Gap plans to train almost one million women garment factory workers at its vendors’ factories by 2020. While globally 80 per cent of garment factory workers are women, there is a lack of training to take them to the next level in their employment. Gap now aims to extend its Personal Advancement & Career Enhancement (P.A.C.E.) program launched in 2007, to these women. The program was created with partners like CARE and the International Centre for Research on Women.
“From Phnom Penh to Pittsburgh, women share in common an ambition to advance. What some lack are opportunities, particularly access to education,” Art Peck, Gap CEO, announced during the Clinton Global Initiative, adding, “We are committed to advancing the lives of one million women by expanding our P.A.C.E. program, and we hope others will join us.”
P.A.C.E. provides life-skills classes to female garment workers through a curriculum that includes up to 80 hours of classes in nine subject areas like communication skills, financial literacy, time and stress management, problem-solving and decision-making.
The Clinton Global Initiative, established in 2005 by ex-US President Bill Clinton, convenes global leaders to create and activate solutions to the world’s most pressing problems. Educating women workers worldwide is high on the list and since 2012, he has been supporting the P.A.C.E. program encouraging the brand to reach out to more women worldwide.
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