Shad Begum

Shad Begum is a social worker from Dir Lower, Pakistan. She comes from a religious and middle class family. She is the first university-educated female in her family. She says, she always got support from her father, brothers and husband for her social work.[1]

Shad Begum
شاد بیگم
Shad Begum in 2012
BornJanuary 20, 1979
Talash, Lower Dir, Pakistan
OccupationSocial Worker
Websitehttp://www.abkt.org/

Association for Behaviour and Knowledge Transformation

Ms Shad founded the Association for Behaviour and Knowledge Transformation (ABKT) for the development of women in the area in 1994. Initially ABKT was known as Anjuman Behbood-i-Khawateen Talash.[2] She faced many challenges and difficulties in the man dominated conservative society of the area. She shifted the organization office to Peshawar when the Taliban rose in the area and she was threatened by unidentified militants. The association has contributed in female education, political awareness and health improvement projects in the area. Furthermore, the association has also carried out projects like construction of hanging bridges, installation of hand pumps, sinking wells, paving streets, provision of small loans to local traders and capacity building of women at grassroots level. The association gets funding from Pakistani and international agencies.

Awards
Shad Begum (centre) with Michelle Obama (left) and Hillary Clinton (right) at the 2012 International Women of Courage Awards

She was awarded with the International Women of Courage Award by the US First Lady Michelle Obama and the Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Thursday 8 March 2012.[3] The area where she comes from is very conservative and there are very few working women. She had requested several news reporters not to spread the news because of security reasons.[4]

References
  1. Shad teaches women's rights where that can get you killed, jamesrupert.wordpress.com/, 11 April 2009, retrieved 2012-03-08
  2. Shad Begum: A Brave Lady From Pakistan, thelovelyplanet.net, retrieved 2012-03-08
  3. Pakistani activist gets US' International Women of Courage Award, tribune.com.pk, 8 March 2012, retrieved 2012-03-08
  4. Mrs Shad Begum does not want news to be spread, thefrontierpost.com, retrieved 2012-03-08
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