“I have been volunteering as a teacher for 15 years, since I was in the ninth grade at school. Now I hold a masters degree in Mass Communications and I have been working for five years. I go to work in an office in the mornings, and in the evenings I teach around 25 children at the primary school level.

I make Rs25,000 a month at my job, of which Rs10,000 goes to my family and the remaining Rs15,000 I spend on myself and on books and other items I need to teach my students.

My father came to Islamabad from Gujranwala in the 1980s and worked as a cleaner for the Capital Development Authority. He is retired now. I have three sisters and a brother; I am the eldest. One of my sisters and my brother are already married. My brother drives a taxi and he and I look after the household expenses together. I am also paying for the schooling of my youngest sister.

My father himself was not educated and he regretted that, so he made sure his children all received an education.

I am a regular churchgoer as well, and I enjoy singing. My sisters and I sing hymns together and we have also shared our music on the internet. In the future I want to work with orphaned children, teaching and supporting them.”

Published in Dawn, January 4th, 2020