Idara-e-Taleem-o-Aagahi (ITA) runs a skill development training in Aman Garh, Rahim Yar Khan for a group of minority adolescent girls under the Siyani Sahelian initiative powered by FCDO
Aman Garh is a small community located in the outskirts of Rahim Yar Khan and the populace comprises of a majority of Hindu groups. Over the years, this community has been widely overlooked, visible from the existing resource infrastructure in place. The women of Aman Garh take pride in their culture but lead a very sheltered life. With decades of differential treatment, the community prefers to stay out of visibility and the women of Aman Garh hardly ever get to step out of their homes. The girls receive their education till primary and after that are married off at a median age of 16.
It was this community that was one of our target groups for running the ITA TVET center. Over the course of 8 months, 90 girls were trained on the skill set of Ralli work and Handicrafts. It was a challenge to mobilize classes with the male figures from the community raising objections. It was the women of the community who were enthusiastic and adamant in ensuring that their daughters avail the opportunity.
The instructor Lajwanti Devi, a local girl who had received an education till primary, dropping out after, had learnt the skill of Ralli Work from the elder women in her community and kept on honing and leaning new art forms over the years. Highly motivated and with talent to boot, she trained the group with warmth and eagerness. After 8 months of investment on a beneficiary set that has been widely overlooked over the years, what we witness is a passionate group of girls who are making a living through limited resources with the skills they have mastered.
The girls have now created their stop shop within their homes and are making various products using the Ralli technique. Th girls are receiving orders and are generating an income. The products being produced are one of a kind and are the perfect mix of contemporary and traditional techniques of production.
Disclaimer: The views expressed here are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of Idara-e-Taleem-o-Aagahi (ITA)
