Master Trainer assuming Multiple Roles

Belonging to a poor family in small village of Qualandi, Dir Upper, Ahmad had been only educated

person in his family. Having financed his graduation/post graduation degrees by tutoring school

children, he had etched out a different fate for himself; one that would allow him to lead a life of

dignity. After completion of his studies, months of unemployment left him disillusioned, his socio -

economic distress slowly pushed him towards radicalism. As time passed, his interaction with SRSPs staff

increased, which led to his selection as a master trainer. Today he is one of the most active activists,

besides serving as district team leader for Association for Behavior & Knowledge Transformation. If

efforts of progarmme continue to touch lives of people like Ahmad by empowering them and engaging

them in society, it will bring a new dawn of peace and prosperity in the region.

Master Trainers; Catalyst for local development through Social Mobilization

Sahib Khan, a 26 years old young teacher, belongs to union council Minadam, District Swat. When he

heard of EU PEACE, he approached SRSP local team to form community based organization. Being

educated, he had been a useful resource to deliver sessions in C/LMSTs. Taking EU PEACE to masses, he

has been able to influence other communities to form CBOs in their respective areas for improving and

strengthening their livelihoods. Due to his efforts 58% of the total households in his UC have been

organized in 9 out of the 10. Sahib has a passion to form a local development organization in his UC to

benefit local men and women.

Empowering Women through Exposures

A group of women travelling independently to another District to participate in an experience sharing

forum is a rare sight in rural Pakistan where gender stereotypes are prevalent and women mobility

severely limited. In such a situation, the exposure visit arranged for Women Community Organizations

of District Malakand to the village of Kabal Enzar Shah in District Swat served as a reminder of how

traditional modes of thinking can be changed to empower rural women. The visitors were pleasantly

surprised to hear that the Enzar Shah Falahi Tanzeem (WVO) had managed to raise PKR. 90,000 over a

period of two and a half years and had developed beneficial linkages with local organizations. The group

also visited Shah Dhand village where a vocational center had been set up on a self -help basis. Inspired

by demonstrated success of vibrant women in Swat, these women activist from Malakand immediately

set out to play a more active role upon their return. In the following months the number of Women

Organizations in their district rose from 32 to 72, and their savings increased by two folds. Tw o of the

members ventured into traditional cap-making and are now running their own micro enterprises. SRSP’s

team, encouraged by their initiatives, has agreed to organize the women into Business Interest Groups

(BIGs) and provide them with basic support and training.

Celebrating Resilience of Human Spirit

In traditional societies like KP where education is low and economic development has not taken-off,

Physically Challenged Children are stigmatized, which threaten social status of families. When a group of

28 disable children were given an opportunity to address a gathering at Swat Summer Festival, it

seemed as if a small, yet symbolic, step had been taken to combat the stigma attached with disability.

PEACE programme took a bold step of arranging a special children’s event in Kalam as an integral part of

engaging young thus laying foundations of an inclusive community.

16 year old Ehsanullah won the crowd with his heart warming story. Born in most beautiful valleys in

Pakistan, he was not able to see or appreciate the natural beauty around him; having lost his eyesight at

a very young age. Yet, his spirits remained high as he had emerged from difficult times more determined

to change prevailing attitudes about disability, potential and normalcy. His powe rful story was followed

by a musical presentation by a group of children with special needs who sang patriotic songs. Games

were arranged for participants, and their courage and willpower praised by wider audience.

Knowledge is power

Humaira Parvaiz was only 7 when her father Muhammad Parvaiz passed away. This tragic death left her

family in shackles. The situation got even worse when a small piece of land (their only belonging) was

forcefully sold by her uncle. Her mother tailoring skills came to rescue this vulnerable family comprising

4 sisters and a son. Though tough, but her mother saved every single penny to educate her children. This

intelligent step of her mother paid dividend at a later stage when Humaira’s elder sister got a job.

Humaira continued to avail education and after completing her Masters, she got a short term job.

Fortune favors the brave and this brave family continued to struggle to change their economic status.

When EU PEACE was launched in Humaira’s village, she became a general secretary of her CBO. Soon

she was identified by local social organizer as potential master trainer. Her skills were improved through

specialized training conducted under EU PEACE. Based on her experience, motivation and commitment

she was assigned with different tasks as resource person to facilitator in various trainings. She is now a

seasoned trainer and stipends paid for her services is supporting her family. She had earned a respect

and she is even asked to go beyond her community to deliver sessions. He r efforts would invariably

result in improving quality of local organizations and developing new Humairas for supporting local

development.

“Corruption is Curse”

A Seminar cum Walk in District Shangla

“Corruption is a Curse” was a key message of a seminar organized by SRSP under PEACE in Shangla district. The seminar was attended by students of schools and colleges, members of national and provincial legislative assemblies, representative of law enforcement agencies, school teachers and prominent community members. Speaking at the occasion, speakers expressed their views on the topic and highlighted its impacts on individuals and society as a whole. They urged the need to address the issue in light of religion and law. At the end of seminar, an awareness raising walk was also organized which was attended by a number of school children and community members. Participants of the walk were holder banners and placards inscribed with slogans against corruption

Mr. Rashid Khan Member Provincial Assemble said “Self-accountability and transparency are the best tools to eliminate corruption and promote good practices in all matters,” Corruption is a social evil and people from all walks of life should play their role to eliminate it, he added Deputy Commissioner Shangla Mr. Zafar ul Islam, who was chief guest of the seminar, said that corruption has been a major factor in deteriorating and poor performance of public institutions and can be eradicated only if we educate our new generations on this and create a sense of responsibility and respect for law