Elder Name: Parveen Lucas
Interviewer Name: Aliya Hasroon
My name is Parveen Lucas, and I am 60 years old. I have been living in the village of Della Nangal for the past 30 years. I have three sons and two daughters, and thankfully, all of them are married and happy in their own lives.
Summer holidays are the most beautiful time of the year for me. That’s when all my children and grandchildren come home. Our house fills with laughter, smiles, and love. My husband and I cook delicious meals together for all. Seeing the joy on their faces makes all our tiredness disappear.
But during one of those holidays, something happened that shook us to our core. One of my grandchildren suddenly fell seriously ill. His condition worsened quickly, and the nearest medical center had neither a doctor nor proper medicines. We were deeply worried. In desperation, we arranged a cattle cart and set off for the city hospital.
The journey was exhausting and painful, but we did not lose hope. When we reached the city, our grandson was immediately admitted, and his treatment began. Thank God, he recovered with timely care. Even today, my heart trembles when I think of those moments—but seeing his smile now brings peace to my soul.
That experience was one of the hardest times in our lives, but it taught us something invaluable: with love, courage, and the support of family, we can overcome even the darkest moments.
Today, that very grandson dreams of becoming a doctor. He studies with great dedication, determined to serve the underprivileged in rural areas. He wants to ensure that no other family has to face the same fear and helplessness we once did. We, his family, stand with him—his dream is our dream, and his courage is our strength.
Elder Name: Maryum Javed
Interviewer Name: Rubeqa Salomi
My name is Maryum Javed. I am 50 years old. We lived in a rented house. My husband is a mechanic, but he was addicted to drugs. This addiction caused a lot of sadness and anxiety in our lives. Sometimes he went to work, but other times he stayed home for days, which made our family life very difficult.
We have three children, and because of our financial problems, their education was suffering. But the hardest part was that we didn’t have a home of our own. Every month, paying rent was stressful. Our landlord was often harsh and disrespectful when we couldn’t pay on time. This hurt us deeply, especially my children.
Despite all these problems, I didn’t lose hope. I started sewing clothes to earn money. At first, it was very hard, but some women in my neighborhood encouraged me. Slowly, my work improved, and I could better support my children’s education. I worked day and night on my sewing machine, always holding on to one dream — to have our own home.
I saved every bit of money, cutting back on my and my children’s needs. After years of hard work, sacrifice, and prayer, the day finally came when we bought our house. Holding the key to our own home was the happiest moment of my life. That key was not just for a door, but for dignity, peace, and independence.
Today, when I see my children playing freely in our yard, I feel tears — not of sadness, but of joy.
Through my story, I want to tell all women: Never give up. Dream big, work hard, and trust God. One day, your dreams will come true.