Dear Friends and Supporters,
I am thrilled to share some exciting news with you. Today, we are launching WIRE (WANG Initiative for Rural Empowerment), a transformative program dedicated to empowering the women and girls of Lasbela, Balochistan. WIRE aims to bridge traditional skills with digital opportunities, fostering sustainable change and enabling women to achieve economic independence and resilience.
Reflecting on Our Journey
For over 20 years, WANG has worked closely with the communities in Lasbela, addressing challenges ranging from education to economic development. Throughout this journey, we’ve learned that true social change isn’t possible unless we empower the women in our region. One of our most impactful moments was helping a group of local artisans bring their handcrafted products to an international market, showing how traditional skills, when combined with digital innovation, can lead to meaningful opportunities for growth and recognition. Many of these women lack formal education and face limited opportunities to earn a living. Frequent climate disasters have made their struggles even harder.
Understanding the Challenges
Climate change is a significant factor that requires us to rethink how we support women’s livelihoods. Lasbela has experienced deadly floods, which have destroyed crops and livestock, directly impacting the livelihoods of local women who rely heavily on agriculture. For example, in 2022, the devastating floods wiped out nearly all the livestock in one village, leaving many women without their primary means of income and struggling to provide for their families. With agriculture and livestock being the primary sources of income, there is a pressing need for alternative income sources for women.
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Limited Education: Many women haven’t had the chance to attend school, which limits their job opportunities.
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Economic Hardships: Climate disasters like floods have destroyed livelihoods, making it tough to earn income.
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Traditional Skills, Modern Markets: While these women have valuable skills like sewing and embroidery, they lack access to larger markets where they can sell their products.
The Vision Behind WIRE
We created WIRE to bridge this gap by offering a unique approach that combines traditional craftsmanship with modern technology. Unlike other initiatives, WIRE emphasizes community-led innovation and sustainable income generation, ensuring that women are not just participants but leaders in shaping their economic futures. By teaching women and girls digital skills, we can help them reach global markets and create new income streams.
Introducing WIRE
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WALI (WANG Lab of Innovation)
Through WALI, we offer training in essential digital skills. Women and girls learn how to use computers, access the internet, and market products online. This empowers them to expand their reach far beyond their local communities. -
Mother-Daughter Collaboration Model
In this unique model, mothers and daughters work together. Mothers bring their traditional skills in sewing and embroidery, while daughters contribute with new digital skills. Together, they can sell their products online, increasing their income and strengthening their bond. -
Industrial Stitching Unit
We’ve set up a stitching unit equipped with 10 modern machines. Here, women produce high-quality products that are sold online and supplied to local schools. This not only provides them with steady income but also ensures the sustainability of WIRE.
Our Income Model
Our revenue model is designed to support and sustain our community:
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Boosting Women’s Income: A portion of every product sold goes directly to the women who made it.
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Funding Education: Part of the revenue funds scholarships for 500 girls every year, helping them continue their education.
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Sustaining WALI: Another portion supports WALI’s operations, so more girls can learn digital skills.
Looking Ahead
We have big plans for the future:
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Expansion: We aim to replicate this model in other areas, empowering more women and girls.
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Brand Development: We’re working on creating a brand that showcases Lasbela’s rich cultural heritage to the world.
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Partnerships: Collaborations with fashion brands, NGOs, and government agencies will help us grow and reach new markets.
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Community Building: We’ll continue to offer training in leadership and entrepreneurship to ensure long-term success.
A Heartfelt Thank You
I want to express my deepest gratitude to everyone who has supported us on this journey:
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Our Team and Volunteers: Your hard work and dedication make everything possible. From organizing community workshops to supporting women in their training journeys—like guiding our artisans through their first online sales or helping set up the industrial stitching unit—your contributions have been invaluable.
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Our Partners: Thank you for your collaboration and support, especially the Internet Society for their continued support.
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The Community of Lasbela: Your trust and participation are the heart of our success.
Join Us
We invite you to be part of this transformative journey. Together, we can empower women, uplift communities, and create lasting change. Let’s join hands to shape a brighter future for everyone. Here’s how you can help:
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Support Our Programs: Your skills, ideas, and collaboration can make a significant difference in helping us grow and uplift the community.
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Partner with Us: Let’s work together to expand our impact.
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Spread the Word: Share our mission with your friends and networks.
Together, we can create a society where every woman and girl can dream big and have the resources to make those dreams come true.
Contact Us
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Email: info@wirepk.com
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Website: www.wirepk.com
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Address: WANG Initiative for Rural Empowerment, Main Road, Uthal, Lasbela, Balochistan, Pakistan
Empower a woman, transform a community.
Warm regards,
