This carpentry shop in northern Pakistan is run entirely by women.

In Pakistan, only one in four women is active in the workforce.

But about 80 women are employed at this workshop in the village of Altit, supported by Aga Khan Foundation. They work together to build furniture, and carve products like wooden spoons and signs for local businesses.

These women are earning a living to contribute to their families and local economies, and are role models for the next generation of girls. But these entrepreneurs need more than the skills of the trade – they need tools, too. We support a program to provide training and funds to buy machinery, helping them improve their product line and build their business.

About the Aga Khan Foundation and Aga Khan Development Network

As a member of the Aga Khan Development Network, one of the world’s leading poverty solutions networks, the Aga Khan Foundation engages with communities across Africa and Asia to build better futures together. We believe we all have purpose. Driven by our belief in our shared humanity, we are dedicated to helping all people fulfill that promise for themselves. Each year the Aga Khan Development Network helps improve the quality of life for tens of millions of people in over 30 countries.

Committed to breaking the cycle of poverty, we integrate our efforts across sectors making long-term investments, building lasting institutions and cultivating local civil society. We work for the common good of all citizens, regardless of gender, origin or religion, inspired by compassion and solidarity with the vulnerable in society.

We build quality institutions – clinics, banks and universities – that anchor communities and provide them opportunities to unlock their promise. We are committed to innovative model programs that improve the quality of life for people and can be replicated in the poorest regions of the world. Our approach touches a wide range of investments critical to human development, from early childhood education to health and infrastructure to green space preservation.

Learn more about the Aga Khan Development Network here and more about the Aga Khan Foundation’s approach here.