Award of diplomas for the graduates of capacity building-Workshops in Pakistan

In 2005 Label STEP supported by Democratic Commission for Human Development set up the "Participatory Monitoring and Verification" project. Its objectives are tho train and raise the awareness of people connected with the prodution of rugs and carpets to check the quality of their own working environment and thake the necessary steps for improving the situation. In 70% of the total participants who went through capacity building process are women.

In March 2007 one hundred diplomas were awarded to the graduates of the capacity-building workshops. Within a very short time, these people learned to raise voices for their rights. Under the auspices of the Surveillance Committees in two areas workers get raise in their salaries, 25% additional whatever they were getting for a day and in one community the contractor provided school uniforms to eighty students. These small achievements are creating good examples for others to follow.

Pakistan, April 2007