aleema Parhe, a 30-year-old from Diplo in Tharparkar district of Pakistan, has defied the odds against her to pursue her dreams. She was born with a hand deformity and her formal education was limited to fifth grade. Her determination and passion for learning skills led her to a remarkable journey towards entrepreneurship.

She learned to sew before she was ten years old, watching elderly women of her village make clothes for themselves and their relatives and neighbours. “At first, I found this work difficult. I did not have the hands to operate the sewing machine and thread the needle, but my family encouraged me, and now I do all the work myself,” says Parhe.

This September, Parhe’s life took a significant turn when she was chosen to participate in an entrepreneurship course offered by the Youth Education Employment Empowerment Project. This initiative, a collaborative effort between the Sindh Education Foundation and the United Nations Development Programme-Pakistan, provides training to individuals seeking to embark on entrepreneurship.

The course proved a game-changer for Haleema Parhe, who, prior to the training, had limited knowledge of entrepreneurship and was reluctant to start her own business. A little over a month after completing the programme, she had already earned Rs 15,000 through her stitching and cutwork embroidery skills. Her newfound expertise garnered the attention of clients from nearby villages, who reached out to her for services through phone calls.

Haleema says she is committed to to empowering others like her. “The SEF transformed my life. My mission is to empower those with the courage to pursue uniqueness despite lacking resources. Together, the women of Thar will thrive. Their contributions will make a lasting difference,” she says.

Diplo, situated in Tharparkar district, is renowned for its handicrafts, produced mostly by women. Despite lacking formal training, these women have honed their skills over the years. An intriguing aspect of this narrative is the influx of individuals from urban areas who engage these rural women for cheap labour. The finished products are then sold in urban markets, yielding substantial profits leaving local women struggling to cover their expenses.

“SEF transformed my life. My mission is to empower those with the courage to pursue uniqueness despite lacking resources. Together, the women of Thar will thrive. Their contributions will make a lasting difference,” she says.

When asked about this, Haleema acknowledged the possibility that many women are not receiving fair wages. She also highlighted a transformative perspective shift catalysed by the YEEEP. Through this programme, she said, she had gained valuable training, enhancing her comprehension and enabling her to directly market her work. Now, whatever she stitches translates into income.

Haleema Parhe‘s story is a testament to the power of determination, support and opportunities that initiatives like the YEEEP can provide. Despite early challenges, she has emerged as an inspiring entrepreneur, proving that with the right guidance and determination, individuals can overcome adversity and achieve their goals.

Nawab Zafar Ali, the Sindh Education Foundation deputy director in charge of the Advocacy and Communication Unit, says that “in recent decade, the SEF has focused on and invested in not only primary education but also post-primary education, non-formal education and skill-based entrepreneurship.”

He says that technology, digital advancement and capacity building for the mainstream economy are playing a pivotal role in the transformation. He says the foundation has implemented several technical and skill-based training programmes in different trades in collaboration with prestigious partners. He says after receiving the training, most of the programme participants have started their very own businesses.

“The Foundation is setting an example in this regard. Haleema Parhe is one of the great achievers of this initiative. Hailing from a remote area of Tharparkar, she is chasing her dreams. The entrepreneurship course by the YEEEP is helping Parhe to develop a business,“ Nawab says.

The writer is a multimedia journalist based in Hyderabad, Sindh. His X handle: @MathraniSanjai. He can be reached at smmathrani1@gmail.com