Samsung in collaboration with Kaarvan Crafts Foundation and Punjab Skill Development Fund is encouraging financial inclusion of women through digital literacy and provision of technology at the grass root level

Lahore, October 11, 2019: Samsung introduces the second edition of Aangan to improve the financial outlook and create opportunities for women in partnership with Kaarvan Crafts Foundation and Punjab Skill Development Fund. Through Aangan, Samsung is reviving and celebrating Pakistani female rural artisans and their craftsmanship and becoming the enabler for financial inclusivity. The official MOU signing ceremony for this year’s edition of Aangan took place at the Samsung head office in Lahore. The MOU was signed by Mr. Roy Chang – Managing Director Samsung Electronics Pakistan, Mr. Danish Jabbar Khan – Chief Executive Officer Kaarvan Crafts Foundation and Mr. Jawad Khan – Chief Executive Officer Punjab Skill Development Fund. Speaking at the event, Mr. Roy said: “At Samsung, our Global Corporate Citizenship vision is ‘Enabling People’. By providing education for future generations, we empower future innovators to achieve their full potential and become the next generations of leaders to pioneer positive social change.” Aangan is an initiative that aims to revolutionize every courtyard, in every home; creating female micro-entrepreneurs (MEs) in various villages all across Punjab. Aangan started last year in partnership with Kaarvan Crafts Foundation with 80 micro-entrepreneurs (MEs) garnering massive success and helping these MEs earn an additional 12% on average and hence contributing towards their improved financial standing. This year the programme has been expanded to 140 micro-entrepreneurs with the inclusion of graduates from the Skills for Market Linkages (SFML) initiative of PSDF; providing them with market linkages through the aanganpk.com marketplace and transforming skilled craftswomen into business women. Mr. Jawad Khan, CEO, PSDF said, “PSDF is keenly engaged in creating market access and linkages for its beneficiaries through the use of technology, especially for rural women, who find it difficult to identify, access and serve local and international markets. Through the Aangan platform, PSDF is confident that it will successfully overcome these challenges and contribute towards higher income generation opportunities for its beneficiaries.” Mr. Danish Khan, CEO Kaarvan Crafts Foundation said, "The idea of Aangan is to unlock the potential of the Female Artisans living in far flung areas of Pakistan with Digital Market Linkages where they can sell directly to the customers without any intermediary. Now, that is a game changer when these artisans embrace technology as an opportunity and that is what we are doing through Aangan.’ Aangan in an all-inclusive initiative that provides rural women with multi-fold trainings; ranging from skill development and refinement, product enhancement and digital literacy trainings. It also provides them with access to smartphones, internet and an online marketplace (www.aanganpk.com) to register and sell their products directly to end consumers all across Pakistan with the aim to help expand the social and economic capacities of rural women – to contribute to the well-being of self, family and society. About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd: Samsung inspires the world and shapes the future with transformative ideas and technologies. The company is redefining the worlds of TVs, smartphones, wearable devices, tablets, digital appliances, network systems, and memory, system LSI, foundry and LED solutions. For the latest news, please visit the Samsung Newsroom at http://news.samsung.com. About Kaarvan Crafts Foundation: Crafts Foundation was established in 2004 and is incorporated as a Not-for-Profit company registered under Section 32 and licensed under Section 42 of Companies Ordinance, Pakistan. It’s a hub of innovation, passion and humility. Kaarvan believes that every woman has the right to earn a dignified livelihood. It provides life skills to Pakistani Rural Women in order to build their confidence to participate in local decision-making and carving connections with relevant urban markets. Kaarvan has developed a holistic practice of immersive grassroots operational fieldwork for the rural women to develop socially constructive attitudes and behaviors - Skills to craft a living as right to development, right to peace and right to healthful environment. Till date Kaarvan has mobilized, trained and empowered more than 24,000 rural women in 15 districts across Pakistan - expanding economic opportunities for them to earn their own income. About PSDF - A Success Story of Public-Private Partnerships: Punjab Skills Development Fund (PSDF) is the largest skills development fund in Pakistan. PSDF was established in 2010 as a not-for-profit company set up under the Companies Ordinance 1984 by the Government of Punjab (GoPb) in collaboration with UK’s Department for International Development (DFID). PSDF also exclusively manages the skills training funding of the World Bank. PSDF’s purpose is to shape the future and well-being of our poor and vulnerable youth by giving them access to skills training of the highest standard so they can find sustainable employment and income-generating opportunities in Pakistan and beyond. PSDF started its operations in the 4 poorest districts of Punjab. Since 2016, The geographical remit has expanded to the entire 36 districts of Punjab. PSDF has trained almost 300,000 underprivileged youth across Punjab, which includes 180,000+ male and 110,000+ female graduates. These graduates have been trained in approximately 250 demand-driven and market relevant trades across 10 sectors. PSDF has played a leadership role in creating a skills training market with 90% training partners in the private sector. With 400 training partners that deliver training on behalf of PSDF, out of which over 150 are businesses across the 10 sectors. PSDF has adopted an output-based funding mechanism where it funds contract-to-completion outputs as well as completion-to-income generation outcomes. PSDF – Media Enquiries Communications Team: Punjab Skills Development Fund (PSDF), Contact: +92-42-35752408-10 E-mail: communications@psdf.org.pk Follow PSDF on Social Media Website: www.psdf.org.pk LinkedIn: Punjab Skills Development Fund (PSDF) Facebook:/punjabskillsdevelopmentfund Twitter: @PSDF_official YouTube: /punjabskillsdevelopmentfund