Miss Shazia daughter of Mohammad Sain is just fourteen years old. She was living a very simple but happy life before 8th October earthquake with her family. Her family comprised of her father, mother and only one elder brother and they were the only assets of her life. Before earthquake she was living in a village named as Bunbegar (Balakot) which falls in UC Hungari. This village is on one hour jeep drive from Balakot. On the day when earthquake occurred she was in madrassa and was totally unaware of the ominous incident which was going to happen with her. She was lucky enough to escape safely from the building of madrassa and rushed towards her home to know about her father and mother. As soon as she reached the place near to her home there was no such structure which she could call her home. Every thing was razed to ground and these razed materials also engulfed her parents. It was great shock for her and she remained unconscious due to this calamity. She was alone and no one was there at that moment to help her in finding out the dead bodies of her parents. Now life has completely changed for her. Her loving parents are no more with her and she is severely traumatized.

Shazia has one brother and when earthquake occurred he was in Islamabad, serving in some hotel as waiter. After earthquake he left Islamabad and settled with her sister (Shazia) in emergency tent village in Balakot. He is also much shocked due to severe metal stress after his parents death and also as he has to leave his job in Islamabad after earthquake. They lived in tents for few months in emergency situation and when tent village was closed they moved to their aunt in Jaggir (Balakot) UC Karnool. This brother and sister do not want to go back to place of their father and mother accommodation. Their view is that that they cannot live their without the presence of parents and that place recurrently give birth to the memories of their mother and father. Now they are living in tents and the place is provided by their aunt. As the brother of Shazia is jobless now aunt is helping them. Shazia also helps her aunt in house hold activities.

Comments of Shazia

“Sometime when I think about past I cannot believes what happened with my life. Every thing changed within few intervals of time. I miss my parents especially my mother. “With tears in eyes”. I lost my loving parents and friends. I lost all hopes in life; everything was becoming meaningless after this calamity
Once I met with principal of NHA Balakot. She is really very kind with humane heart. She encouraged me a lot to come back to life and with her support I got my identity. The thoughts that that I am women, I could not do anything and I am just burden on my aunt really degrade me in my eyes. In the presence of my parents I never felt like this because they never give any opportunity to think about such thing they were very loving and caring. After joining NHA I have recovered a lot from such pessimistic thoughts. Now I am in NHA Balakot and am happy to study here. Now I have new friends in NHA. I am thankful to all who helped me mentally and financially. Now I wish to become self dependant and want to reduce my burden form my aunt. I want to upgrade my skill via vocational training so that I can run livelihood on my own capabilities and want to cope with future challenges on my own efforts. Through NHA I listened that Friends want to start vocational training for girls but not started yet. I want to make request to Friends to start vocational training it is real requirement for girls who feel more insecure and alone especially after earthquake“