Artisans of Integrated People
There are many women working with Integrated People, each one having a fantastic and unique story. The following people are involved with creating these special handicrafts from materials they have found and chosen to reuse. These women have spent countless hours working on some of these crafts, trying to perfect them and put there own distinctive spin on each craft. Each of these women have a child that attends or has attended Kiran School in Liyari, an impoverished area of Karachi, Pakistan. This school is set to be the first "Innovation Sandbox" for Integrated People.
If you would like to contact a specific artisan and/or place an order, please contact Integrated People by sending an email to [email protected]
Ambreen Munawar Ali
Ambreen, born in Karachi, Pakistan, has been living in Liyari for her entire life. During the day she takes care of her house. She is married to Munawar Ali, who works as a shop keeper (earning 55 USD per month) and has 2 kids. The eldest daughter attends an innovative pre-school that goes by the name of Kiran School, which serves as the "Innovation Sandbox" in this community. Ambreen has shown a lot of enthusiasm for the art, and hopes to improve her household income significantly through working with Integrated People. Ambreen specializes in making paper mache necklackes, pens decorated with intricate thread-work and plastic-bag crocheted bracelets.
Mumtaz Ibrahim
Mumtaz, born in Karachi, Pakistan, has been living in Liyari for 2 years. Before that she lived in Badin for 10 years. During the day she stitches cloths for herself and for her relatives and neighbors. She is married to Muhammad Ibrahim, who works as a drycleaner and an iron man (earning 75 USD per month) and has 3 kids, 2 daughters and a son. The youngest and only son attends a pre-school that goes by the name of Kiran School, which serves as the "Innovation Sandbox" in this community. Mumtaz has shown a lot of interest and is very hard working. She hopes to improve her household income significantly through developing quality crafts. Mumtaz specializes in making bracelets from plastic bags, laptop covers, hair bands, mobile pouches and bags.
Tasleem Shahid Ahmed
Tasleem, born in Peshawar, Pakistan, has been living in Lyari for 15 years. During the day she takes care of her house. She is married to Shahid Ahmed, who works as laborer in construction in Abu Dhabi (earning 250 USD per month) and has 5 kids, 3 sons and 2 daughters. One of her son’s attended Kiran School, the "Innovation Sandbox" for Lyari / Karachi. Tasleem has shown a lot of enthusiasm and dedication, and hopes to improve her household income significantly through Integrated People's initiative. Tasleem specializes in making plastic bag bracelets, and baby blankets.
Naureen Asif
Naureen, born in Karachi, Pakistan, has been living in Lyari for 12 years. During the day she takes care of her house. She is married to Muhammad Asif, who works as a tour guide in Saudi Arabia (earning 50 USD per month) and has 3 kids. Her eldest daughter is grade 3 at HM (a small school in Lyari). Her son is an alumi of Kiran School, which serves as the "innovation sandbox" in this community and her youngest daughter is currently attending Kiran Pre-School. Naureen has shown a lot of enthusiasm for the art, and hopes to improve her household income through working with Integrated People. Naureen specializes in clips and hair bands.
Zaida Khan
Zaida, born in Karachi, Pakistan, has been living in Liyari her whole life. During the day she stitches cloths. She is married to Ghulam Rasool, who works as a fisherman (earning 50USD per month) and has 2 kids. Her youngest daughter attended an innovative pre-school that goes by the name of Kiran School, which serves as the "innovation sandbox" in this community. Zaida is part of the first 10 ladies that have agreed to experiment with crafting goods out of recyclables, such that they can be market-tested at Penn State University. Zaida has shown a lot of enthusiasm and passion for making items, and hopes to improve her quality of life through working with Integrated People. Zaida specializes in making coin pouches, sunglass pouches and laptop cases.
Nazia M. Usman
Nazia, born in Karachi, Pakistan, has been living in Liyari for her entire life. During the day she takes care of her house and gives tuitions to young children in the neighborhood. She is married to Muhammad Usman, who works in a local publishing company (earning 55 USD per month) and has 3 children, 2 sons and one daughter. Her daughter attended Kiran School, which serves as the "Innovation Sandbox" in this community. Nazia has shown a lot of devotion for art, and hopes to improve her household income while working with Integrated People. Nazia specializes in making bracelets from jute threads and crochet hair bands.
Rehana Naz Pervaiz
Rehana Naz, born in Saukar (a small town in interior Sindh), Pakistan, and has been living in Lyari for the past 13 years. She is 23 and was married at the age of 19. She is married to Pervaiz, who works as a driver (earning 100 USD per month) and has 3 daughters. Her eldest daughter is studying in Gul-Noor school in 2nd grade. Her second daughter is an alumni of Kiran School. Her youngest daughter is attending Kiran Pre-School. During the day Rehana stitches cloths for herself and her neighbors. She charges 10 USD for one balochi suit which is made with intricit work done with threads and mirros. Rehana has shown a lot of eagerness and has worked extremely hard, and hopes to generate a steady income while working with Integrated People. Rehana specializes in making Belts and hair bands.
Hamida Nadeem
Hamida, born in Karchi, Pakistan, has been living in Liyari her whole life. During the day she takes care of her house. She is married to Nadeem, who works as a tailor (earning 55 USD per month) and has one son. He attendsKiran School, which serves as the "Innovation Sandbox" in this community. Hamida has shown a lot of keenness and honesty with her work, and hopes to improve her household income significantly through Integrated People. Hamida specializes in making baby blankets and table mats.
Bilquis Khan
Bilquis, born in Karachi, Pakistan, has been living in Lyari her whole life. During the day she stitches cloths. She is married to Abdul Rehman, who works as a fisherman (earning 75 USD per month) and has one daughter. Her daughter attended Kiran School in this community. Bilquis has shown a lot of fervor for the art, and hopes to improve her household income significantly through Integrated People. Bilquis specializes in making envelopes.
Ruqaiya Anwar
Ruqaiya, born in Karachi, Pakistan, has been living in Lyari her whole life. During the day she takes care of her house. She is married to Anwar Shah, who works as a laborer (earning 120 USD per month) and has 3 kids, 2 sons and one daughter. Her youngest son attended Kiran School. Ruqaiya has shown a lot of spirit for art, and hopes to develop a steady income through working with Integrated People. Ruqaiya specializes in making plastic bag bracelets and baby blankets.
Samina M. Amin
Samina, born in Karachi, Pakistan, has been living in Lyari her entire life. During the day she takes care of her house. She is married to Muhammad Amin, who works as a secretary (earning 30 USD per month) and has 5 kids, 4 daughters and one son. One of her daughters attended Kiran School. Samina is part of the experiment with crafting goods out of recyclables, such that they can be market-tested at Penn State University. Samina has just become a part of our team of 11, and hopes to benefit her family by working with Integrated People. Samina specializes in making table mats.
