Women at work: Shad Begum continues to fight for women’s rights undaunted

Displacement and militancy could not deter the award-winning activist from working for women’s empowerment .

PESHAWAR:

Although she lives in Islamabad, Shad Begum is no stranger to the conflict and insurgency which have laid siege to her hometown Lower Dir. Over the years, social activism has become her weapon of choice to change the fate of the people, especially women, of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) and the tribal areas.

She was born in Talash, a town which is 20 kilometres south of Lower Dir’s district headquarters, Timergara. In 1994, Shad Begum founded the Association for Behavior and Knowledge Transformation (ABKT).

The organisation aimed to bring the challenges faced by women in the region to the fore. “I learnt the tricks of the trade from my father who was also a social activist,” she says.



Her efforts have not been in vain. In 2012, she received the International Women of Courage Award. However, the braver moments of her fight have been etched against the backdrop of militancy and unrest.

Home and hearth

In 2009, her family was uprooted from their hometown by the Taliban. Left without home and hearth, Shad Begum plunged into a difficult phase of her life. However, resignation to one’s fate is a necessary evil and, perhaps, a powerful tool for survival. Even though she was displaced from Talash, Shad Begum did not set aside her mission to bring progress to K-P and the tribal belt.

“It was a challenging time for everyone,” she recalls. “But we couldn’t afford to lose hope. Along with us, ABKT had also been displaced and we had to bring it back on track. We started working in Peshawar and focused on the plight of women and children who had been displaced.”

Previously, ABKT stood for Anjuman Behbood-e-Khawateen Talash. However, when the organisation was moved to Peshawar, its name was changed to Association for Behaviour & Knowledge Transformation. Subsequently, the organisation’s head office was shifted to Islamabad.

Over the years, Shad Begum has continued her humanitarian efforts with utmost dedication. “I strongly believe K-P and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) can tackle militancy,” she says.

Changing the game

Ever since she left K-P, Shad Begum has repeatedly tried to ensure women from K-P and Fata avail their due rights. “ABKT is undertaking various projects across K-P and Fata,” she explains. “These projects will guarantee the empowerment of women and build on their leadership skills.”



Shad Begum has also tried to stay abreast of developments in the province and frequently visits her hometown to meet her relatives. In 2014, she visited a camp for North Waziristan IDPs in Bannu during Ramazan. Even though the nature of her job is both challenging and demanding, she continues to prioritise her responsibilities as a mother.

“Every morning, my day begins with helping my children get ready for school,” she says. “Afterwards, I follow a checklist of tasks set for the day.”

ABKT has established a large number of offices across K-P to undertake projects which are conceived in Islamabad.

“The Islamabad headquarters supervises projects conducted in the province,” she says. “So far, the location of our head office has not been a hindrance. Although displacement and the 2010 floods affected our work significantly, we have still managed to stay true to our mission to improve the quality of life for women in K-P.”

Shad Begum’s advice to young women is to rely on no one other than themselves.

“The Constitution of Pakistan has provided women with rights,” she explains. “No one can deprive them of these rights. Young girls should understand this and struggle to achieve their goals through culturally appropriate means.”

Published in The Express Tribune, March 9^th, 2015.