A story of strength

With the goal of creating sustainable livelihoods for women as well as inclusive communities in rural Pakistan, FrieslandCampina Engro Pakistan Limited initiated the Enhancing Women’s Income through Dairy Interventions (EWID) project in 2019.

Aqsa Bibi is a 24-year-old milk collection agent who was one of the first trainees of the EWID project. And the project helped her overcome many of the challenges she faced in life. Read her personal experience in the story below.

A hard start

“I come from a family of four including two sisters and a brother. After losing my mother at a young age, I was left with no choice but to discontinue my studies and find means of income to support my family.”

Start of the training as part of the EWID project

“I had lost all hope for my future until I was approached by FrieslandCampina Engro Pakistan Limited to take part in the EWID project. I was offered to receive training for a milk collection agent. At first, I was unsure if I would be able to do this because I had never seen a female collection agent in my village before. Nonetheless, with immense support and encouragement from by FrieslandCampina Engro Pakistan Limited, I began my training in April 2020. Knowing that through training and skill development I would be able to achieve financial independence and self-reliance kept me going even through the difficult time of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Overcoming cultural constraints and barriers

“Besides tough operating conditions during the pandemic, I also faced resistance from the local communities that opposed the idea of women stepping outside their households to earn an income. Unfortunately, cultural constraints and barriers continued to remain, not only for me but for other women too, especially when female entrepreneurs started their independent businesses. FrieslandCampina Engro Pakistan Limited conducted sessions on gender equity to help change behaviours and minimise opposition. I am very grateful that the company stood by all trainees, never failed to provide support and successfully found placement for everyone.”

Within a matter of months, I was earning a steady income and supporting my family

A new start in life

“Within a matter of months, I was earning a steady income and supporting my family. I even learnt to ride a bike so that I could travel to the milk collection centres with ease. Young girls in my village now look at me with aspiration in their eyes. This is what truly motivates me to pursue my dreams and empower other women for a better future.”

Along with Aqsa Bibi, FrieslandCampina Engro Pakistan Limited has so far trained 1,452 female farmers in basic livestock training, 52 women as livestock extension workers and 11 women as Village Milk Collection Agents. The impact of this project continues to translate into long-term benefits in the form of better yields, employment opportunities, better care for animals, milk hygiene and improvement of the rural economy.