Peshawar: Mental and psychosocial training has helped raise awareness among Peshawar’s trans community about learning different skills to change the status quo and opt for a dignified livelihood.
About 20 transgenders who were selected for the study expressed their desire to learn different skills to overcome the dependency syndrome of carrying out the husband’s will. The training was carried out by Handicap International, an organization working to support disabled and vulnerable populations, in collaboration with GIZ.
“We want to live a normal life and for that we need support to learn some skills to change the status quo,” commented Devia, a trainee. This exercise instilled in us a sense of independence and the desire to solve our own problems without depending on anyone, Devia expressed her inner feelings.
She said she wants to find solutions to the problems the trans community faces, but our social norms and people’s mentality don’t allow them to get out of their way.
For another benefit, Coco wants society to accept her gender and people to respond with respect.
Society’s treatment of the trans community has made them mentally ill and forced them to live in a state of sadness and confusion.
Katrina, a trans rights activist, praised Handicap International’s initiative to uplift the transgender community from a life of hardship, deprivation and disrespect.
He said the training has broadened his influence and confidence in finding a respectable source of livelihood.
Katrina revealed that course participants expressed their desire to become fashion designers, study and work.
“This is a nine-month study and it has started in six districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” he said.
Speaking to APP, Dr Fouzia said that this initiative will also benefit the Afghan transgenders who migrated to Pakistan and live in various parts of the province.
He said that the implementation of the project will take two years and various programs will be implemented for the benefit of transgenders and other vulnerable sections of the community, including victims of the devastating floods of 2022.
The aim of this course is to change the lifestyle of this community and make them responsible and respectful citizens.
In this regard, he said that people from various walks of life, including scholars, should play an effective role in teaching them how to deal with trans people.
According to Fouzia, the training will soon be extended to other KP districts including Charsadda, Kohat, Mardan and Haripure.
