Handicrafts by Swati women next on display at Lok Virsa

ISLAMABAD—A unique display of handcrafted products by valiant women of Swat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the name of “Reviving Livelihood through Handicrafts in Post-conflict Areas” is being organized at Islamabad. Giving details, Khalid Javaid executive director Lok Virsa informed that the opening ceremony will take place at Lok Virsa Heritage Museum, Garden Avenue, Shakarparian, Islamabad on Saturday, 19 June 2010 at 6.00 p.m. Ms Sitara Ayaz, minister for culture and social welfare, government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will be the chief guest. The other prominent speakers will include Director UNESCO Dr. Warren Mellor, CEO Heritage Foundation Mrs. Yasmeen Lari and executive director Lok Virsa. The event is being organized by Heritage Foundation, UNESCO and UK Aid in collaboration with Lok Virsa. According to the organizers, the project “Reviving Women’s Livelihood in Swat” was initiated in mid February 2010. focusing on capacity building within mohallahs, 500 women have been trained in twelve Karavan Mini Craft Centres established in union councils of Islampura, Mingora, Barikot, Saidu Sharif, Charbagh and Landikus. 327 women have been trained to make highly salable embroidery products within their homes, 110 women in khaddi (looms) for home-based handloom production and another 53 women for making handmade yarn. All 500 women have been provided the required tools and equipment including sewing machines, khaddis and charkhas, as well as toolkits to enable them to produce quality products. As part of the programme assistance greater outreach has been provided for the revival of one khaddi centre in Islampura, one vocational training centre in Odigram, a women’s sewing centre in Landikus and one pottery centre in Charbagh. For ensuring sustainability and regular income, linkages to urban consumer markets are being developed such as permanent outlets in Islamabad and Karachi, capacity building of local representatives for promoting sales and establishment of permanent green women centre in Islampura.