PHOTO: EXPRESS
Asif Shahzad established The Gender Guardian, a skill-development institute in Garden Town to help the community and his friends joined him in the cause with the aim of contributing to transgender people’s acceptance as productive members of the society.
The rights of the transgender community and their protection from discrimination and violence are sensitive issues in the country. “There are no platforms for the transgender community in the country and hardly anyone is working for their welfare, so their voices are not being heard,” said Shahzad.
Unfortunately, when these people raise their voices against discrimination, they are suppressed and subjected to hate, he said.
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When the group of friends saw this happening, they decided to become the transgender community’s voice. “I started working towards this goal and spent money from my pocket,” said Shahzad.
“It was our goal to bring them all together and make them play their role in society. We wanted these people to not be humiliated,” he added.
Shahzad said his institution does not want transgender people to beg for employment, but to train them so that they earn respect in society and avoid bad habits like begging so that other citizens don’t label them with offensive words.
“We not only taught them these skills but also provided them jobs according to their competence and today they are not only living a life of dignity but are also a living example for other people in the society,” he remarked.
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“We have never asked any transgender person approaching us whether he is real or a fake,” he said. “I believe that such persons who act like trans people have no other means of employment, that’s why they are compelled to do this,” highlighted Shahzad.
He said it is the responsibility of the government to arrange employment for such persons, but it has not made adequate arrangements for this oppressed section.
“My team and I try to reach out to transgender people who are begging at various places, including traffic signals in Lahore,” said Shahzad.
“If you will come to us, we will teach you skills as driver, beautician and tailor,” he said.
He continued that the group also arranges suitable jobs and issues certificates on completion of training.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 18th, 2020.
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