Theories of Visual Culture.

1) Look around you. Choose a commodity. Trace it back to the person who
produced it. Who are they? What are their working conditions like? How many
layers separate the two parties on either end of this commodity?

Since 1970, Bahbud, now located in phase 5, DHA, Karachi, has been focusing on making the
quality of lives better for women. This non-profit organization supports underprivileged women
in marginalized communities, by providing them education, health and other facilities including
being trained at skilled tasks in order to be able to generate income and be a helping hand.

This non profit organization is in Karachi with seven office bearers, president, one senior vice
president, two vice presidents, general secretary, joint secretary, a treasurer. They also have
fifteen project chairpersons who manage their respective projects. All the positions are given
through elections.

The word “behbud” stands for advancement or upgrade in urdu, reflecting the idea behind the
project. It advances the lives of women through giving them access to education and equipping
them well, to enable them to fight from challenges life has to offer. The project has volunteers,
meaning the entire amount is given to the community and not a percent is distributed amongst
workers.

Skills such as sewing, embroidery,block printing, computer skills, leather crafts, beautician
courses and electrician courses are taught.

The people who work for the craft they are taught usually work in villages with an environment
provided to them. The handcrafted product varies widely in range from an infant’s clothes to
cultural gift items and textiles, accessories etc. The income is used for the benefit of the workers
and the people affiliated with the project.It also collects donations online or in any form, and are
exempted from tax. One more way of income for the Behbud foundation is through its Spring
Fiesta which indulges other brands/projects with the same principles to display their work and
increase footfall.

The product when ordered through a website, when it reaches the consumer, makes them feel as
if they are connected to the people working in the village and that they in one way or the other
helped them shape the future of a person who was once an unskilled person and now has traveled
a journey into producing such products. The consumer tends to feel part of the journey.