KICKSTART

KICKSTART would be Pakistan’s first ever state of the art business incubation center at any religious seminary of Pakistan. The project, pilot tested at Jamia Sirajia (female religious seminary), Lahore in 2018 as part of Shaoor Foundation’s project Women Can Do-II would be formally launched at Jamia Naeemia, Lahore. The academy would be headed by Shaoor Foundation (initially) and would be established in collaboration with Jamia Naeemia, Lahore and National Incubation Center, Lahore. Jamia Naeemia and Jamia Sirajia have students from across Pakistan and have associated madrassahs as well, besides being based in provincial capital. The inclusion of Jamia Naeemia and Jamia Sirajia within the entrepreneurial ecosystem of Pakistan would start a new era for seminaries. Shaoor Foundation is in the process of signing a MOU with NIC, Islamabad and would get support them for running the business incubation center and the development of curriculum. The academy would work on professional and entrepreneurial skills development of religious seminary students and would also provide them trainings on mindfulness leading to self-awareness. It wouldn’t just pave more opportunities for youth from religious seminaries, but would also improve economic conditions of boys and girls at religious seminaries. The academy would give them with alternate and contemporary career choices, especially for girls from underprivileged backgrounds studying at religious seminaries. Finally, the academy would be instrumental in developing linkages between religious seminaries and industry/entrepreneurial ecosystem of Pakistan, meanwhile contributing positively to the economic landscape of Pakistan.