Contributed by SRSO SUCCESS team
“I want to struggle more and more for my village and then for the area until our poverty is converted into prosperity, and differences are changed into unity, peace, and tolerance.” This is the renewed spirit Zahida continues with even after her efforts were snubbed bitterly by the male members of her community when she participated enthusiastically in the formation of her village development plan (VDP).
23 year-old Zahida is an orphan. Zahida was elated when she found out her Village Organisation (VO) formed under the EU funded SUCCESS programme, was going to develop a development plan for their village for the first time ever. Excited to participate in the planning process, Zahida eagerly facilitated the arrangements of the VO meeting; male members of the local community were invited become a part of the VDP development process. Seeing Zahida’s active participation in the meeting, few of the male members suddenly raised serious objections on her role as a Community Resource Person (CRP). “It is unacceptable for us that on orphan girl is now leading the entire proceeding,” they said. Consequently, they levelled serious restrictions on Zahida’s frequent mobility within the village restricting her further participation. The meeting concluded without fruitful results and participants dispersed to their homes with no one daring to respond to the restrictions imposed on Zahida.
“I feel the pain of being an orphan, because I know there is no one in my family to support my stance which is purely for the development of our village,” Zahida shared. The very next day, demotivated from the lack of support, Zahida informed the SRSO office of the discontinuation of her role as a CRP for the VO. In the meantime, after Zahida had informed SRSO, the local male leader of their village visited her home and emphasised that she continues her role as a CRP. With the consent of the male leader & other VO members, a broad-based meeting was called in which she was asked to share the programme again in front of those who opposed her as CRP and banned her mobility in the entire village. Upon the request of her VO, she shared the European Union funded SUCCESS programme, the role of COs, VOs, CRPs and the far-reaching benefits of VDP for the favor of the entire village and coming generations. After attending meeting those all male members regretted their conduct and wholeheartedly allowed Zahida to continue her work and efforts with the same zeal and utmost vision.
According to Zahida, her words served as a remedy and she finally succeeded in making a little room in the minds of those who were opposing her activism, hence allowing her to continue her work with renewed determination. She currently serves as the CRP of VO Gaabar, district Larkana.