Society and culture has been telling us for the longest time that women need men.....
ladiesfund awards
Society and culture has been telling us for the longest time that women need men. They have never treated women at par with men until recent times. Fortunately, with the improvement in the living standards and female literacy rate, women have started reducing their reliance on male members for living by creating new avenues to earn money. With the growth of trading class in the society during past centuries, women started learning basic business skills and acquired formal entrepreneurship knowledge to start-up their own business venture. With the intent of sharing financial burden of family, most women started becoming entrepreneurs .There is a good number of women who choose to start their business venture as a profession and means to secure empowerment in the society.
Ladiesfund (a vehicle of Dawood Global Foundation- DGF) was established in 2007 as an initiative to provide financial security to women and to promote and train women entrepreneurs. It aims to integrate the entrepreneurial needs based on the economic and social aspects of the local communities, with respect to greater women participation in the workforce. Also, every year, the initiative acknowledges female entrepreneurs through Ladiesfund Women’s Awards to lift their spirits so that they do better in future.
Recently, DGF held the 10th Anniversary of the Ladiesfund Women’s Awards for Pakistan, 2018, at Sindh Governor House. There were four hundred of the most dynamic and inspiring women in Pakistan gathered to celebrate the strength and empowerment of women. Also, the event was held to acknowledge the great economic contribution of Pakistani women who are not only job creators but all finalists in Trailblazer and Momentum categories.
The Governor of Sindh, Imran Ismail Sahib, was the Chief Guest for the event. Ladiesfund Lifetime Achievement Award winners, Nasreen Mahmud Kasuri and Tina Sani were guests of honour. Nasreen Mahmud Kasuri is the founder of one of the largest privately-owned education systems in the world with branches in eight countries, student body nearing 300,000 and a staff of approx. 17,000, and flew from Lahore for the occasion. Tina Sani is a Pakistani Ghazal singer who also received the Pride of Performance award from the Government of Pakistan.
Other winners include Idol winners Kareema Juma, Saliha Bibi, as well as People’s Choice winners Trailblazer Sidra Nadeem, Momentum Naila Naqvi and Women of the Year Kamila
Ladiesfund winners Ameena Saiyid (2012), Angie Marshall (2014), Nilofer Saeed (2010) & Yasmeen Lari (2016). Voting was viral via online, radio and television.
Other pre-announced awards included Pakistani Karate champion Nargis Hameedullah (Pioneer), Pakistan’s first crane operators Faryal Anwar, Umama Saleem, Special Kids educationist Fauzia Hussain (Angel), The Garage School’s Shabina Mustafa (Angel) and a post-humous courage award human rights lawyer and social activist Asma Jahangir.
Commendations were also presented in Natasha Ali Lakhani (Beauty), Emaan Mahmud (art), Sophia Balagamwala (art), Samya Arif (art), Dr. Aftab Munir (medicine), Dr. Azra Ahsan (medicine) and Dr. Pushpa Srichand (medicine).
Also, several scholarships were announced for girls such as International Fellowship and Bachelors Scholarship to Iqra University. One of the most emotional moments on stage was a special commemoration of the completion of the education of 2500 deserving girls in Karachi, Lahore and Lagos (Nigeria). Five of the top alumni shared their success stories, and a news anchor Jaweria Ali, announced her donation of a 6th scholarship to help another girl just like the programme has changed her life. ‘Educate a Girl’ is currently fundraising for more scholarships for Lahore, Balochistan and Hyderabad. An online version of the programme is educating one million girls globally in nine languages in partnership with Facebook’s internet.org foundation, and with support from the World Bank. Here’s looking forward to empowering more women!
— You! desk
