PkStories: Josephine: The Pakistani Mother Teresa

Lahore: Meet Josephine, a 34-year-old divorced mother of two. She runs an orphanage outside Lahore, where she gives shelter to children and has become a saviour to those bonded by labour.

“I visit brick kiln factories, where single parents and the elders of orphans make these little ones work to pay the debt they have taken,” says Josephine.

Her task is not an easy one, as she has to convince the guardians that they are better off with her. “I am currently pursuing a mother of five to give her children to me because her husband died and now she has to work day and night along with her children to pay his debt.” Brick kiln owners are the main hurdle and have threatened her. “They say if I can pay their loan, I can take the children, otherwise they will work till the loan is paid.”

In Pakistan, although illegal, slavery in brick kiln factories is common knowledge and it originates from a vicious circle of debt which sucks in labourers. Josephine has surveyed these factories for a year and has been able to convince almost 20 families to give their children to her.

She only helps the Christian minority currently because she feels they are more marginalised. “Most of the workers at these places are of Christian faith, and that is why I contact the local pastor of the area and take him along too, to get easy access.”

Trained to be a nun but not allowed by her parents to leave the country, Josephine now uses what she has learnt to mother the orphans. She has rented an upper portion of a house, 20 kilometers outside Lahore, for Rs5,000 per month, where she lives with her own two offspring plus another 10 boys and 7 girls.

“I do not have any funding source. I teach at a local private school, and with whatever money I get, I try to give these children their lives back.” Along with this, she receives help from her brothers and the school principal where she is employed, but things are still hard. “Thankfully the principal has acknowledged my efforts, and has waived off fee for these children.”

Surprisingly, ever since she started the orphanage, she has been asked by a number of parents to take their children away. “People are so poor in these villages that they want to get rid of the children even they are not in debt.” But she rejects them saying that she doesn’t want those who are orphans to feel different while living with such children who have parents.

The children in Josephine’s care were not allowed to go to school due to their slavery status, Now they have learnt how to read and write.

More Details:  Express Tribune

UN appoints Afridi as Goodwill Ambassador of Anti Drugs and Crime

Islamabad: Pakistan’s most successful one-day international all-rounder Shahid Afridi has been appointed as Goodwill Ambassador of UN for Anti Drugs & Crime by the United Nations.

During his two-year appointment, Afridi will raise public awareness of, and generate support for, UNODC global programmes aimed at drug demand reduction and drug dependence treatment and care.

The star all-rounder said that the appointment by the UN an honour for him. Afridi said that he never used drugs and would try to work hard with the UN in their assignment.

News Details: The News Tribe

Pakistani woman conferred “International Women of Courage” award

Washington: Pakistani woman activist from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa has been conferred with the International Women of Courage award by the US.

Shad Begum was presented the award by US First Lady Michelle Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at a ceremony on Thursday, which was also attended by Pakistan’s Ambassador to the US Sherry Rehman.

Shad Begum is a courageous human rights activist and leader who has changed the political context for women in the extremely conservative district of Dir, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

As founder and executive director of Association for Behavior and Knowledge Transformation (ABKT), Ms. Shad provides political training, microcredit, primary education, and health services to women in the most conservative areas of Pakistan.

Ms. Shad not only empowered the women of Dir to vote and run for office, she herself ran and won local seats in the 2001 and 2005 elections against local conservatives who tried to ban female participation. Despite threats, Ms. Shad continues to work out of Peshawar to improve the lives of women in the communities of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

News Details: The News Tribe

Highest Saudi civil award for a Pakistani

Riyadh: Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah conferred highest civil award to a Pakistani who had laid his life to save 14 others from drowning during torrential rains in Jeddah back in 2009.

Saudi government has not only bestowed the highest civil award on Farman Ali but also named a highway after him.

This valorous countrymen who has now come under a heroic spotlight forever is a martyr as he during those drastic floods gave life to as many as 14 of his fellow countrymen but lost his own in the end.Farman hailed from Swat and has left a widow and three daughters behind.

News Details: The News Tribe