Women in Learning & Leadership Training I – GCU Lahore
Four-Day WILL (Women in Learning and Leadership) training under the project ‘Fostering Critical Thinking Skills for Gender-Inclusive Socio-Economic Development’ at GCU Women Development Centre, Lahore.
Project Fostering Critical Thinking and Entrepreneurial Skills in Young Women for Gender Inclusive Socioeconomic Development (FCTEW), is a project Shaoor Foundation for Education and Awareness(SFEA) led by academicians (as content developers, consultants, and trainers) and subject specialists. The project is promoting socio-economic development and an entrepreneurial environment for the women faculty, researchers, and students through training and linkages establishment at the provincial/national level with the private sector, incubation centers, and entrepreneurial entities, and other civil society organizations. The project works with four public sector universities across Pakistan.
The training is part long term engagement of Shaoor Foundation for Education and Awareness with Government College University, Lahore to socio-economically empower its students. After the training the students will have multiple networking trips and exposure visits. The students will be helped to develop business ideas and will be eligible for seed funding to pursue their passion projects.
The training started off with special Teachers’ Training Session for the faculty. Trainers Dr. Sonia Irum and Ms. Sofia mentioned that the objective of the project is to develop critical thinking skills and critical feminist consciousness in young women (both teachers and students) in universities to enable them to challenge socio-economic oppression through creating a community of practice at Government College University, Lahore. The inauguration was followed by rigorous training on modules of ‘Social Inclusion and Gender’ and ‘Critical Thinking, Gender Equality, Peace Building and Conflict Resolution’ by trainers Ms. Sofia Hussain and Dr. Sonia Irum. Dr. Shaheena Ayub, Chair Center for Gender Studies, Fatima Jinnah Women University joined the training to deliver a session on ‘Gender Equality and its Impact’. Guest speakers namely Ms. Madiha Saail Khan CEO of Project RICH, Ms. Fatima Saleem Women Resource Center and Incubators, Ms. Fozia Badar CEO of Grannis Kitchen, Ms. Saima Asif CEO of Sammy’s Kitto Collection, Ms. Ayesha Khurram Vice President of Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry Lahore Division, Ms. Nilofer Sikander Senior Vice President Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry Lahore Division and Ms. Iqra Hameed CEO Codekids; from the political, social and entrepreneurial ecosystem; joined the sessions to share insights and learnings with the students to motivate them to take up the entrepreneurial journey. Dr. Asghar Zaidi, Vice Chancellor of Government College University Lahore applauded the efforts of Shaoor Foundation for their efforts of gender-inclusive socioeconomic empowerment of female students.
33 students and 17 teachers attended the training.
