A program was arranged by URI Women Wing Pakistan on the International Day of Elimination of Violence Against Women, on 25 November 2017, at 4 pm in Barkat Pura A Block Faisalabad.
This is a huge area where mostly Christian people live, but there are Muslim families also living in-between. A few years ago, there was a big mishap between Christians and Muslims due to some personal reasons. But then leaders of the Christian and Muslim faiths sat together and, through dialogue, solved the problem. URI Pakistan also played an active and positive role. Thank God, now both groups are living together in peace.
In this utterly poor area, most of the people earn their bread on daily wages. Most of the women work as laborers, going into rich peoples’ houses for cleaning, washing and cooking. There are many women who are mistreated by their husbands and ill-treated by the owners of the houses where they work.
The program started with interfaith prayers; there were 35 Muslim and Christian women. The chief guests were Father George Martin and Brother Marian; Sister Sabina Rifat introduced the women to URI. The charter of URI was read by three young women. Sister Sabina explained the purpose, goals and action areas of URI to the women. She also explained the activities of URI Women Wing Pakistan. She told the women about the women’s initiative and the international women who are helping Pakistani women through their intellect, faith and resources. Sister Sabina conveyed well wishes from URI’s Monica Willard, Sally Mahe, and Maria Crespo to the women. She also explained the purpose and meaning behind celebrating of this day by UNO. She told the women that the theme of today’s program is to Stop Violence Against Women and to leave no one behind.
Click the yellow arrows to scroll through the photos in the slideshow below.
Mrs. Razia Rasheed, Mrs. Catherine Dil Nawaz and Mrs. Safia Sahed shared stories about their life and their work. Mrs. Sidra Adan and Mrs Shamim Shakeel also shared their stories.
"For my children’s education, I have to manage things somehow. I am spending a very hard life.”
Mrs Razia Rasheed said: “My husband lives in Karachi and I am here in this village with the children. He doesn’t send us any money nor fulfill our needs. I work in other houses alone and I also go to clean the Parish house. I am running home alone and sending my 5 children to school. You can imagine how much I suffer. I am spending a life on thorns, but I don’t want to make my children suffer.”
Mrs. Catherine Dil Nawaz shared a positive experience, saying, “My husband and I work and bring up our children together. I am giving a good formation to my children. In the morning before going to school, I make the whole family pray together, and then we have breakfast and I thank God that I am having a good life with my children and husband.”
"I am spending a life on thorns, but I don’t want to make my children suffer.”
Mrs. Safia Shaheed said, “My husband stays at home but doesn’t work. I am a staff nurse and I have to run the expenses of home as well as help the children in their education. It makes me very sad to see my husband sitting idle all the time.”
Mrs. Sadria Adan said, “I am a staff nurse and it became very difficult to leave the children alone, as my husband does nothing and comes home late at night. But for my children’s education, I have to manage things somehow. I am spending a very hard life.”
Mrs. Sheme Shakeel said, “I am a school teacher. My husband also works, so we both together run the expenses and help the children’s education.”
It was very courageous of the women to share their painful stories in front of everyone. They felt ashamed, but all the same, they got ready to share with the women.
It became like a celebration for women to be together and to know that there are people in the world thinking about them.
After this session, Sister Sabina asked the women to sing or share anything festive. Women sang the song of joy and peace. They were very happy and sang together. It became like a celebration for women to be together and to know that there are people in the world thinking about them.
Father George Martin from Italy shared his rich experience and wisdom with the women. He gave them practical and spiritual methodology and tips to keep their hopes high in times of suffering.
Marine was happy to be in this program and he shared that the women in his country also are suffering the same conditions. He said, “I am very much impressed by the work URI Women Wing is doing for the welfare of women in Pakistan, with the global URI, and to see that it is working so keenly for interfaith harmony and peace.”
Two young leaders of WAKE Cooperation Circle, Faran Joseph and Meeram Savio, also thanked women for coming out for this program, and shared their life and work with the women. Meeram Savio sang a peace song in his melodious voice. Mrs. Sonbar Saleem and Mrs. Anam Sunny thanked Sister Sabina for arranging this program in this area, on their invitation, for the women who are living in very tough situations. They said it was a great joyful occasion for the women to be together to share their life stories. It has given them a new hope and great courage to carry on in difficult tasks with love, harmony and peace. The women then had a dinner together.
