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Educating beneficiaries on micro-finance loans: Workshop report with Kashf Foundation

This meeting report details how the Kashf Foundation workshop effectively fulfilled its objective of educating beneficiaries on the intricacies of securing loans from Kashf Foundation. Participants departed with a heightened comprehension of microfinance and the nuanced facets of borrowing. This bolstering of financial literacy equips beneficiaries to make informed and prudent financial choices, harnessing available resources for their economic betterment. In essence, the session not only imparted knowledge but also empowered individuals to leverage their newfound insights to enhance their financial well-being and capitalize on opportunities for economic advancement. The meeting took place in June 2023 at PAIMAN’s Skill Building Institute in Charsadda, Pakistan.
PAIMAN Trust (2023) Educating beneficiaries on micro-finance loans: Workshop report with Kashf Foundation

Educating-beneficiaries-on-micro-finance-loans-Workshop-report-with-Kashf-Foundation-Pakistan-2023

The Culture and Conflict Project: Transformations and Empowerment End of Project Report

The primary objective of this report was to reflect upon, review and assess work completed on this project over 2022-24. This was undertaken through review of fieldwork data from Afghanistan, India, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan, ultimately crafting country-specific curated lists of traditional practices to inform product design training. This training was delivered to all partners in South Asia in three phases between 2022 and 2023. Training was delivered for Afghanistan and Pakistan partners in Kandy, Sri Lanka in October 2022, for Indian partners in Jammu and Srinagar in December 2022, and for Sri Lankan partners in Batticaloa and Mannar in January 2023. Key components of training design include data analysis of raw field data collected from the partners, selecting viable crafts for product design training, data analysis of specific crafts to develop product design training which is bespoke to these practices, context analysis of geography for access, language for training, mobility for planning of training, access to materials and resources that are sustainable in the long run. The following crafts were shortlisted and focused upon for the project: Khammak Dozi embroidery, Charma Dozi leather embroidery and Afghan carpets in Afghanistan; Basohli art, Sozni embroidery and crewel work embroidery in India; Pang Pedura (palm) weaving, Dambura Ratta weaving in Sri Lanka; Swati and Charsuti embroidery, and carpet making in Pakistan.
Suri and Raina (2024) The Culture and Conflict Project: Transformations and Empowerment End of Project Report; Gender, Justice and Security Hub, LSE.

The-Culture-and-Conflict-Project-Transformations-and-Empowerment-End-of-Project-Report-2024-Suri-and-Raina

Conflict and Culture Post Design Intervention Report by Tanya Zakir

The design intervention was not only an essential step but also one that opened the door to further conversations regarding a range of topics. From the foundational requirements of the craftswomen associated with our project to the larger picture of how crafts persons navigate their space in the Jammu and Kashmir economy, we touched on complicated threads related to the livelihoods of those in the handicrafts business. The setting of the design intervention for the Kashmiri women was highly interesting. It allowed for the intersection of all the women’s experiences, singular and collective. Singularly, the women carry stories of violence, sexism, lack of targeted resources, and sacrifice. Collectively, the women carry stories of violence, religious and political divides, a sense of loss, and much more. In this brief report, we analyse and expand on key themes that came up during the intervention.
Tanya Zakir (2022) Conflict and Culture Post Design Intervention Report

Conflict-and-Culture-Post-Design-Intervention-Report-by-Tanya-Zakir

Culture and Conflict: A Reflection by Aamir Ganaie

Jammu and Kashmir, a region with an extraordinary past, intertwines its art, craft, and culture. Women have dedicatedly guarded the customary art and craft of Jammu and Kashmir- a significant ingredient of its rich culture. The territory is well-known for producing exceptional handicrafts through conventional skills and techniques. Papier-mâché products, Pashmina shawls, carpets, embroidery as well as woodwork are amongst the most sought-after handicrafts made here. The women from this region have been paramount in preserving these handcrafts while promoting them worldwide. The womenfolk of Jammu and Kashmir possess incredible talents in a variety of crafts. Several among them came together to form cooperatives and self-help groups to lend support to one another while endorsing their masterpieces. These groups have played an essential part unfurling opportunities for womenfolk to showcase their abilities along with marketing their goods using various platforms. In Jammu and Kashmir, crafting delicate and exquisite shawls from the wool of Pashmina goats is a renowned handicraft. Highly skilled female artisans in this region use traditional techniques like handloom weaving and embroidery to craft unique designs and patterns on these shawls. These skilled craftspeople also engage in papier-mâché, an art form that has been passed down for several generations by practicing detailed designs with a mixture of water, glue, and paper pulp. Jammu and Kashmir is renowned not only for its artistry but also for its culinary excellence in addition to handicrafts. Unquestionably, the region epitomizes itself with a rich and flavourful gastronomy, including savoury delights like Rogan Josh, Yakhni, and Wazwan. With their irreplaceable contributions, women have been the driving force behind preserving these age-old dishes and popularizing them among upcoming generations. The “Culture and Conflict” project places a great emphasis on the important resource that is the women artisans’ hidden stories. These experiences are crucial to understanding crafts not just as objects, but also as sites of identity, healing, transformation, and peace. The project recognizes the significance of using feminist theory, peace-building practice and experiential methodology to create a comprehensive framework for transformational learning. In so doing, it establishes a robust foundation for individuals to embark on their personal journeys towards growth and development. This piece features reflections from researcher Aamir Ganaie about their work with communities as part of this project.
Culture and Conflict: A Reflection by Aamir Ganaie

Culture-and-Conflict-A-Reflection-by-Aamir-Ganaie

Culture and Conflict Field Research Pack 2020

Jammu and Kashmir, a region with an extraordinary past, intertwines its art, craft, and culture. Women have dedicatedly guarded the customary art and craft of Jammu and Kashmir- a significant ingredient of its rich culture. The territory is well-known for producing exceptional handicrafts through conventional skills and techniques. Papier-mâché products, Pashmina shawls, carpets, embroidery as well as woodwork are amongst the most sought-after handicrafts made here. The women from this region have been paramount in preserving these handcrafts while promoting them worldwide. The womenfolk of Jammu and Kashmir possess incredible talents in a variety of crafts. Several among them came together to form cooperatives and self-help groups to lend support to one another while endorsing their masterpieces. These groups have played an essential part unfurling opportunities for womenfolk to showcase their abilities along with marketing their goods using various platforms. In Jammu and Kashmir, crafting delicate and exquisite shawls from the wool of Pashmina goats is a renowned handicraft. Highly skilled female artisans in this region use traditional techniques like handloom weaving and embroidery to craft unique designs and patterns on these shawls. These skilled craftspeople also engage in papier-mâché, an art form that has been passed down for several generations by practicing detailed designs with a mixture of water, glue, and paper pulp. Jammu and Kashmir is renowned not only for its artistry but also for its culinary excellence in addition to handicrafts. Unquestionably, the region epitomizes itself with a rich and flavourful gastronomy, including savoury delights like Rogan Josh, Yakhni, and Wazwan. With their irreplaceable contributions, women have been the driving force behind preserving these age-old dishes and popularizing them among upcoming generations. The “Culture and Conflict” project places a great emphasis on the important resource that is the women artisans’ hidden stories. These experiences are crucial to understanding crafts not just as objects, but also as sites of identity, healing, transformation, and peace. The project recognizes the significance of using feminist theory, peace-building practice and experiential methodology to create a comprehensive framework for transformational learning. In so doing, it establishes a robust foundation for individuals to embark on their personal journeys towards growth and development. This piece features reflections from researcher Aamir Ganaie about their work with communities as part of this project.
Culture and Conflict: A Reflection by Aamir Ganaie

Culture-and-Conflict-Field-Research-Pack-2020

Product Design Training for Women Artisans organised in J&K

Yakjah Reconciliation and Development Network, a non-profit social innovation working for youth peacebuilding leadership and women’s empowerment organized a ‘Product Design Training’ workshop for women artisans of Jammu and Kashmir. The training held from December 12-22, 2022 in Srinagar and Jammu is part of a five year research project on ‘Culture and Conflict’ in partnership with London School Of Economics’s Gender Justice and Security Hub funded by the United Kingdom Research Innovation (UKRI) Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) for achieving Sustainable Development Goals of the UN. This project aims to understand these cultures to explore their potential as the starting point for discussions about livelihood and peace. The training brought together 12 Kashmiri women, six Kashmiri Pandit women artisans from Jagti refugee camp, and six from Srinagar doing Sozni embroidery. In Jammu 11 Basohli artisans from Basohli, Kathua and Jammu city participated in the workshop. The aim of the workshop was to allow women to explore and understand color combinations, designs, patterns and texture. The artisans also experimented with different fabrics and mediums. The idea is to support, promote and empower them to reach out to different markets to sell their innovative products which will be exhibited next year in India and the UK. The project will look into developing women’s sustainable livelihood and impacting policy. As such Yakjah envisages collaboration with multiple stakeholders to enhance women artisans’ productivity and livelihood.
Journalist (2022) Product Design Training for Women Artisans organised in J&K, The Real Kashmir News

Product-Design-Training-for-Women-Artisans-organised-in-JK-The-Real-Kashmir-News-Article

The Culture and Conflict Project – Forum with Policy Makers Report – PAIMAN

PAIMAN have been engaging and advocating with policy makers since 2011 regarding inclusion of women in policy frameworks, decision making and implementation pertaining to peace, security and disaster. As a result Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) of Khyber Pukhtunkhwa with the active support of PAIMAN now has gender-responsive Relief and Recovery (R&R) policy as compared to other PDMAs in Pakistan. However, there still arise serious issues of implementation when it comes to R&R in post conflict/ disasters and emergencies situations. Under Conflict and Culture Stream of GCRF Hub an orientation and policy impact and advocacy forum with Members of National Assembly and Provincial Assembly Khyber Pukhtunkhwa, government officials of KP Disaster Management Authority and elected representative of local government was organized on May 18th, 2023 at Serena Hotel Islamabad. The aim was to engage and sensitize them regarding the impact of conflict, violent extremism and displacement on education, health and livelihood of women and girls and ways of addressing these issues. In her opening remarks, Mossarat Qadeem Executive Director of PAIMAN gave an introduction of the initiative and said this five year research project has built links between economic development which is gender focused, and peacebuilding. In Pakistan communities of women and men in remote and rural locations, have engaged with culturally valuable practices, to generate sustainable incomes. In developing nations sustainability of incomes and livelihoods is closely linked to indicators of peaceful and just societies. In Pakistan, insatiable and fragile regions, and their communities, are often seen as independent and distant from the centre. These multiple exclusions by geography, gender, and informal sector working often leave behind those communities who are engaged in traditional practices of making which have long histories. This multi year project in South Asia, funded by United Kingdom Research and Innovation, is based at London School of Economics and Middlesex University. This report details what happened at the forum.
PAIMAN Trust (2023) The Culture and Conflict Project: Forum with Policy Makers Report

Conflict-and-Culture-Project-Impact-Report-–-Pakistan-Paiman-Trust

Culture and Conflict – Crafts Project Report

The Culture & Conflict project is based at Middlesex University (UK) and at Laajverd in Pakistan. The project is part of the GCRF Gender, Justice and Security Hub at London School of Economics and it contributes to the work stream entitled ‘Transformation and Empowerment.’ The crafts report, written by the consultant Nitin Goyal, as a part of this project aims to provide valuable feedback and recommendations on the regional artisanal crafts practised by women in the four selected countries of Afghanistan, Pakistan, India & Sri Lanka with an objective to enhance their craft work across the selected regions and provide them a sustainable living. To form this report, the consultant has studied, researched and analysed the online data & additional images provided by the team across different product categories in the four countries. The given data has been used to study, understand and arrive at a selection of craft/ product categories per country. The selection is based on the product origin, pattern, design, making process, product type, quality, finish and end use of the product in relation to its craft techniques. This is then married to its relevance and fitment to the current international demands in textile product categories & markets and its suitability to the end consumers tastes globally. It is to be noted that the report is based primarily on the online data provided. Unfortunately, in-person & virtual workshops and trainings with the crafts women has not been possible as was originally planned, due to the COVID pandemic and required timescales, to inform this report. Whilst digital images can never replace the actual physical pieces of work, especially when it comes to textiles, where ‘touch and feel’ is key to any evaluation, feedback and recommendation, the available online data has been used to write this report. The consultant believes by marrying these age-old craft techniques with new contemporary designs & market tastes will help the crafts women to upskill their craft techniques and create new products that are globally appealing, thus opening international markets to them and help retain its craft roots, along with providing them with a sustainable living. This would hopefully also engage a wider audience and younger people within these communities to carry on with the craft-making techniques for generations to come. The report is divided by four countries and further sub-sections into cluster regions and selected product types.
Goyal (TBC) Culture & Conflict: Crafts Project Report

Culture-and-Conflict-Crafts-Project-Report-Nitan-Goyal

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