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Salma Yaqoob, resident of a village Aatao-k-Awan, Jalow Mor, Lahore, belongs to a poor family. She has seven siblings. Her father works in a factory. His monthly income is about $75 which is certainly not enough for the bare necessities.

Salma dreamed of going to school but could not because her parents couldn’t afford to send their children to school. She said whenever she saw girls going to school she used to pray to God one day she could also go to school and gain knowledge and education.

CWDA started a class in 2004 in Aatao-k-Awan, Jalow Mor, Lahore, in which 20 girls participated. Salma was one of them. During the course she showed a great interest in her studies. She was very enthusiastic and punctual.

After completing one year with CWDA, she passionately continued her studies at home and later in 2007 she joined a school. Now she is in grade 8.

Salma says, “CWDA has made my dreams come true. I feel proud of myself that I’m an educated girl not an illiterate anymore. Now I can see the world in a whole different perspective. I have become aware of so many things which I was unaware of earlier.”

She emphasizes, “I still remember all things I learned during health and human rights sessions and I very proudly quote all those points whenever I encounter a likely situation. CWDA has developed a confidence in me that I boldly express my views and become a part of debate in my class and in the society. CWDA has opened a door for me to go as far as I can to gain awareness.

Humaira Muhammad Sadeeq (Muslim) is a former student of one of CWDA classes. Her father, sole earner, works in a shoe factory and earns approximately $67/month. She has 6 siblings. They have despicable living situation. The family can’t even dream of sending the children to school. Education is nowhere in their list of priorities but Humaira’s mother always used to pray for a good future for her children. They couldn’t see any ray of hope until they heard about CWDA. Humaira joined the class in Malipur in 2006. In the class she learned sewing and to read/write and make bags.

She showed great zeal in learning every bit of what was taught in the classes.

Now she is a skillful tailor. She stitches clothes for the people in the neighborhood. She has also learned to make bags and sells them in the market. This has improved the economic situation of the family a little bit.

She says, “I am so happy and feel so privileged that God answered my mother’s prayers and I could attend the classes arranged by CWDA. I will make good use of the skills I learned from the platform of CWDA. When I have children of my own I am going to make sure they go to school and do not have to face the difficulties I had to face.”

Qaisra Tariq lives near Jalow village, Lahore. Her husband works in a factory with a monthly salary of $65. They both have been graced with a son. The current income wasn’t enough for even the basic necessities of a family. The couple was worried about the future of their son. With the growing expenses and the faltering economic condition of the country they were facing only a rise in their worries.

In 2006 when CWDA opened a class in the area, Qaisra was one of the first to enroll for the class. She attended all classes with a hope of learning some skill to improve her financial situation. She worked really hard towards her goal and learned to make flowers.

Her efforts paid off when she started selling the flowers she made. With some extra income coming in, the couple can now think of enrolling their son in a school once he comes of age.

She says, “I am glad there are people like the ones at CWDA who care for the poor as we are. Life was so miserable earlier on. I am so thankful to CWDA for starting the class in my neighborhood. With the extra income coming in, I could even buy my son a few toys to play with.”

Razia Hanooq is a maid working in different houses with her mother. Life has not been easy for her and her family. Being a maid means long hours of laborious work. On top of that maids are usually treated very badly.

On hearing about CWDA class, she saw some hope of getting out of her current occupation. She learned sewing and embroidery. She so wanted to leave working in homes and being humiliated each day, that she put her whole energy into learning the said skills. After working in the mornings, she would run for the classes in the afternoons.

The moment she was confident with the newly learned skills, she left her current occupation.

She said, “I thank CWDA for showing me a way to earn my living in a respectable way. I used to feel so insulted and humiliated working at people’s houses. Now I feel someone of some worth who is doing something productive.”

Mehwish Rafiq’s father works as cheap labor. The family lives in Miriam Colony, Lahore. She is among the poorest of the poor living in the area. The area is very poorly developed with very poor and unhygienic living situation. She is the eldest among 5 siblings. She had a sense of responsibility to improve the situation of the family. She was looking for ways she could earn money and help her family financially by doing something respectable.

She joined a CWDA class offering beautician course. Because she had a sense of responsibility, she paid full attention and ended up being a successful beautician.

She has now managed to send her youngest brother to school and is taking care of some of the family expenses.

“I used to feel so bad” she says “when I was not able to figure out how I could earn some money and help my parents provide for the family. Now at least one of our numbers is able to go to school as well.”