Annual Reports:

Journey of Success – Step by Step – Year by Year:

Year – 2004:

It was time when an idea had been conceived due to the facts that women are the backbone of this society and play very vital role in the betterment of their families, in general and for the development of the country, in particular. To make it the a reality, in 2004, Amina Technical Training Centre (ATTC) was established primarily in a single room at Sukamaidan, Skardu with a view to provide training of sewing and cutting of clothes to the girls in the  vicinity.  For this purpose, Social Welfare Department, Skardu provided 15 manual sewing machines. At the initial stage, about 60 girls got admission in two groups (Morning & evening) with a duration of 2 hours. Most of the girls had been from the areas; Chogho Imambara, Jafferi Mohall, Shaheed Colony, Tufail Colony and Eidgah colony etc.  Each girls charged admission fee @ Rs.100/- & Rs.50/- per month to meet the expenses of the ATTC effectively.  Due to training in this Centre, the girls, as a first step not only were getting training but they also gained confidence working in a friendly environment. After completion of the courses, five girls were awarded Certificate of Merit and their services were retained for the purpose of training in ATTC. They had also been paying salary accordingly from the Centre. During the this  year, about 600 girls completed training at ATTC – Skardu.    

Year – 2005:

In 2005, to make the training fruitful and result oriented 30 girls were granted admission in the Centre in the morning shift. On the evening shift girls who had already completed the training on the previous  year were working on order work from different sources. These women become main source of income for the Centre. Women were also paid their salary @ 50%  share on each dress. Moreover, quota for widows, orphan and deserving girls were also allocated. It was very encouraging and helping move in making local women aware of their role in the welfare of their families and also to the community to acknowledge and support them in healthy and productive activities for the battement of the area, at large.

Year – 2006:

In 2006, target of empowering women was successfully achieving its objectives. Efforts of ATTC for timely motivating communities, more girls contacted for admission in the Centre with emphasis to start some more courses. Keeping in view their demands and to work at market level, ATTC was shifted in a building consisting of 5 rooms located at Alamdar Road main Skardu with more capacity to accommodate and start additional course of making embroidery in the Centre. With this change from one place to another,  expenses of ATTC were also increased. A need was also felt to appoint one Chowkidar and Sweeper @ Rs.1500/- & Rs.1000/- per month respectively. Some fee adjustment was made from Rs.100/- to Rs.150/- and admission fee upto Rs.100/-. ATTC also purchased 8 sewing machines while two machines were also provided by Municipality of Skardu due to successful running of ATTC. For the first time process of mobilization and motivation of  communities started resultantly, five sewing machines was donated by the people of areas. It was positive and productive development in making the people aware of women role & recognition in the society.

This year 10 girls who were quite successful in training and willingly accepted additional responsibility were made Master Trainers in cutting and sewing section in the Centre. Efforts and focus remained to replace existing manual machines with latest technology to achieve better result and skill.

Year – 2007:

In continuity of previous year course for dress designing was started in addition to cutting and sewing. Also purchased three more cutting machines and a women was appointed as instructor in the Centre. Two group of girls were made and they started working on order of cutting and sewing from the market and local people. Five trained women were involved as Master Trainers for simple sewing in the Centre. At the end of 2007, ATTC were able to prepare 15 trained women who are able to compete in the market  and earn for their family with the acquired knowledge/skill. Women were very happy working in a friendly environment.

Year – 2008:

It is our aim that to achieve objectives, one has to work hard and never look back. The successful news of 2008 was to have proper registration of Amina Technical Training Centre – Skardu under Voluntary Social Welfare Agencies(registration & Control) Ordinance 1961 (XLVI of 1961) from the Government. After paying relevant Registration fee women who were getting training in different courses had become eligible for award of Certificate on completion of their training from ATTC. This was very helpful in creating job opportunities for the women of this remote area. Demands for new courses and admission had been increasing day by day during the year 2008.

Year – 2009:

In the year 2009, keeping in view the economic condition of the people of this area and lowering the wedding expenses of locals, a new idea of providing bridal Lehenga (a long bridal dress prepared in the Centre with different kinds of embroideries work) and artificial jewellery on rent to the people was introduced for the first time in Skardu Baltistan. This was a very encouraging step towards mitigating suffering of the poor people. ATTC also become extra income generating Training Centre for women and itself. Local communities appreciated introduction of this kind idea in this region of Pakistan. Training on different courses was continuing. However, due to price hike of different items in the market, fee of students and salary of Chowkidar and Sweeper was raised accordingly to run the expenses of ATTC.

Year – 2010:

In the year 2010, women/girls in the Centre who were outstanding in their field were given placement jobs in Boutique, Cutting and Sewing sections. Normal adjustment was also needed to be made in the charges. Also purchased two cutting machine for the Centre. In January-February, on the demand of teachers, some short courses were also started for the women who are unable to give more time but willing to learn something productive.  

 Year – 2011-12:

In the year 2011, it was felt that due to demands from community and potential women in the Aliabad Skardu, the Centre was shifted there to accommodate more women and girls in the Centre. As is evident from the past six years performance, a sizable women and girls who completed training from this Centre and now involved in the income generating activities for their family are playing a very positive role in the society.

This was due to generous help by  TVO who funded Amina Technical Training Centre for provision of some equipment for the Centre. These include one Peeko Machine, one Cutting and some funds for purchasing sewing machine, as the previous was not meeting the requirement of the increased population of this areas. After arrival of new machines, 5 girls were trained in peeko work and now they are also part of this Centre and impart training to other women/girls in this Centre. In this year, growing demand of   Peeko work, a separate section was set up besides other training programs and one girls was  appointed as Instructor in this section. This was very positive sign that women are very much interested in their work and able to take any responsibility.

The advancement of technology has changed almost every aspect of life including the technical education system everywhere. This creates new challenges for the developing countries like Pakistan especially for womenfolk of the remote areas of Gilgit-Baltistan. To meet these challenges, there is an economical & social need to empowering women. To this affect, ATTC objective to move forward with new methods and techniques in the teaching with accessibility to latest technology in the training. This could be only possible with the new computerized equipments/ machines to be used in the Technical Training Centre. For this purpose, ATTC is in need of 5 computerized knitting machines, at least 2 Over-locking machines and some other latest machines for meeting the growing admission of this Centre to make women of this area to compete women of rest of the country. These latest equipments can be used with ease and conveniently by women/girls for preparing of their order work including school uniform, bridal dress etc. ATTC, therefore, seeks a helping hand from the donors for  women empowerment of out area.