When Akida was born, her father Wasim was unhappy because she was a girl. Yet, he accepted her because she was his first child. In his heart though, Wasim desperately hoped that his next child would be a boy.
Three years later, when Akida’s sister Sidra was born, Wasim could no longer hold his anger in. He broke out against his wife Samima, blaming her for the daughters’ gender. He refused to even look at Sidra for the first three months of her life.
When he finally did, the verbal assaults against Samima became domestic violence, and Samima eventually crumbled into a state of permanent trauma.
Almost a year ago, when we met Akida on our survey of the slum community, she was stubborn and mischievous, acting out against the unhappiness of her broken home. Even so, she agreed to come attend our nursery inside her slum community.
In the early days, if her teacher reprimanded her, Akida wouldn’t even come to class the next day. But surely, as Akida grew closer to her community worker and teachers, she began to listen to them and heal from her hurts. She’s now learning to take life in her stride.
As for Samima, up until she met our community worker, she firmly believed that her daughters’ gender was her fault.
Over time and counselling, she understood that the gender of her children was not in anyone’s control. She’s come out of her shell and is now determined to not let the ugliness of the past control her present and future.
Samima went on to complete our paper-bag training course, and is today one of the first trainees at the Vision Rescue Culinary Training Institute created in partnership with Open Gate International.
Samima can’t wait to graduate the 14-week culinary course, get employed and stand on her own two feet. She’s certain that her daughters will look to her and see the value of being a woman.
Thank YOU for reaching out to this family in the midst of their chaos.
Akida has a safe place of nurture at our learning centre only because you chose to provide it to her. Samima can overcome her trauma, learn invaluable skills and become a powerful role model to her daughters only because you gave her a hand up. Your investment in their lives is priceless.
