Noor Ul Wahab, a 24-year-old resident of Union Council Nisatta in District Charsadda, stands as a compelling example of how targeted vocational support can unlock potential and transform lives. Living in a modest household with his parents and younger siblings, Noor had long demonstrated a natural aptitude for electronics—particularly mobile phone repair. Even as a teenager, he would dismantle and repair broken devices brought to him by neighbors, guided largely by curiosity, instinct, and self-taught problem-solving.
Despite his evident talent, Noor lacked the formal training, professional tools, and market exposure needed to convert his skills into a sustainable livelihood. For years, he worked informally, repairing phones for minimal or no income. Like many young people in his community, he faced prolonged unemployment and the frustration of underutilized potential, with limited opportunities to move forward.
Before joining the BRAVE Project, Noor’s life was marked by uncertainty. Although he possessed basic technical knowledge, he lacked direction, confidence, and the resources required to establish himself professionally. With few job prospects in the region, he struggled to contribute meaningfully to his household’s income.
That opportunity came when CESVI, through FCDO-funded Building Resilience Addressing Vulnerability to Emergencies in Pakistan (BRAVE) Project, conducted a Mobile Repairing Training in Charsadda. Noor was selected as a participant and immediately showed promise. Over the course of the training, he gained not only technical skills aligned with market demand but also exposure to entrepreneurial practices and customer engagement strategies.
The impact of the program was further amplified by the provision of a starter toolkit upon completion of the course. For Noor, the toolkit represented far more than equipment—it was the foundation of his future.
“The training gave me confidence. The toolkit gave me a start. And now I have a steady income. I feel hopeful about the future,” Noor shares.
Today, Noor is a self-employed mobile repair technician, serving clients within his community and beyond. He now earns an average monthly income of over PKR 25,000, along with a 70 percent commission on service charges exceeding PKR 1,500. His professionalism, reliability, and consistent service quality have earned him trust and a growing customer base. More importantly, he has gained financial stability, self-confidence, and social recognition.
Noor learning the tricks
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Noor’s journey is more than a story of income generation—it is a story of dignity, resilience, and self-reliance. His transformation reflects the broader impact of the BRAVE Project in creating pathways for young people to rise above poverty through skills development and entrepreneurship. By unlocking his own potential, Noor is now inspiring other youth in his village to pursue similar opportunities.
His experience embodies the core vision of the BRAVE Project: empowering communities through knowledge, equipping individuals with tools for sustainable livelihoods, and fostering resilience in the face of socio-economic challenges. Noor’s journey from limited prospects to sustainable self-employment highlights the transformative power of well-designed vocational interventions—and the promise they hold for building brighter, more independent futures for countless young people.
