Human Development Foundation

September 2006

This is the story of an ambitious community member of Bakri Banda II named Husna. Husna is 35 years old and belong to a poor family, but possess strong traits of self- confidence and self-reliance. She lived in Bakribanda with her five children and her husband, who was a “daily wager” earned Rs.1500 per month. As you can imagine, with this small income the family faced great financial difficulties.

The Human Development Foundation performed an assessment of the area, and an area Development Organization was formed. Husna became an active member of the DO and regularly participated in all activities of DO by attending meetings and depositing savings. At the time of Basic Garment Training she had Rs.1200 saved and also joined this skill enhancement training.

Husna faced many challenges, but her punctuality, hard work, and enthusiasm gave her a prominent place in the class. According to her trainer, “She was the most refined and promising trainee of the program.”

Looking at her output, the HDF Social organizer consulted with HRD Section to do something to encourage Husna to realize her potential. HDF then proposed to utilize her as a resource person for trainings of other HDF communities. Husna was tested by the HRD section and passed with flying colors—being declared a good trainer! She was accepted as a trainer to work for HDF’s Skills Enhancement Program.

At the same time a demand came from another area, Faqir Killi of the Union Council Maho Dheri. Because Husna was doing such a great job as a trainer, and because she was eager to continue to expand her position, she was hired as master trainer for this position.

Not only has Husna been rendering her services as a best trainer for the community skill enhancement, she also was helping to support her family so they could all live a better life. At the same time, she was working as an activist to pave the way for more HDF programs in the related area as well.

She expressed her enthusiasm in the following words:

“To me it was a dream to work outside of the house. While I wasn’t permitted outside however when I joined the organization of my village, it gave me the strength and confidence to prove my abilities.”

Enhancing the skills of women in sewing /stitching/embroidery is a traditional, stereotypical training but is laudable achievement both for HDF and community women who have taken the initiatives to cross the boundaries of four walls and traveled out to learn some marketable skills at the centers. The greatest accomplishment is that such activities provide the women /community members with sense of achievement and self-confidence.

Husna is now earning more than Rs.2000/- per month and is engaged in garments training in some villages—independently of HDF. The story of Husna serves as an example of how HDF helps people help themselves.

Date/Time Last Modified: 9/19/2006 7:58:19 PM

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