Willing to learn, some 20 girls gathered on the mats laid on the terrace Farida Khan's house and are ready to learn how to speak in English.
“English is a powerful language and I want to learn it thoroughly. I want to become an English teacher,” says Swaleha, 18, who is preparing for her Class XII exam in March.
Gulshan Khatoon is a 17 year old class VII droupout but is now preparing for the class XII exams and says that after coming here, her outlook has changed a lot. “I want to become a journalist. And since coming here, I have started understanding news better. I now see how news channels sometimes divert attention from the real issues. If I become a journalist, I will try and change things,” she says.
Farida Khan says that very soon these girls will be educated and become independent.
'Pechaan' was started by Farida in 2009 to help the Muslim girls, who are out of school, get in touch with the books again. Since then she has helped many girls in finishing their school education.
“Initially, there were just 3-4 girls, but now around 40 girls come here every year. My husband abandoned me over dowry a few years after our wedding. It was then that I realized how important it is to be educated and independent,” she says.
“I have been coming here for the last six months, and I can already notice the change. I can understand the syllabus better, I have gained in confidence and I can speak for myself. Earlier, I used to wait for someone to speak for me, generally my mother,” says Ayesha, who wants to become a teacher.
Zulfikar Khan, a shopkeeper in the village says that the initiative of the Farida Khan is very important for the girls and for the community and she is doing a great job by helping the community.
“I want to become an air hostess. I have learnt here that girls can do anything. Look at the girls who have finished their education here. Some of them have become lawyers. Why can't I become an air hostess?” she says.