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“I was 16 years old. My family did not have the money and we badly needed some. I did not know anything about marriage, nor did I know who I was getting married to. All I wanted to do was make some money. I had no idea what I was getting into and suffered terribly for it.”
These are the words of Nazia who got married to a 75-year-old Sheikh from a middle-eastern country. Nazia was sent divorce papers by post two weeks after marriage. She was shattered. However, soon she brought her life back on track. Today she is self-dependent thanks to the emotional support and vocational training that she got from an organization called Shaheen.
In the congested bylanes of the Old City around Charminar in Hyderabad, lies Shaheen, a women’s resource and welfare organisation. The organisation works on the principle that change happens when cultural norms are challenged.
This organization began as an effort to fight for women’s rights way back in 1987. At that time, Jameela Nishat (founder member of Shaheen) came across a conference of men on wife-beating and how it defined their identity. Jameela was angered by this mindset and Shaheen was born as a voice against such thoughts and actions.
Shaheen symbolizes a falcon which flies at the highest altitude. The aim, therefore, is to free women from a deprecating social culture and help them rise above it. They do this through vocational training courses like sewing, henna application and tailoring. Educational courses / tuitions for those who have discontinued their studies are also offered. Thanks to these efforts, Arshiya, who had discontinued her education at the age of 14, is now a graduate in commerce.
Shaheen has dedicated workers who visit houses to try and know the status of women there. “Most women are not aware of their potential and rights; our workers help them realize that,” says Jameela. For many girls in the old city this is the only place which teaches them to fight back against domestic violence. They have an active domestic violence counseling centre and a lawyer for consultation. The organisation also has an active rural centre to serve the women who live in villages or the outskirts of the city.
Shaheen is working at making women a part of the socio-economic development of the country. It is working towards helping them know about their rights and realize their potential. To lend a helping hand and further this cause contact
The Shaheen Centre
23-3-540, Baqshi Bazar,
Sultan Shahi, Hyderabad-500065.
Tel – 040-23486994
E-mail Id - jameelanishat@eth.net
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