a mother, a wife, and the backbone of a 12-member family.Her house, made of mud (kachha), collapsed in the flood. The family had nothing to eat and no income source. Like many others in her village, Mai Laila struggled daily, wondering how to survive another day. The community was in deep crisis, with poverty and hunger surrounding every home.At this time of great difficulty, the AWARD Organization stepped in. They visited the village and began supporting the most vulnerable families. Mai Laila was selected as one of the beneficiaries under their livelihood support programs.
AWARD provided her with:
•Skills training to prepare for future disasters
•Awareness sessions on how to recover and protect her family
•Vegetable seeds for kitchen gardening at home
•A goat as a sustainable source of income
With courage and guidance, Mai Laila started growing vegetables in a small patch near her home. Slowly, she began selling the extra produce in the local market. This helped her manage basic household expenses. The goat she received also became a valuable asset—providing milk and helping her earn a little income.Today, Mai Laila is not only surviving but rebuilding. She is an inspiration to others in her village. Her story is a shining example of how timely support, determination, and skills can transform lives after a disaster.
“Leadership is built through courage, consistency, and service.”
My name is Sidra Shahbaz. From an early age, I naturally developed leadership qualities. In school, I served as a monitor and class representative, where I learned discipline, responsibility, and decision-making. I actively participated in church programs as a compere and organizer, which strengthened my communication and public speaking skills. Over time, I was invited as a speaker and guest at various programs and received recognition, including medals and honors at the Governor level.
As I grew older, I became actively involved in community service. I worked as a social mobilizer and later served as a councillor for local issues. I also became a member of a government human rights committee and participated in meetings at DC and CO Office levels in Gujranwala. My work focused on critical protection issues such as forced marriages, child protection, and gender-based violence, along with community support initiatives in coordination with relevant authorities.
A major turning point in my journey came when I became associated with AWARD Pakistan. Through their mentorship, leadership trainings, and exposure opportunities, I experienced remarkable personal and professional growth. AWARD provided me with a strong platform to enhance my confidence, refine my leadership abilities, and expand my vision for community development. Their continuous support empowered me to strengthen my voice, broaden my impact, and serve society with greater dedication and purpose.
Turning Skills into Opportunity
Sarafin Shahid, a young woman from Malkhanwala (225 RB), joined the Vocational Training Center with the hope of learning a skill that could help her support her family. Like many women in her community, Sarafin had limited opportunities to earn an income and relied mostly on the financial support of her family members.
Through the project’s beautification training program at the VTC, Sarafin learned practical skills such as basic beautification skills and customer handling. With consistent practice and encouragement from the trainers, she gained the confidence to start offering beautification services to women in her neighborhood.
Gradually, Sarafin began building a small customer base within her community. Today, she is able to earn approximately PKR 5,000 per month through her services and manages to save around PKR 2,000 from her income.
Her story reflects how access to vocational skills can empower women to transform their abilities into sustainable opportunities.
Sewing her path to independence
Rashida Bashart, a resident of Dasuha Purani Abadi, is a dedicated entrepreneur running a stitching business. Initially, she managed her work independently with limited resources, which restricted her ability to expand and increase her income. She received information about the business grant opportunity through a social mobilizer and successfully applied through a formal interview process under the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP). Upon receiving the grant from AWARD, Rashida Bashart invested in additional sewing machines, which enabled her to scale up her operations. Following this support, she established a linkage with a local factory and began taking order-based stitching work. This step significantly improved her business stability and income stream. In addition, she started engaging and training young girls in stitching skills, contributing to women’s empowerment and skill development within her community. Currently, Rashida Bashart earns approximately PKR 30,000 per month. As a mother of two, she independently manages all household and educational expenses, demonstrating resilience and financial responsibility. Rashida Bashart expressed her sincere gratitude to AWARD for their support under the Sustainable Livelihood Project, acknowledging that the grant played a key role in strengthening her business, improving her livelihood, and enabling her to support other women in becoming financially independent.