#BridgingTheGap Volume V Multan Chapter: Digital Literacy, Life Skills & Climate Resilience Workshop for Female Microentrepreneurs

Building on its long-standing partnership with Kaarvan Crafts Foundation that is rooted in business skills workshops for female microentrepreneurs across Punjab, CBS traveled to Multan to launch the fifth volume of the series titled “#BridgingTheGap Multan Chapter: Digital Literacy, Life Skills and Climate Resilience Workshop for Female Microentrepreneurs”. 

In a transformative two-day training program held on October 31-November 1, 2024, a cohort of 45 female microentrepreneurs came together to develop essential skills for navigating today’s digital landscape to upskill their businesses. Designed to empower women business owners with the tools to expand their reach, customer engagement and build their clientele, this workshop emphasized practical strategies for leveraging social media business platforms including WhatsApp Business and Instagram to drive growth in their microbusinesses. 

The programme kicked off with a group interactive ice-breaking activity led by Dr. Misbah Tanveer (Faculty Director, CBS & Faculty Lead of the Workshop). Each group of female artisans were requested to write what each of them are proud of, on a piece of paper and give their groups a name. What followed were inspirational outpours of the artisans being proud of their abilities to multitask, overcoming societal limitations and building their businesses alongside managing their households. Many were proud of being the breadwinners of the household and financially supporting their families, educating their children and being a symbol of empowerment for themselves and their peers. 

This was followed by Presentation Sessions on WhatsApp Business and Instagram led by Anum Hussain (Marketing & Programmes Associate, CBS) and Khadija Ikram (Grants & Projects Associate, CBS) respectively. The sessions were aimed at equipping them with practical skills to grow their businesses online. Through hands-on guidance, microentrepreneurs learned how to effectively showcase products, engage customers, and build brand visibility using these important social media tools. 

The second day featured a session focused on climate resilience. In this session led by Arzoo Ali Gauhar (Head of Unit, CBS), female microentrepreneurs learned strategies to adapt their businesses to the challenges posed by a changing climate. Participants engaged in interactive discussions on how to take cautious steps to safeguard their businesses and resources given the climate change, equipping them with tools and knowledge to enhance their businesses’ sustainability and stability. The session aimed to empower these women to strengthen their businesses' resilience, ensuring continued growth and impact even amidst environmental shifts.

The second day ended with a session on Facebook Live, tips and tricks on how to conduct a successful live stream to sell products to a larger audience. The two-day workshop concluded on a positive note with a certificate distribution ceremony which included representatives from CBS, Kaarvan Crafts Foundation and the State Bank of Pakistan.