A grassroots initiative with big impact

A grassroots idea with real impact ✨

Last year, following a journey down memory lane in the mountains of northern Pakistan for Amos Doron, and with the support of local volunteer Ayub Khan, the idea emerged to create a women’s vocational centre in a remote village — a practical response to widespread unemployment and limited opportunities for women.

Starting with just a few basic sewing machines, local women learned practical skills, built confidence, and began earning an income for their families. More than 100 women have since completed training, with some running a small shop and others working from home.

We are now raising funds to support further training and to provide equipment where it’s needed, helping the cooperative continue to grow sustainably.

As in many remote societies, girls in the area rarely progress beyond primary education. They are expected to help with domestic duties and, eventually, to marry. Opportunities for independent income or skills development are extremely limited.

With very modest resources, Akram sourced five second-hand, basic manual sewing machines from the Pakistan Army and began teaching women sewing and dressmaking. Alongside these skills, the women learned to make simple handicrafts and were introduced to basic business and marketing concepts.

To date, more than 100 women have completed a basic training programme at the centre. What began in a small workshop grew into something far more ambitious: the women went on to open a shop, run their own small business, and continue earning additional income by sewing garments at home.

During their visit in the summer of 2025, Amos, Marta and Ayub met members of the women’s group and heard first-hand about their aspirations and hopes. Marta’s presence allowed time for relaxed conversation within the vocational center, and the women spoke openly about the difference the project had already made to their lives.

In a culture where opportunities for girls and women are extremely limited, the centre represents a rare chance to gain skills, confidence, and economic independence—benefits that ripple out to families and the wider community.

The women also shared a clear vision for the future: they wanted better-quality, electric industrial sewing machines. These would allow them to significantly expand both the quality and quantity of what they could manufacture, opening up new markets and improving incomes.

In November, the Juniper Trust funded the purchase of heavy-duty electric sewing machines, enabling the Dain Cooperative to restart production and begin rebuilding their dream.

Why our help mattered

This project shows how a small, community-led initiative can transform lives when given just a little support at the right moment. The women of Dain had already shown determination, organisation, and vision. Our help didn’t create that—it simply strengthened it, allowing resilience, dignity, and opportunity to take root again after disaster.

💛 Sometimes, a little support at the right moment makes all the difference.