Tusdec Radio Program 1

Radio Program Transcription:
Program: Qadam Pa Qadam (A way forward towards Education, Progress and Skills)
By: Equal Access International
Guest: Zeenat Bibi (Communication Executive- TUSDEC)
Presenter: Haseena Gul
Producer: Islam Gul Afridi
Program TOPIC: Technical skills being provided by TUSDEC
Broadcasted from: Radio Pakistan, Peshawar
Presenter: Assalam-o-Alaikum dear listeners, I am your host Haseena Gul. Listeners male and female are considered two wheels of a car as they have to move parallel to each other for the smooth running of life. As if one wheel stop moving then the car cannot move anymore. So we should give support women in every sphere of life for to be a progressive state and society and should give her equal rights. For example if a woman is well qualified and professional then should be independent and would be able to support her family in a better way. So today we will talk about ‘Women socio economic empowerment’ and we have our respectable guest here ‘Zeenat Bibi’.
Zeenat Bibi is working for TUSDEC and TUSDEC offers free technical vocational training programs to rural marginalized communities’ youth for their socio economic uplift. We welcome you in our program. Please give us an overview about your organization and project that what are the main objectives and goals of TUSDEC and EU/TVET Program.
Zeenat: We TUSDEC (Technology Upgradation and Skill Development Company) work for the development of technology and skills. Here we are working under the ministry of industries and production, Government of Pakistan and European Union. In EU/TVET Support Program we provide free technical vocational trainings to the rural marginalized youth who are often no or less educated due to insufficient resources and have no or less means of earning. So we try to enable them to be independent and progressive.
Presenter: How much part is there for women skill development in your project?
Zeenat: Under this program we have to train up to 12000 rural marginalized youth of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and FATA. Here I want to add few more things that we not only provide free trainings but we are responsible for to provide lab consumables to them during the training. Furthermore when their training is completed, then our market linkages teams visit them and try to build their linkages with the local market where they can sell and supply their products in good prices. We support the female in this way and those who want to be self-employed inside their home then we connect them with such organizations who provide them interest free micro finance for their startup businesses.

Presenter: Please tell our listeners that in which specific trades you offer free trainings?
Zeenat: For this special survey is carried out to identify the market oriented trades as if we are offering trainings in Bannu, Dir or such other areas then we have to check the training trades feasibility as per area for example in Swat hand embroidery and shawls are famous so we try to improve the skills of the local women in this trade. In urban areas there are beautician, bags and pouch making, dress making, and fashion designing are there.
Presenter: Now we are going to listen a success story of a woman who got free fashion designing training by TUSDEC EU/TVET Support Program.
TUSDEC Success Story of Nazia from Timergara:
After passing matric level examination I was unable to continue my studies as there were some cultural hindrances and financial constraints. I got married in my early age. I have three children, added to that my husband is jobless and we live in a rented house, due to my husband’s inability to work I am supposed to bear all expenses of the family. Prior to this free training, though I was sewing clothes but my efficiency, designing methods and techniques were not that much upgraded and up to the mark which could satisfy the customers’ needs and I had to depend on others for searching customers and meeting expenses. When I got to known about TUSDEC, offering free courses in different trades for both male and female I grabbed the opportunity and now after the training I feel that if I had missed it, I would not have been able to stand upon my own feet.
Earlier I was stitching gents’ cloths but was unable to meet the expectations of the customers but now I can stitch the dresses of men and women and I earn money with customer’s satisfaction & appreciation regarding my work and designing. “Now I am a designer tailor so I earn up to PKR 6000 per month which is sufficient for meeting our basic needs. Now we are living a better Life with happiness and satisfaction. I always support my husband in economic activities as now I am independent. I am doing all efforts for my kids and want them to get quality education in a standard schools and madrassas. As we have lived a substandard life but I want a bright future for my next generation. For this I do hard work and reaping its benefit”.
Report End