From struggle to empowerment

My name is Sajida, a mother of five children, facing challenges and hardships every day and at each step of my life for survival. My husband had an accident in which both his legs were compromised and now he is hardly able to work as a laborer and it was almost impossible to make ends meet. Life took an even more challenging turn when I found that, Oh…. I am pregnant, again! I was stressed, overwhelmed with mixed feelings of joy and sorrow and completely lost in thoughts of upcoming insecurities and uncertainties of future which this pregnancy and childbirth will entail!

While wandering in my thoughts and concerns of imminent adversities, I saw my neighbor friend who was passing by. She greeted me and insisted on accompanying her and attending the community health education and counselling session organized by KHUDDI Research & Development, an organization aimed to serve vulnerable and marginalized communities.

Shattered in my life, I reluctantly accompanied her to attend the health education session. But it proved to be a truly lifetime learning opportunity which transformed my entire well-being. I met the KHUDDI team, learnt about safe motherhood and later they carefully listened to my problems, counseled and promised to arrange for my ante-natal check-ups at the public sector hospital. The conversation with KHUDDI team was highly motivating and encouraging that they made me realize that I am a beautiful mother, skillful woman and caregiver for the entire family. I felt as if, I am out of this world and am a happy woman, full of life!

The next day, I was accompanied by the KHUDDI team to the Mother & Child Health Center at public sector referral hospital in Islamabad, Pakistan. I enrolled, had ante-natal checkup along with routine laboratory investigations, ultrasound, received TT vaccine and the iron and folic acid tablets. I am now regularly going for my monthly check-ups.

KHUDDI team also introduced me to a respectable family who needed a part-time female cook. I was encouraged by the KHUDDI team that I can cook very well and of course, with that inspiration and slight training, I passed the cooking test and secured the job of a part-time cook!

Thankfully, I am now an empowered sole bread earner of the family with stable income, taking care of my pregnancy needs and serving as the role model for other women in my community. My self-confidence is growing with each step, and I keep on sharing my wonderful experiential learning to uplift other women to recognize their worth, meet with KHUDDI team and seek opportunities for themselves and their families in the toughest of times.