Nazneen was born in a remote village in Uttar Pradesh to a traditional Muslim family. She faced many hardships early in life, such as sexual harassment at age 6 and her father's death when she was 14, forcing her to support her family. Through leadership programs, Nazneen gained confidence and became an advocate for girls' rights and education in her community. She formed a group to raise awareness of health issues and help enroll girls back in school. Now Nazneen is a role model for Muslim girls in her village, speaking out courageously on issues like education, health, and empowering women economically.

1. Journey of Nazneen
“From Alienation to Rootedness”
Story of an inspiring Community leader...........

2. Story of Nazneen:
Nazneen was born in a remote village, situated in Varanasi Uttar Pradesh. She belongs to
traditional muslim family. She is self-motivated and courageous girl coming out from all
hardships of life, and dedicated to bring change in the society. In her village status of girl’s
education is very low due to traditional mindset and poverty. When Nazneen was 14 years old
her father died. She began to support her family after the death of her father and continued
her studies as well. As community leader she became an advocate for girl’s rights and
entitlement. Belonging to a Muslim Community she faced number of challenges as an individual
and also being a Muslim Girl, these challenges were stronger. In-spite of this entire hardship she
has continued to speak out and work out for the girl’s betterment. She came out as a role model
and change agent for other Muslim rural girls because of her efforts and continued support.
She speaks out very courageously on education, health and nutrition issues of Muslim Girls.
Early Life
On May 05, 1992, Nazneen was born in Village Dhaurahara, situated in Varanasi District
Uttar Pradesh. She has 5 sisters and 2 brothers in her family. Nazneen is fifth child. In her
family, if at all girls’ need to be educated they should go to only Girls College and school. So
nazneen has completed her primary education from Girls Primary School, Dhuarahara,
intermediate from Laxmi Shanker Inter College Dhauarhara. She did Islamic education and
Quran from nearby Madarsa. She did graduation with subject like Sanskrit, Hindi and
Sociology from Sampoornanand University, Varanasi. Her brother did not allowed her to
attend regular class in University, so she did her studies through correspondence.
Nazneen’s early life was not easy as many girls. Her father Lt. Mr. Yunus Ansari was a
weaver, but in 1999 there was huge crisis in handloom weaving, in which Nazneen’s father
lost her business. As her father was earning member so rest of the family was dependent on
him. Her mother shares that during crisis family survived on one time meal. Looking at the
worse condition of family, her father migrated to Mumbai and worked as daily wage worker
in a textile industry. In the absence of
father her mother Mrs. Sadrun Nisha
felt very unsecure in village. She never
allowed to her girls to speak in front of
villagers or neighbors. Nazneen and her
sisters in their childhood were confined
to house, with limited resources.
When Nazneen was 6 year old she
went through a very disturbing phase
as she encountered with the incidence
of sexual harassment. This was quiet
Figure 1 Nazeen with her sisters and Widow Mother

3. traumatic for her as she was exploited by people who were very close to her and whom she
respected a lot. After the incidents Nazneen was very frightened and never disclosed the
incidents to anyone. (In the time of interview she shared the incident with investigator.)
She kept silent and felt hesitant to go in public and talk to male or stranger. She was quiet
silent and was in trauma after the incidence. Her mother asked about the reasons but she
couldn’t tell him. She excluded herself from her family as well as community.
Adolescent age and opportunities:
Nazneen had natural skill in sewing,
knitting and allied activities. She has
crafted a number of handmade items
such as flower pots, hand fans, Stone
work etc. When Nazneen entered her
adolescent age she started supporting
her family. At the age of 14 Nazneen
lost her father, he died due to brain
tumour. After her father’s death she
took up tailoring to earn income for her
family, her sister and mother supported
in this.
In 2009 SSK initiated leadership
Figure 2 Nazneen with her Sister dong tailoring work
development program for adolescent
girls in the village and met Nazneen. Nazneen attended series of workshops and
orientations. During trainings she went through an entire process of makeover, which
helped her to look life with a very different perspective. She regained faith in life, and
developed trust and faith in people around
her especially towards her facilitators. She
also got opportunities for exposure visits
and participated in conclaves. The entire
process of capacity building brought sense
of empowerment in Nazneen. She also got
opportunity to display her handmade items
in exhibition was organized by SSK. Nazneen
received immense appreciation for her art
work, after this event her confidence
increased manifold. During one of the
orientation programs on Gender and
Sexuality organized for rural adolescent
girls, when Nazneen participated in the
Figure 3- Nazneen participating in capacity Building
programs
program the situations which nazneen had once flashed in her mind. She just had a thought
to collectivize all the girls of her villages so that they can share their issues with each other
and seek emotional support which is sometime missing in families.

4. Now, she was part of adolescent girls group and is working for empowerment and
mainstreaming of Girls of her village. She was elected president of ujjawala adolescent Girls
group. As part of building entrepreneurship skills in adolescent girls Nazneen with her four
friends received training in Zardogi Art at Vanita Polytechnic which was supported by SSK. In
the three months course and having regular interaction with urban adolescent girls,
Nazneen’s motivation level increased. With regular meeting, orientation, life skill program
Nazneen was filled with immense confidence.
Steps forward:
Nazneen’s journey did not end here; she had more zeal towards development of women &
girls. To pursue her dream she started tailoring course for other girls & women of her
village. She also formed a CBO with some active girl leaders and started sharing adolescent
health & hygiene related issues during Group meetings. Apart from creating health
awareness among women & girls, efforts
were also undertaken by group members
in helping women to solve their health
problems. Women & girls were educated
on the need to visit healthcare centers for
preventive and remedial treatment.
Nazneen with her group members
accompany ill women to government
primary health centers and hospitals.
Visits by ANM & ASHA to village have
regularized due to the adolescent girls
pressure group. Efforts are also made by
Figure 4 Nazneen talking with Women
Nazneen & other Group members to
enroll dropout students in schools, especially girls. Nazeen, is regularly providing her
guidance and leadership to her group and she has come up as a role model for other girls of
community. Nazneen feels that good health, good education and economic independence
are the critical aspects which can lead to empowerment of muslim girls and women.
She has major impression on Muslim rural girls of her area because of her efforts and
continues support and she very eloquently speaks up on issues of Muslim Girls education,
health and nutrition issues as well as economic independence.