Women’s Group – a pathway to knowledge

Salima Saburova, 30, Leader of women’s group learnt to read and write after her engagement with Save the Children International’s DFID funded “Women’s Wealth and Influence” Project.

In November 2013, with the support of Save the Children International one of thousands women’s groups named Faizbakhsh was established in village Korez, jamoat Korez of Danghara District. During the meeting women decided to choose Salima as a Leader because she was an active, full of energy and trustful woman in their community.  Salima tried to refuse of bearing the responsibility of a leader, but women insisted that only Salima would be a leader of the group. Initially the group consisted of 11 women and later the number increased up to 25 women. Women got engaged in money pooling and used savings for household needs but no one knew that Salima failed going to secondary school and failed learning to read and write. “I lived in village Satalmosh of Baljuvon District and there was no any secondary school. Children went to school located in rayon center which was far from the village. Then the civil war started. It harmed a lot of people in Tajikistan including our district. My parents didn’t let me go far from my house, not to mention the village.” stated Salima.  Later, when the war a school was established in our village I was older and was ashamed to start with 7 years old children. So, I missed going to school”.

During the visits of the projects coach, Salima showed her notebook where she recorded the group’s activities and cash flow.  From notes made in the notebook it can be seen that a notemaker is not good with spelling. Each visit the coach helped Salima to make correct notes and time by time she noticed that Salima’s writing was getting improved. When the coach asked her why she used to write with mistakes and now had good notes, Salima confessed that could not read and write at all. Bearing the responsibility of group leader  made her to learn read and write. Now she knows how important is being educated, today she makes all efforts to ensure her children with quality education.

“I felt myself embarrassing each time I met with group members. They trusted me, but I could not even write their names correctly. I asked my son Muhammadsharif of  8 years to teach me reading and writing. Day by day I learnt reading and writing from my son, as I was a school pupil” said Salima.