Projects on the Go - Girls Reading to Succeed

Project on the Go (POG) - Quarterly Progress Report

Introduction

The Project on the Go (POG) is a dedicated initiative aimed at empowering underprivileged communities by focusing on skill development, income generation, and education. POG primarily supports women, equipping them with skills in crafts, kitchen gardening, and education to build financial independence and resilience. Over this quarter, POG engaged a significant number of community members and expanded its reach through structured visits, training, and collaboration with local schools.

Community Empowerment and Skill Development

Participant Engagement and Training Sessions

Throughout this quarter, POG engaged 220 women, with 32 of them remaining actively involved in ongoing training. These training sessions focused on various craft skills, providing participants with hands-on experience in creating products that could be sold for income. All necessary materials, including sewing machines, were provided to ensure accessibility and allow participants to gain practical experience.

Craft Sessions and Product Training

Participants learned to craft a diverse range of items, including:

• Pouches, mobile bags, tote bags, and decorative dolls

• Wall hangings, potlis (small cloth bags), and doll dresses

The training sessions were held at various community locations, such as Behari Ahata, ASF, Bali Trust, Canal Park, and Shibli Road. Local community clubs facilitated these skill-building workshops, creating a supportive and collaborative environment.

Key Outcomes of Community Empowerment

• Economic Resilience: Participants were enabled to create products independently, fostering pathways to financial independence.

• Resource Accessibility: By providing materials and sewing machines, POG ensured that participants could begin their entrepreneurial journeys regardless of prior resources.

• Skill and Talent Development: The supportive environment helped participants discover and refine their creative talents, enhancing the resilience of the community.

Community Visits Summary

Community LocationCraft SessionsKitchen GardeningTotal VisitsBehari Ahata3-3ASF6 (Craft + Gardening)612Bali Trust3 (Craft + Gardening)36Canal Park-66Shibli Road-66Total--33

POG School Engagement and Educational Activities

POG School resumed operations, with meetings held to coordinate reopening logistics and establish a structured schedule. Educational activities at the POG School focused on creative skills, allowing students to explore self-expression and income-generating crafts.

School Visits and Key Activities

• Craft Activities: Students learned to create items such as paper envelopes, jewelry, tassels, and organizers.

• Art Activities: Training in truck art painting, stencil painting, and bead painting equipped students with unique and monetizable skills.

Educational Outcomes

• Skill Development: Students learned hands-on techniques for crafts and arts, providing a foundation for creative expression and future income generation.

• Sustainable Practices: Upcycling and recycling sessions promoted environmental responsibility.

• Cultural Engagement: Crafting culturally significant items, like Nikah pens, encouraged pride and entrepreneurship.

Outcomes and Achievements

• Community Empowerment: POG fostered self-sufficiency by building practical skills among community women, empowering them to generate their own income.

• Financial Independence: By providing essential resources, POG ensured that participants could fully engage in training and start their own small enterprises.

• School Engagement: The reestablishment of the POG School encouraged students to develop monetizable skills and enhance their creativity in a structured learning environment.

• Sustainable Development: Kitchen gardening sessions reinforced the importance of food security and sustainability for community members.

Challenges Faced

Due to the smog in Lahore, school visits were not regular; however, the visits that did take place were very beneficial for the students, allowing them to make meaningful progress in skill development and creative activities.

Future Plans

Moving forward, POG aims to expand its impact by collaborating with major clothing brands. These brands will not only be involved in training community women but will also provide job opportunities for the best trainees. This collaboration will further enhance the employability and skills of participants.

Additionally, POG plans to raise funds on this forum to provide seed funding for participants who wish to start their own small businesses. This seed funding will enable women to take the skills they have developed and turn them into sustainable income-generating ventures, contributing to their financial independence and resilience.

Conclusion

This quarter, POG made significant strides in supporting financial independence and skill development within underprivileged communities. Through structured training sessions, resource provision, and educational support, POG has strengthened both the economic resilience and creative capacities of the individuals it serves. The project’s impact will continue to grow as more individuals gain the skills necessary to enhance their livelihoods and contribute meaningfully to their communities.

In the month of June, the POG initiative reached out to three key communities: Behari Ahata, Bali Trust, and the Airport Security Force (ASF) community. Our primary objective is to uncover and enhance the hidden skills of women, empowering them to generate their own income and achieve self-sufficiency. By providing training, we help women build platforms for self-employment, enabling them to lead better lives through economic independence.

Throughout June, we offered free training to women, teaching them how to create various products. Once trained, they were provided with work they could do from home, allowing them to earn money and improve their families' living conditions. To facilitate this, we also distributed sewing machines, making it easier for them to work and earn an income from home. This home-based work proved to be a significant support for these women.

The women we worked with learned to make different products, such as tote bags, doll bags, mobile bags, rosette bags, coil bags, vibrant coil bags, and boho breeze bags. They then prepared orders to meet deadlines exactly as taught during the training, benefiting financially from their efforts. This training not only enhanced their hidden talents but also empowered them with the skills to produce and sell these items, boosting their self-confidence.

As a result, these women gained financial independence, allowing them to support their families and improve their living standards. The opportunity to work from home enabled them to balance their professional and personal lives more effectively.

In addition to craft training, we also initiated kitchen gardening in eight communities. Various seasonal vegetables such as cucumbers, aloe vera, lemons, eggplants, mint, garlic, tomatoes, and spinach were cultivated with excellent results. Women were guided through the process of growing these vegetables at home and informed about the benefits of fresh produce and the potential for large-scale cultivation to become a source of income.

This initiative not only saved money on grocery bills but also ensured access to fresh, organic vegetables, leading to better nutrition and overall well-being. The success of these home gardens sparked a keen interest among women to grow their own vegetables.

Here are some heartfelt comments from the community women for our donors:

"Thanks to your support, I can now earn money while taking care of my children at home. The sewing machine has been a blessing, and I feel proud to contribute to my family's income."

"I never thought I could grow my own vegetables. This training has not only provided us with fresh food but also saved us money. I am excited to continue this practice and even sell some of the produce."

"Learning to make these beautiful bags has given me a sense of purpose and confidence. I am grateful for the opportunity to work from home and improve my family's life."

"Your generosity has empowered us in ways we never imagined. The skills we have gained through this training will help us become self-sufficient and lead better lives. Thank you for believing in us."

These comments reflect the profound impact of your support on the lives of these women, helping them achieve financial independence and improve their quality of life.