Group from Pawakai, Peshawar
The good work continued from Group Two to Group Three and we found more parents who were interested in educating their children, but as usual due to certain problems, they weren't able to do so. Thankfully, to Open Doors Literacy Project, their dream came true. The hunt for students began and we managed to pull of the following students.
STUDENTS:
1. Shumaila
2. Shehla
3. Naila
4. Saira
5. Pashmeeno
ABOUT THE STUDENTS:
This was the first group in which all the students were females. 4 of the students were in their early teens while Pashmeeno was 35 year old who was married and had kids. She was a household so it was hard for her to take part in the classes but she still managed to do so. The rest of the students grew up taking care of household chores, sitting around at home and gossiping with their friends in their respective village.
BEFORE THE SESSION:
Before the session, the teenage girls were lifeless. They had nothing more to do than just passing the time without any aim in their lives. They didn't know how to read and write. Shumaila is engaged to a person whom she doesn't even know, haven't even talked to. She just saw his picture and that's it. The rest of the girls would have their share of fun with roaming around the village and find ways and reasons to stay happy. That's all it would happen in their lives. Pashmeeno is a 35 year old woman who has kids and has her house and husband whom she takes care of. She couldn't even think about learning to read and write at this old age and it to her, this was impossible. ODLP made it possible for all of them. Life, which was meaningless and aimless before, has a meaning and aim now. The introduction of books in their lives clearly opened more ways for them to be respectful and do something with their lives.
AFTER THE SESSION:
After 100 days of session, the girls achieved their aim, their task, their mission and made it possible for themselves. The girls were quick learners and are now masters of the course. They can do reading and writing. Pashmeeno is old so she had a hard time getting this right at first, but I have to say she worked tirelessly and is somewhat educated now. Pashmeeno now teaches her own kids at home too and spreading the network in her range. The girls have a vision now and they have aims to become something in their lives. Shehla said in an interview, "I have no idea how my life changed. I feel new. My soul is different now. There is a major difference in the thinking of me and our parents. I like my life now." Shehla said, "Before ODLP, my life was colorless. All I thought about is when I'd get married to that person whom I don't even know. It was depressing. I'll work hard and become a nurse now." Naila and Saira who were the youngest in the Group expressed the same feelings and were pleased that ODLP got introduced in their lives just about at the right time when life was just about to fade away. Pashmeeno said, "Now, I can read about all I can. I can choose my leaders carefully and vote for the person I like. I can read the newspaper and stay updated with what's happening around the world. I can aware myself of all the birth control steps and make sure me and my husband has a proper plan before we decide to have a baby." ODLP gave the teens a chance to stand on their feet, make a name for themselves and when it's time, vote for the right person and play a progressive role in the establishment of Pakistan. In the end, all the students were grateful to ODLP and all the donors who supports this fantastic program which is playing a life-changing role in the lives of women.
GAYLE'S REPORT ON SKYPE SESSION WITH HASSAN AND STUDENTS:
Gayle's report on a Skype session with Hassan and his students: I asked the Group 3 girls if their generation is different from their parents’ generation. They said yes because their parents are illiterate while now that they can read they get more respect and “know better” about some issues. They enjoy reading the newspaper but don’t have access to books except for reading the Koran in Urdu. Shela said, “All they think about is getting us married. Now we think of learning and helping the country grow.” However, Shimala, 14, announced that she was recently engaged to a man she hasn’t met, she’s only seen his photo. His parents want the marriage to be soon, but her parents would like to delay the marriage for about four years. The girls said their parents were supportive of learning, waking them up early to be ready for class. They appreciate it when Hassan brings food for them. Hassan gave me a tour of their place on camera and in the outdoor cooking area with a gas burner we only saw a bowl of vegetables. The house is composed of two rooms with cots and no decoration. Their toilet is a hole in the ground in the yard protected by a wall. I asked if there were any government schools available for them to continue their education, but no, only a distant school that goes to grade three, where—like other government schools on all levels—the teachers don’t come to class.
PICTURES FROM THE CLASS:
STUDENTS:
1. Shumaila
2. Shehla
3. Naila
4. Saira
5. Pashmeeno
ABOUT THE STUDENTS:
This was the first group in which all the students were females. 4 of the students were in their early teens while Pashmeeno was 35 year old who was married and had kids. She was a household so it was hard for her to take part in the classes but she still managed to do so. The rest of the students grew up taking care of household chores, sitting around at home and gossiping with their friends in their respective village.
BEFORE THE SESSION:
Before the session, the teenage girls were lifeless. They had nothing more to do than just passing the time without any aim in their lives. They didn't know how to read and write. Shumaila is engaged to a person whom she doesn't even know, haven't even talked to. She just saw his picture and that's it. The rest of the girls would have their share of fun with roaming around the village and find ways and reasons to stay happy. That's all it would happen in their lives. Pashmeeno is a 35 year old woman who has kids and has her house and husband whom she takes care of. She couldn't even think about learning to read and write at this old age and it to her, this was impossible. ODLP made it possible for all of them. Life, which was meaningless and aimless before, has a meaning and aim now. The introduction of books in their lives clearly opened more ways for them to be respectful and do something with their lives.
AFTER THE SESSION:
After 100 days of session, the girls achieved their aim, their task, their mission and made it possible for themselves. The girls were quick learners and are now masters of the course. They can do reading and writing. Pashmeeno is old so she had a hard time getting this right at first, but I have to say she worked tirelessly and is somewhat educated now. Pashmeeno now teaches her own kids at home too and spreading the network in her range. The girls have a vision now and they have aims to become something in their lives. Shehla said in an interview, "I have no idea how my life changed. I feel new. My soul is different now. There is a major difference in the thinking of me and our parents. I like my life now." Shehla said, "Before ODLP, my life was colorless. All I thought about is when I'd get married to that person whom I don't even know. It was depressing. I'll work hard and become a nurse now." Naila and Saira who were the youngest in the Group expressed the same feelings and were pleased that ODLP got introduced in their lives just about at the right time when life was just about to fade away. Pashmeeno said, "Now, I can read about all I can. I can choose my leaders carefully and vote for the person I like. I can read the newspaper and stay updated with what's happening around the world. I can aware myself of all the birth control steps and make sure me and my husband has a proper plan before we decide to have a baby." ODLP gave the teens a chance to stand on their feet, make a name for themselves and when it's time, vote for the right person and play a progressive role in the establishment of Pakistan. In the end, all the students were grateful to ODLP and all the donors who supports this fantastic program which is playing a life-changing role in the lives of women.
GAYLE'S REPORT ON SKYPE SESSION WITH HASSAN AND STUDENTS:
Gayle's report on a Skype session with Hassan and his students: I asked the Group 3 girls if their generation is different from their parents’ generation. They said yes because their parents are illiterate while now that they can read they get more respect and “know better” about some issues. They enjoy reading the newspaper but don’t have access to books except for reading the Koran in Urdu. Shela said, “All they think about is getting us married. Now we think of learning and helping the country grow.” However, Shimala, 14, announced that she was recently engaged to a man she hasn’t met, she’s only seen his photo. His parents want the marriage to be soon, but her parents would like to delay the marriage for about four years. The girls said their parents were supportive of learning, waking them up early to be ready for class. They appreciate it when Hassan brings food for them. Hassan gave me a tour of their place on camera and in the outdoor cooking area with a gas burner we only saw a bowl of vegetables. The house is composed of two rooms with cots and no decoration. Their toilet is a hole in the ground in the yard protected by a wall. I asked if there were any government schools available for them to continue their education, but no, only a distant school that goes to grade three, where—like other government schools on all levels—the teachers don’t come to class.
PICTURES FROM THE CLASS: