Gultaj

Gultaj is a resident of Cham SathanGali Mansehra. The name of her father is Mr Nawab. She studies in grade five at NHA center Sathangali. She has one younger sister Khusniaz who is of twelve years old. She also studies at NHA center Sathangali.
She belongs to a poor family. Her family consists of eleven members. They have no brother. Her father is elderly and jobless on account of which, he is not be able to make proper arrangements for the bread and butter and other necessities of his huge family. Her father brings woods from the forests and sells it in the market but as he is aged he can not do it regularly. The daily expenses are greater than their income.
Gultage wakes up early in the morning along with her other brother and sisters for saying Morning Prayer. She recites Holy Quran and then she has her morning breakfast. After that she along with her younger sister goes to attend the school for the continuation of her learning. After the school, she helps her mother in her activities as she considers the burden of the work on her is too much and she gets very happy while sharing the burden of her mother. Although she says they do not enjoy the facilities of life but still she is living with her family and she considers herself very lucky.
In the earthquake of October 8th 2005, they lost their house which her father constructed after years long labor work. They remained in tents for several months. Currently they are living in a temporary shelter, where they have to face the chill of the winters and scorching heat of summers. This situation has increased health related issues of their family. There is no health facility available at Sathangali where they might get treatment. For the treatment of his family members Mr. Nawab depends upon the charity of others.
Gultage is a sensitive, courageous girl, who hates to live on charity of others. She desires that her family gets independent in term of its livelihood. She says,
“I always hate to live on the charity of others. No one is willing to help other especially in a poor mountainous area like Sathangali where the resources of the people are very scarce. Every one survives with great difficulty. I think, the reason for poverty in this area is that most of the people are uneducated in our area. I will work hard, and will continue my studies even if I have to work to support my studies and then after having good job, I will support my family”.
Every one of the family of Gultage is willing to continue the studies of Gultage and Khushniaz. Her father says, he has no sons but he will educate his daughters even if he has to request others for support. The ray for hope for the family is the education of Gultage and Khuniaz which can make a prosperous future for them.

Friends Welfare Association Pakistan