Journey of Hope 2017 journey-of-hope-2017 | Page 7

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IN HER OWN WORDS:
SAIMA’S STORY
Saima is one of the pioneering
women of Baltistan whose dedication
has brought light, hope, and literacy
to this very northern region of
Pakistan. Through her determination
to go to school, she helped to
change the mindset of an area that
didn’t value educating girls. Now she
is busy teaching the next generation
of students in her village, with her
sister at her side. Here is her story, in
her own words.
M
y name is Saima and I
belong to the fabled land
of Baltistan, Pakistan.
Legend has it that when
God planned to build a
world for humankind he
thought of reserving a part of it for fairies.
Thus the Supreme Architect created snow-
clad mountains, gurgling streams, and lush
meadows fit for the habitation of fairies.
I grew up in poverty and in an environ-
ment where education was a rarity among
women. However, the household in which
I grew up was one of simple living but full
of love and sublimity. From the very begin-
ning I knew that I needed to strive in order
to rise in life. I must say that in my struggle
to excel, I had the full support of my par-
ents. I was the first person from my family
to pass the matriculation examination and
also the first woman from the village to
take up a regular job as a teacher.
There was no tradition among my peo-
ple to send girls to study away from home
even though the life of a woman was —
and continues to be — harsh in this rug-
gedly beautiful corner of Pakistan. I am
happy to note that the trail I blazed was
FALL 2017
Siama Mallikia is a teacher in in
Balistan, Pakistan. After becoming
one of the first women to get an
education in her village and leave
to enter a teacher’s college, she
returned to her village to start a
school in her home. Now she runs a
classroom of her own and teachers
the local children with her sister at
her side, inspiring many others to
follow in her footsteps.
I was the first person from
my family to pass the
matriculation examination
and also the first woman
from the village to take up
a regular job as a teacher.
followed by not only my own siblings but
numerous other girls, some of whom have
gone on to pursue higher studies at a few
top ranking institutions in the country.
I got my first teaching assignment in
1999, at Primary School Tissar, which is
located at a distance of some 20 kilome-
ters from my native village of Gulabpur.
Greg Mortenson was the person who per-
suaded me to accept the challenge, which I
did. It was not easy work. I had to struggle
hard in order to make the school a func-
tioning reality, overcoming all manner of
difficulties. Once the school had become
a viable and going [program], I requested
to go back to my own village and start a
school there.
The request was granted, but a host
of new challenges were lying in wait for
me. For one thing, there was no building
available to hold classes. For another, no
other educated girl was available to assist
me. Undeterred, I started the school at my
own house, rent free, and have continued
doing so for the last 10 years. I almost sin-
gle-handedly shouldered all the respon-
sibilities of running the school. For the
most part, it has been an uphill task, which
I face with zeal, grit and determination —
qualities expected of a Balti woman.
Of late, things have improved consider-
ably. Thanks to a visit by trustees of CAET
last spring, things took a rapid turn for prog-
ress in the right direction. Two more teach-
ers have joined my school. CAET has agreed
to pay rent for the use of my house as school
and also promised to take care of its upkeep.
They have also decided to undertake the
construction of one additional washroom.
Events finally seem to have taken a turn for
the better. Much better! n
JOURNEY OF HOPE | 5