Self-esteem as a stake
In Pakistan, women are taught early on that they have little to say. As a result, they cannot defend themselves. Pakistani Christians provide counselling to young women to make them strong and resilient. In this way, they learn to make their own decisions and gain self-esteem.
Why this project?
Women carry enormous burdens in Pakistan. They learn at an early age that decision-making power lies with men, especially fathers and brothers. These decide on their education, marriage and so on. Young girls are especially vulnerable because they have never been taught to disagree and defend themselves. This quite often creates an unsafe or tense atmosphere in families; and it regularly happens that they run away with a Muslim boy to find love and attention elsewhere. A group of Christians from Pakistan provides counselling sessions to make young women strong and confident enough to follow God's will in their lives.
Impact
They also give those sessions to families to treat their daughters better so that they can develop and make their own decisions with good self-esteem.
What can we learn?
In a Muslim culture, women have very low self-esteem and resilience. We can hardly imagine that here in the Netherlands. But actually there is no difference. Just like for us, it is important for girls in Pakistan to learn to stand up for themselves as well as to get to know their God in believing in him.
