Journey of Nazneen“From Alienation to Rootedness”

Story of an inspiring Community leader...........

Figure 1 Nazeen with her sisters and Widow Mother

Story of Nazneen:Nazneen was born in a remote village, situated in Varanasi Uttar Pradesh. She belongs to traditional muslim family. She is self-motivated and courageous girl coming out from all hardships of life, and dedicated to bring change in the society. In her village status of girl’s education is very low due to traditional mindset and poverty. When Nazneen was 14 years old her father died. She began to support her family after the death of her father and continued her studies as well. As community leader she became an advocate for girl’s rights and entitlement. Belonging to a Muslim Community she faced number of challenges as an individual and also being a Muslim Girl, these challenges were stronger. In-spite of this entire hardship she has continued to speak out and work out for the girl’s betterment. She came out as a role model and change agent for other Muslim rural girls because of her efforts and continued support. She speaks out very courageously on education, health and nutrition issues of Muslim Girls.

Early Life

On May 05, 1992, Nazneen was born in Village Dhaurahara, situated in Varanasi District Uttar Pradesh. She has 5 sisters and 2 brothers in her family. Nazneen is fifth child. In her family, if at all girls’ need to be educated they should go to only Girls College and school. So nazneen has completed her primary education from Girls Primary School, Dhuarahara, intermediate from Laxmi Shanker Inter College Dhauarhara. She did Islamic education and Quran from nearby Madarsa. She did graduation with subject like Sanskrit, Hindi and Sociology from Sampoornanand University, Varanasi. Her brother did not allowed her to attend regular class in University, so she did her studies through correspondence. Nazneen’s early life was not easy as many girls. Her father Lt. Mr. Yunus Ansari was a weaver, but in 1999 there was huge crisis in handloom weaving, in which Nazneen’s father lost her business. As her father was earning member so rest of the family was dependent on him. Her mother shares that during crisis family survived on one time meal. Looking at the worse condition of family, her father migrated to Mumbai and worked as daily wage worker in a textile industry. In the absence of father her mother Mrs. Sadrun Nisha felt very unsecure in village. She never allowed to her girls to speak in front of villagers or neighbors. Nazneen and her sisters in their childhood were confined to house, with limited resources.When Nazneen was 6 year old she went through a very disturbing phase as she encountered with the incidence of sexual harassment. This was quiet

Figure 2 Nazneen with her Sister dong tailoring work

traumatic for her as she was exploited by people who were very close to her and whom she respected a lot. After the incidents Nazneen was very frightened and never disclosed the incidents to anyone. (In the time of interview she shared the incident with investigator.)

She kept silent and felt hesitant to go in public and talk to male or stranger. She was quiet silent and was in trauma after the incidence. Her mother asked about the reasons but she couldn’t tell him. She excluded herself from her family as well as community.

Adolescent age and opportunities:Nazneen had natural skill in sewing, knitting and allied activities. She has crafted a number of handmade items such as flower pots, hand fans, Stone work etc. When Nazneen entered her adolescent age she started supporting her family. At the age of 14 Nazneen lost her father, he died due to brain tumour. After her father’s death she took up tailoring to earn income for her family, her sister and mother supported in this.In 2009 SSK initiated leadership development program for adolescent girls in the village and met Nazneen. Nazneen attended series of workshops and orientations. During trainings she went through an entire process of makeover, which helped her to look life with a very different perspective. She regained faith in life, and

developed trust and faith in people around her especially towards her facilitators. She also got opportunities for exposure visits and participated in conclaves. The entire process of capacity building brought sense of empowerment in Nazneen. She also got opportunity to display her handmade items in exhibition was organized by SSK. Nazneen received immense appreciation for her art work, after this event her confidence increased manifold. During one of the orientation programs on Gender and Sexuality organized for rural adolescent girls, when Nazneen participated in the

program the situations which nazneen had once flashed in her mind. She just had a thought to collectivize all the girls of her villages so that they can share their issues with each other and seek emotional support which is sometime missing in families.

Figure 3- Nazneen participating in capacity Building programs

Figure 4 Nazneen talking with Women

Now, she was part of adolescent girls group and is working for empowerment and mainstreaming of Girls of her village. She was elected president of ujjawala adolescent Girls group. As part of building entrepreneurship skills in adolescent girls Nazneen with her four friends received training in Zardogi Art at Vanita Polytechnic which was supported by SSK. In the three months course and having regular interaction with urban adolescent girls, Nazneen’s motivation level increased. With regular meeting, orientation, life skill program Nazneen was filled with immense confidence.

Steps forward:Nazneen’s journey did not end here; she had more zeal towards development of women & girls. To pursue her dream she started tailoring course for other girls & women of her village. She also formed a CBO with some active girl leaders and started sharing adolescent health & hygiene related issues during Group meetings. Apart from creating health awareness among women & girls, efforts were also undertaken by group members in helping women to solve their health problems. Women & girls were educated on the need to visit healthcare centers for preventive and remedial treatment. Nazneen with her group members accompany ill women to government primary health centers and hospitals. Visits by ANM & ASHA to village have regularized due to the adolescent girls pressure group. Efforts are also made by Nazneen & other Group members to enroll dropout students in schools, especially girls. Nazeen, is regularly providing her guidance and leadership to her group and she has come up as a role model for other girls of community. Nazneen feels that good health, good education and economic independence are the critical aspects which can lead to empowerment of muslim girls and women.She has major impression on Muslim rural girls of her area because of her efforts and continues support and she very eloquently speaks up on issues of Muslim Girls education, health and nutrition issues as well as economic independence.