Success Story of Safeena

Safeena is a resident of Sathangali UC Hilkot Mansehra. Her father name is Abdul Qayum. She is seventeen years old. She has three brothers and two sisters. She studies in class 7th at Government Girls Middle School (GGMS) Sathangali which is supported by Friends Pakistan. Their family is comprised of eight family members.

Safeena belongs to a very poor family. Her father is a teacher. The daily expenses of their family are greater than their income.The income of her father is meager so he is not able to make proper arrangements for fulfilling all the necessities of his huge family as he only earns in the family.

Safeena has always had a lot of fondness for higher education. Right from her childhood, she wished to become a doctor. She was quite resolute to continue her education until she achieves her goals. She always took distinctive position in her class till her primary education. But when she passed the Primary education at Sathangali, she became very disappointed that there was no institution either government or private at Sathangali for the girls’ education at middle and high level. The nearest Government High school was located seventeen (17) kilometer away from Sathangali in the town of Battal. A jeep track leads to Sathangali from the town of Battal. There is no availability of local transport between Sathangali and Battal. Her father is a sensible person who was aware of the fondness of her daughter and he was ready to facilitate her daughter to continue her education. But it was not possible for him to hire a jeep on rent daily to carry Safeena to Battal for her study. As a result five years ago, Safeena had to suspend her studies after passing the primary level education.

This unavoidable situation had very harsh affects on Safeena as all her aspirations were broken down. She became too much dejected and accepted this as a matter of her poor fate.

In 2007, the government of Pakistan completed the construction of Government Girls Middle School Sathangali on the continuous requests of the local community of Sathangali. But on account of some issues, the District Education Department Mansehra could not hire the staff for this school as a result this building remained empty until the year of 2008. Friends Pakistan after establishing the consensus with the District Education Department Mansehra facilitated the start of regular classes in this school for the girls until the government hires the teachers for GGMS Sathangali.

The start of GGMS Sathangali at Sathangali again aroused the ray of hope in the heart of Safeena as she started to desire again. She resumed her education after five (5) years of discontinuation of his studies. A lot of her time was wasted, but Safeena was still eager to continue her studies. She took very good marks in the examinations of class 6th and now she is studying in the class 7th.

Safeena 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 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.

Safeena is a sensitive, courageous girl, who believes in achieving her career goals in spite of all hurdles and constraints. She says, “I got very disappointed when I had to leave the further studies as there was no school for girls at Sathangali. But still there was a ray of hope in my heart that I will get the opportunity for the continuation of my studies. My prays born fruits though late when Friends Pakistan operationalized the GGMS Sathangali and I immediately got enrolled to resume my studies. In the area of Sathangali the resources of the people are very scarce and people are mostly poor. The situation of women is especially very poor. 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 Safeena is willing to facilitate the studies of Safeena. Her father says, he will feel proud to educate his daughter to fulfill her eagerness for higher education.