AYSHA SAIFUDDIN – KAARVAN
“Kaarvan was established from the belief that women in low-income communities have a right to work in a fair and just manner”
Recognizing the need to uplift poverty in a stratum of society where women entrepreneurs were plenty but production and marketing advisory services dire, Aysha Saifuddin identified the means to substantially alleviate poverty in the low income communities of Pakistan through enhancing income distribution and economic growth. Aysha was appalled by the irksome journey led by the women running micro enterprises whose growth was hindered by social and cultural constraints such as mobility, purdah, and access to asset ownership.
A graduate of Mount Holyoke College, Aysha Saifuddin established Kaarvan in 2003 as an independent Non-Profit Company. Kaarvan translates to “process of moving together” and is representative of women entrepreneurs and traders progressing together. Kaarvan aims to connect the workers to the local retail markets in Pakistan through efficient and quality-based Business Units (a working facility comprising of one or more workstations where 5-20 workers are employed in each workstation) while maintaining a strong focus upon sustainability. The business units are located in low-income communities to reflect the social mission of the program that is to provide fair wage employment opportunities in a safe and healthy working environment.
Kaarvan initiated with a group of 15 women in the village of Bullar through marketing handmade cards. Despite the problems faced in building the morale and confidence of the women, today Kaarvan is providing contractual employment and business services to over 1000 women living in low-income communities of Pakistan such as Kot Lakbat, Bullar, Gujranwala, Gurumanght, Faisalabad and Haripur. Some of the products manufactured include Embroidered apparel and bags keeping in synch the contemporary and stylish trends of the global market, hand made paper products such as gift boxes, jewellery boxes, diaries, photo frames, desk sets, paper bags, notebooks and albums, decorative, drip less and scented candles and decorative tassels and tie backs made from beads and tufts of thread.
In the future, Kaarvan would like to strengthen its product base and look towards developing fair trade outlets to cater to both local and export markets.
Karvaan
Head Office
50 A 1 Gulberg III
Lahore Pakistan
Tel 5713929/30
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