KARACHI: Circle, a social enterprise focused on women’s economic empowerment, held a launch ceremony yesterday for the new phase of its highly successful Tech Karo program, which aims to create a pipeline of youth in tech by providing web development and life skills, with a special focus on women and those from underserved communities.
The new phase will cover three years from 2019-2021, training 430 students in web development, UI/UX design and digital marketing, impart life skills, provide counselling and mentorship, and guarantee internship and job placements to at least 60 percent of the graduates.
This builds upon its 2018 success of graduating 50 students, of which 62 percent were female, more than 30 internship and job placements at leading tech companies where they are earning between PKR 10,000 – PKR 50,000 per month, over 200 hours of web development sessions, and more than 100 hours of life skills sessions and 30 hours of tech mentorship.
Investing in technology skills of youth, especially women, is pivotal for Pakistan’s progress and prosperity. Women constitute only 25% of the formal labour force in Pakistan, with numbers even lower in the IT sector at 14% as part of the work force and 13% in management positions.
Speaking at the occasion, Circle Founder Sadaffe Abid said, “Technology is an equalizer. As a country Pakistan should invest heavily in bringing technology to our youth especially women. Tech Karo demonstrates that girls can do anything, and yes they can code!”
Tech Karo’s main sponsor is Engro Vopak CEO Jahangir Piracha. Speaking on his behalf at the event was Sadaf Aslam, Engro Vopak Head of HR, who mentioned that “my parents were always there to support me and my sisters to achieve the highest attainable possible, irrespective of financial considerations”. Today, Sadaf is trailblazing a path for many women within Engro.
Circle and Engro Vopak strongly believe in an economically vibrant Pakistan, whose foundation is based on investing in its greatest resource, the youth, and in cutting edge sectors. The 3-year Tech Karo program is leap in that direction.
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