Featuring Kulsum Shadab Wahab - women who inspire us

• Share a women's empowerment moment that inspired you?

During the lockdown we came across not only cases of domestic violence but also found out some of our survivors who faced infibulation. In Spite of all of this I see a spark in them, each day at work. Seeing them push boundaries and their will to live and will to fight inspires me every day.

• What advice will you give your younger self?

Silence is violence! You must be brave enough to stand against what’s wrong otherwise you are just a part of the injustice and wrongdoings. Be fearless and act with courage. 

• What can men do to achieve equality?

Men should treat women with love and respect. Women deserve equal and deserving job opportunities and their due respect in the professional and societal forefront. They deserve to have a place in top positions as well. 

One thing we keep forgetting is that it is not a man’s place to let a woman have something. It is her right! The society should be considerate about that and about the flexibility of working hours for women especially when they expect her alone to run the house and look after the family. 

• How important is it for women to lift each other up and what does that mean to you?

I hope that more and more women realise the power of empowering other women. I strongly believe in the saying, you reap what you sow, and by sowing positivity you reap just that. Help each other, cheer each other, pray for each other, stand up for each other. 

We can change the world by raising the women around us, believing in sisterhood, believing in the power of the pack . 

• What barriers have you faced, as a woman, in becoming successful in your field? How did you overcome them?

Growing up we are shielded from the evils of society and protected from pain. As I spent more time rehabilitating and empowering my women acid attack survivors at Hothur Foundation I learned so much about this new world, experiencing their journeys of excruciating challenges.

Our greatest challenge is lack of education among children, especially the stigma attached with girls. We strongly believe every girl must be educated and without it families cannot move forward economically and socially. Dealing with uneducated men and counselling them is also extremely important as most cases of violence happen due to temper tantrums. We are trying to work at a grass-root level to make men feel occupied and secure. Children are greatly influenced by their surroundings especially by how their parents behave and treat each other. When a son sees his father violate his mother or a woman, that’s what he learns and later practices. We are trying to give little boys the right message and educate them with the right knowledge.