#BridgingTheGap Volume III: Digital Literacy Workshop for Female Artisans

#BridgingTheGap: Digital Literacy Workshops for Female Microentrepreneurs

Under its mandate of capacity & skill building and development to empower female entrepreneurs of Pakistan, CBS launched the third volume of its flagship programme “#BridgingTheGap: Business Skills Workshop for Female Microentrepreneurs”. Recognizing the importance and pertinent need for a workshop curated around digital marketing, in today’s rapidly digitizing world, the two-day programme was themed “#BridgingTheGap: Digital Skills Workshop for Female Microentrepreneurs”. 

The centre partnered with Kaarvan Crafts Foundation, continuing its long-standing partnership with the organization. CBS also on-boarded “Women in Business-LUMS” in the capacity of a student society. The Faculty Lead on the workshop was Dr. Misbah Tanveer (Faculty Director, CBS-LUMS and Assistant Professor SDSB-LUMS). The workshop has been funded by the Syed Babar Ali Foundation. 

Following the success of the previous workshop series that featured female artisans from the Textile Industry, based in Multan, this workshop featured beneficiaries from both the product and service industry. 39 female microentrepreneurs from various districts that include Multan, Kasur, Dera Ghazi Khan, Gujranwala, and Lahore, were the participants during the third workshop that was held in SDSB-LUMS on February 24-25, 2024. 

The workshop featured 15 Volunteer Trainers that were onboarded by CBS from the Graduate Programmes of SDSB-LUMS. The two-day programme had a meticulously designed curriculum framework that focused on three key components: Whatsapp Business, Facebook, and Instagram. To provide a holistic learning environment, the programme also featured a session on Customer Negotiation Skills and Catalogue Photography. 

The key essence of the programme is in its “reciprocal learning” framework, which gives the female microentrepreneurs the chance to interact and learn from the Student Volunteer Trainers. The students also get a unique chance to learn about the journeys of these women, and how they have established and are leading their respective businesses in the current tough socio-economical terrains. 

The closing ceremony featured remarks from Dr. Fazal Jawad (Dean, SDSB), Daanish Khan (CEO and Founder, Kaarvan Crafts Foundation) and Henna Babar Ali (Syed Babar Ali Foundation and Packages Ltd.). Certificates were distributed to the participants and shields were presented to the partners.

“The empowerment of women especially in the business domain, is one of the most vital ways to boost an economy. Programmes like this help achieve these goals on a grassroot level” – Dr. Fazal Jawad Seyyed. 

The programme concluded with an Exhibition Ceremony in which the female artisans showcased their products to the LUMS Community.