Case Studies
Make a Difference community group brings together and fosters understanding amongst local people from the diverse communities across Greater Manchester.
Case Studies
Fozia
Fozia and her husband, a tailor, have 5 children, aged 15, 13, 12, 11 and 3 months. She works in people’s homes which helped to the household income. She was the only contributor till October when he found a job, but still, even with his work, the household expenses are not met. The eldest daughter is training at a sewing centre, the second at a seminary and the other two daughters go to the government school, which expenses they have to find as well as running the house. Due to the support that she is receiving from the women in this project, Fozia has secured work as a housemaid on a part-time basis.
Jamila Bibi
Jamila is not able to work nor walk far because she has chronic health issues and had 2 operations this year. She has 2 sons, the elder having died, leaving her 2 granddaughters to bring up. The granddaughters look after their grandmother (Jamila) as their mother died when they were young. This means that they have lost out on education. The family’s only income is from the younger son who works in a hardware store. Since attending the project, the strain of looking after the grandchildren which had increased, she has opened up to the others and has been able to face her difficulties with group listening and support.
Ruksana
Admin Support
Ruksana has 4 children which she brings up solely because her husband does not give her any money. He gives money to his second wife who her prefers. The first daughter is married and the other 3 go to government schools. Ruksana cannot find work to pay the bills though she wants to, because she did not get enough qualifications at school. Since attending the group, Ruksana has completed her cv and has become more confident and proactive in looking for work.
Shehda
Shehda and her husband have two sons and a daughter. Her husband has not worked for the past 5 years because he cannot see. One son and the daughter have mental health issues and don’t work, Shehda has to stay at home to look after them. The other, elder does work at the seminary, but the income isn’t enough for the home which they rent and everyone’s needs. Since attending the project, Shehda has received local government support as food supplies.
Shanaz
Shanaz is widowed without a home, and lives with her divorced younger daughter and her a daughter’s 5-year-old son. The three live in her elder daughter’s home. Her son-in-law does not like them and beats them, forcing them out of the house. Shanaz has diabetes and all her money from her husband’s death has gone into treatments. With no income, and no support from the first wife nor that wife’s children, they don’t have a chance of getting their own home to have peace of mind and safety. Since attending the project, Shanaz is gaining a lot of emotional support which was not there before
Shabana
Shabana and her husband have 3 children between the ages of 9 and 12 who go to school. For her like the other women, she has to pay school fees and expenses as well as household bills. Her husband does not work, though he is healthy. She has deal with him wanting to argue and fight her instead. As the only source of income, Shabana works in a clothes-making factory, not earning much nor enough daily. Since attending the project, we have managed to find other work for her which has helped increase her confidence and self-esteem.
Saima
Saima and her husband have 4 children, the eldest is married and lives away from the family. He has had a stroke, cannot work as he used to, but earns some money, daily. Their main source of income is from their 10-year-old son who works in a tea shop. The other two children go to school. They live in a rented house. Her husband died 2 months ago leaving Saima with no home nor a source of income to feed herself and her children. The project is currently supporting her through fundraising to receive food parcels and accommodation.
Tahira
Tahira has two sons and two daughters. Her medical issue is her eyesight and she needs to buy medicine. As a result, she cannot work. Her sons, though working, are saving for their weddings and have stopped giving her money for the house. She owns the house so it’s the expenses and contributing to their weddings that she needs. Since attending the project Tahira feels strong enough to ask for support from others.
Shaheen
Shaheen is a widow with tailoring skills learned from her husband who forsaw she needed a skill for her family’s future. She is looking after 3 children, 2 of whom go to school and the other, works. She wants to be independent and works hard. She has started to work on the Pakistan Project as her next step in independence and self-empowerment. Since being involved in starting the project, Shaheen has grown in confidence and skills to facilitate the group work discussions and activities plus organise the food provisions as part of our support of this project. Shaheen is connecting and networking with relevant NGOs. She is identifying paid opportunities that the women can access. Shaheen is also the first person the women contact outside of the weekly group meetings. She has enhanced her listening and observation skills to be aware of issues the other women face. She has taken on the role of counsellor due to lived experience and empathy that she has. The little salary that Shaheen has received for delivering this work is going towards her children’s education, the completion of her house being built, half done at the start of this project and had waited for 5 years, since her husband died. Shaheen is an advocate on behalf of these women and fights for their rights in the Pakistani society. She has made a difference and has had an impact on these women’s lives.
Background Info
Background Info
Allah is known as Yasmin. She is bringing up her 12-year-old daughter by herself as she is a widow with all the expenses to find on her own rent, education and school fees, plus household and food bills. She has no family support. She was able to be independent and had worked in an old peoples’ home, but now, with bone and skeletal issues she cannot work. Right now, they live together in 1 room with her daughter going to government school. Since attending the project, she has become more stable and having less distress at not working because she has been getting emotional support and making new friends to share her experiences at the weekly meetings, and therefore is managing her emotions.
Founder Quote
NADIA ALI
“Every woman has a right to being treated fairly and equally and to be independent. We could not have done this without your kind support and contribution to this project. We thank you.”
MALALA YOUSAFZAI
“I truly believe the only way we can create global peace is through not only educating our minds, but our hearts and our souls.”