Mushtaq is a small operating farmer from Bhakhar, where he manages a farm and keeps goats. He is the father of four children: three daughters and one son. Previously, Mushtaq held strong beliefs against girls' education and was associated with a religious organisation. He did not permit his two sisters or his fiancée to pursue their studies and was sceptical of NGOs, believing they opposed traditional values. He also believed in treating women strictly, a view he initially applied to his wife.
However, after marriage, Mushtaq's perspective changed significantly when a friend introduced him to an NGO session on girls' education and women's rights. Initially doubtful, Mushtaq attended several sessions, and over time, especially after the birth of his first daughter, his views began to change. As he welcomed two more daughters, he committed to support their education and work towards gender equality in his community.
Today, Mushtaq's daughters are thriving – his youngest is pursuing her master’s degree in computer science, his second daughter is in graduation, his third daughter is completing matriculation, and his son is in third grade. Mushtaq is now an active advocate for gender equality. He volunteers with any NGO working on girls' education and gender equality in his village and is involved in the local support group and the men’s club under the Commonwealth of Learning’s Empowering Women and Girls (EWG) project in Bhakhar. His younger daughters often accompany him in these efforts.
Additionally, Mushtaq has supported his wife by sending her to seminars where she speaks on inheritance laws. His journey from opposing change to becoming a dedicated supporter of gender equality illustrates the profound impact of education and community involvement.
Bedari has been instrumental in furthering Mushtaq’s journey. Through EWG, he was provided with training on conducting sessions with school committee members, which has significantly enhanced his skills in community engagement. Mushtaq has shared that he never had specific training on gender-based violence (GBV) and its relation to women’s education before. He is now eager to take further training from Bedari on community mobilisation to deepen his impact.
Mushtaq noted, “The training I received from Bedari opened my eyes to the importance of women's education and the harmful effects of GBV. It equipped me with the skills to advocate for these issues in my community, and I am keen to learn more and continue this work”.
Mushtaq is the convenor of the men’s club in his village, where he plays a crucial role in shifting the perspectives of other men regarding girls' education. For example, one of his friends, Mr Abid, had initially restricted his daughters from attending university after an incident of street harassment. Mushtaq engaged with him on this matter, ultimately convincing Mr Abid to allow his daughters to return to university.
“Mushtaq’s advice and support helped me see that my daughters' education is too important to be sacrificed out of fear. Thanks to him, they are back in university, pursuing their dream,” Mr Abid said.
