DIL News 2009 - Summer

Fighting for Education

“What is my sin? Why can’t I study further? Is it my fault that I was born in such a backward area where girls are killed in the name of honor? I want to break the unfair traditions of early marriage. I am not mentally ready for marriage. Getting an education is my right and I will not allow anyone to snatch it from me,” said Shazia, a student of DIL School, Janwari Goth, before bursting into tears.

Shazia’s father, old, unwell and poverty stricken, is fast succumbing to pressure from her in-laws-to-be to proceed immediately with her wedding. “I want Shazia to continue her education but society puts a lot of pressure on us to marry off our girls at an early age,” he explained. “I do not have the courage to break traditions and listen to people say bad things about my daughter. But I promise I will pressurize Shazia’s in-laws—even get an oath on legal paper—to allow her to continue her studies. I hope the time will come when our village folk will recognize each others’ rights. I pray for this school as only such efforts will bring about change.”

Sadly, Shazia’s husband-to-be will not allow her to attend secondary school after marriage or to ever work outside the home. His mother is old and unwell and needs to be cared for. He admonished Shazia’s school teacher for meddling in their affairs when she tried to convince him to let her continue at school after marriage.

This year, the very first group of DIL students from this very region will join universities and some will enter the workforce as teachers. They are paving the way for a brighter future for so many young girls. Surely their example has given Shazia the courage to speak out against oppression.

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