Since 2024, the organisation ‘SAF International’ has expanded ‘Bibi Bhani Sewing Centers’ in north-eastern Punjab to make women employable and create sustainable sources of income for them. The organisation started its first centre near Batala with a very specific and clear vision: to equip women with practical skills so that they could stand on their own feet. Instead of enrolling a large number of participants, the initiative began with a small group of just 12 young women at Dera Baba Nanak (Gurdaspur). The objective was not merely to put on a show, but to bring deep and genuine change into the lives of women. Today, one year later, the positive results of these efforts are clearly visible.
Mehreen’s Story: From Lending a Hand to Becoming a Support for the Household
The story of 20-year-old Mehreen, a resident of village Kot Ahmad Khan, is a living example of this change. In fact, Mehreen lives in a joint family comprising a total of 10 members. Although her father runs a small grocery shop, he is unable to do much strenuous work because one of his arms does not function. On the other hand, although her brother is a doctor and runs his own clinic, managing the expenses of such a large family was still a major challenge.
This is why, after passing Class 12 in 2021, Mehreen started helping her father at the shop. She wanted to support her family financially, but like many other girls in rural Punjab, she too had neither a professional skill nor the right opportunity. During this period, when her father came to know through an acquaintance in Batala about SAF International’s six-month sewing course, Mehreen immediately enrolled in the first batch of the Bibi Bhani Sewing Center.
Learning Skills and Growing in Self-Confidence
Mehreen says that she was quite nervous on the first day because she had no experience in sewing and doubted whether she would be able to learn it. But the guidance of Rimpie Madam, the trainer at Bibi Bhani Sewing Center, and the supportive environment soon removed her hesitation. During the six-month course, Mehreen learned drafting, cutting, sewing, embroidery, hemming and preparing clothing samples.
Along with technical skills, the centre also built self-confidence among the girls, where they were taught how to communicate with customers and trust their own work. Even after the course ended, the bond among these girls has remained intact, and they help one another like a network.
The Journey from Training to Earning
Today, Mehreen can stitch children’s clothes, including Afghani, dhoti and simple suits, very neatly. Thanks to orders received from neighbours and relatives, she is now earning Rs 4,000 to Rs 5,000 every month. Most importantly, she contributes Rs 4,000 from this income directly towards household expenses, which has significantly reduced the financial burden on her father. Now, women in the area prefer getting their clothes stitched by Mehreen instead of local boutiques, which is a reflection of the increased respect she has gained in society.
Expansion of Centres in North-Eastern Punjab
The major success of the first centre proved that there was a strong need for such training programmes for women in this region. Accordingly, the organisation opened a second centre in 2025, and now, in 2026, two more new centres have been started. At present, a total of four ‘Bibi Bhani Sewing Centers’ are successfully operating in north-eastern Punjab. Upon completion of the six-month course, every trainee is provided with a free sewing machine by SAIF International under the ‘Gifts of Compassion’ campaign, so that she can immediately begin earning an income.
Importance of Skill Development Among Women
When a woman becomes skilled, the impact is not limited merely to her personal income. It brings stability to the family, improves the future of the children and changes the woman’s own identity. Economic independence is not limited merely to money; rather, it gives women the right to dignity, respect and equality within the family and society.
Mehreen now wants to open her own boutique in the future and dreams of making a name for herself among women living abroad. Apart from this, ‘Bibi Bhani Sewing Centers’ are an important step towards sustainable development in Punjab, proving that if women are given the right resources and support, they do not merely survive, but also reach new heights of progress.
I have preserved the original claims, sequence, names, figures and even the SAF International / SAIF International variation in the source rather than silently correcting it.
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