Equality between women and men is basic Human Right and ensuring this basic principle is fundamental prerequisite to ensure equality, development and peace for the promotion of the concept of sustainable development. In a country like Pakistan with 50% of its population being women, proper social cohesion and balanced national objectives are possible only if women have due share and guaranteed participation in activities contributing to national goals. This calls for determination and recognition of women’s status and position in the overall social context and their empowerment in all aspects of nation building activities.

Pakistani women are trapped in a web of dependency and subordination mainly due to    their low level of economic independence. Moreover, due to increasing unemployment, inflation, lack of financial resources available with the families, male migration and increase in education and awareness among the females, more and more women are seeking income-generating opportunities.

UGOOD have initiated following programs for women empowerment and enhancing their social status:-

1. UGOOD Program for Women Empowerment
2. UGOOD Program for Social Status of Women
3. UGOOD Gender Justice Program
4. Al-Noor Vocational Centers for Rural Women Skill Development

 1.1 UGOOD Program for Women Empowerment
UGOOD firmly believes that social empowerment of women is not possible without their economic empowerment.
UGOOD has developed various programs for creating income generating opportunities for women in different areas of the country. Some of the programs are as follow:

Women Skilled development program:
UGOOD is presently conducting various technical and training programs. The basic purpose of these programs is to develop and enhance various skills among the women. By learning these skills women become able to participate in some income generating activities.

UGOOD carefully select the skills according to the market and industries demand. UGOOD industrial homes and skill development centre are presently working in AJK and Pakistan.

UGOOD training programs for women entrepreneur:
UGOOD training department conduct various seminars and workshops fro women entrepreneur to train them in the areas of business development, marketing, accounting and financial management.

These training programs are aimed at improving the efficiency and effectiveness of women headed businesses. Following training courses were offered to the females in UGOOD Women Entrepreneur Center at UGOOD Head Office in Islamabad:-

1.2 UGOOD Program for Social Status of Women
Under this program UGOOD conducting aware ness campaigns, community mobilization, seminars, workshop and media campaigns regarding the social status of women in the male dominated society.

UGOOD has form different working groups and forums in the selected rural areas of Pakistan where UGOOD thinks that the status of the women is actually questionable. These working groups and forums closely work with the community and create awareness and understating of women rights.
This program has show excellent result and response of the community.

1.3 UGOOD Gender Justice Program
UGOOD has form various committee at Union and district level. The purpose of these committee to provide community base alternative justice system for the victims of gender violence. Majority of the cases of gender violence either grow unreported or there is no appropriate forum for the victims to pursue these cases. By creating such alternate system UGOOD believes that the victims get an opportunity of being heard at very nominal cast.

This justice system is very successful in the areas where UGOOD has implemented and it is planned that in the coming year theses committee shall be extended to other cities as well.

1.4 Al-Noor Vocational Centre for Rural Women Skill Development
Al-Noor Skill Development Center has been established at Sialkot. Its main objective is to train the female of the area in various income generation skills along with creating awareness regarding various community issues. The proposed Centre shall offer 10 different courses. The duration of the courses shall be 2 month each not more than 15 to 20 female shall be trained in one class. The courses shall be offered in morning and evening shifts keeping in view the capacity of the centre and convenience of the general public.
Following trades and related skills shall be introduced for the female:-

1.   Cutting and stitching of the cloth
2.   Embroidery ( handmade & Machine made)
3.   Fabric painting (Tie and dye)
4.   Painting ( Oil, water, Glass and mirror)
5.   Woodwork
6.   Beauty parlor for training
7.   Handicraft and Candle making, Paper Moshe
8.   Computer training
9.   Marketing, Procurement, and accounting skills
10.   Photography and Video training

it is expected that female after getting training from the Al-Noor center can start their own small businesses with the help of others. They shall be trained in such a way that they can work together in the form of group and could pool their resources to create scenery. The organization shall make necessary arrangement in display center for the marketing of the products made by student of the centre. The manager shall be responsible to visit the places and approach the target market. The Al-Noor center shall also contain the community Hall where exhibition shall be conducted and celebrities shall be invited on regular basis to encourage the trainees.

Moreover, weekly lectures on various social issues are also being organized in the community hall for the community mobilization regarding the status of women and women rights.

Project objectives:-
The proposed project has the following objectives:-

1. To provide skill development training to at least 1200 rural women in one year and 2400 in two years
2. To provide economic empowerment to at least 2400 women in two years.
3. To provide social empowerment by way of economic empowerment  directly to at least 2400 women and indirectly 5400 female in two years
4. To eradicate poverty of 2400 families by creating income generating opportunities for the women.
5. To create social and women right awareness among the families of at least 10 surrounding villages.
6. To create employment opportunities for at least 5000 people directly or indirectly in various businesses to be started on the basis of skill development in women.
7. To create business opportunities for at least 2000 women in 10 to 15 villages in two years.
8. To create direct employment of at least 15 to 20 educated people.
9. To create awareness regarding social issues among the female of the area through community activities.
10. To create motivation among females to participate in the society and fight for their rights.
11. Through display center create business opportunity and market for various products developed by the women.
12. To improve the standard of living of at least 2400 families by the social and economic empowerment of women and eradication of poverty to some extent.

After survey UGOOD has planned to establish such centers in the following areas over the next years:-