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Growing up in extreme poverty in Karachi, Pakistan, Tanzila’s father, a drug addict, forced her and her sister to work instead of attending school, taking their earnings while they endured abuse. At 14, she was married off to settle her father’s debt and sent to an abusive household in Kabul, Afghanistan. Her unemployed husband, twice her age, left her to care for his three children. Without financial support, Tanzila often had to beg neighbours for food.
Hope arrived when Tanzila joined Hagar’s Restoring Lives Through Livelihoods programme. Learning to sew and receiving trauma counselling gave her the confidence to envision an independent future. With these new skills, Tanzila found a way to support herself and her children.
Tanzila is now a skilled tailor and a valued member of a women’s cooperative. With a stable income, she ensures her children are fed, clothed, and in school—opportunities she never had. Her economic independence has transformed her from a survivor into a provider and role model, empowering her to shape her own future.
"Hagar became a source of rejuvenation of my new life." – Tanzila
This program helps women rebuild their lives by gaining the skills and confidence to earn a living. In cooperative groups, they learn to sew and create garments for local and regional markets. Each woman receives a sewing kit and practical business training in managing money and selling their products. To support each woman as they start out, Hagar provides wages for the first six months. After that, they begin earning directly from their sales. Some women go on to start their own businesses, while others return home and sell their products within their communities. By working in these cooperatives, women gain financial independence and protection from exploitation—empowering them to build a brighter future for themselves and their families.
Help Tanzila and many others rebuild their lives. Your donation today will change someone's tomorrow.
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