Ariadne's Thread
Stories of two persons' personal pathways through the Labyrinth
Bhavya: Now, you’ll have the chance to meet two people, Fatima and Parveen, who previously faced with similar issues that you are facing now on, who made and followed their own path through their personal labyrinth of hopes, fears and unfolding pathways.
Fatima telling her story
Fatima: Hello everyone, my name is Fatima and I am a teacher. I was very scared to speak here at first but then the lady who runs the School and has helped me a lot with my education insisted that I come here and talk. I want to talk about the difficulties that I faced in my life and how, today, I am where I am.
After I got my first polio attack, my parents had to sell off the household things to get money for my medicines. They were very supportive in the beginning and did everything they could for me. All our relatives gave me a hard time and looked at me as a burden. I had a lot of trouble in school as other kids wouldn’t talk to her and she would be excluded from sports and other activities. They treated me very badly. But then, I started studying, passed High School and then did a Diploma in Computers. I had many job offers but I loved teaching children so I started teaching and have been a teacher since then.
There was a time when even my parents looked upon me as a burden. Now, I not only support myself but am taking care of them as well. My relatives now treat me very nicely. 
Parveen telling her story
Parveen: Hello everyone, I am Parveen. I have come here today to tell all of you about my journey.
I have four children and my husband died eight years ago. At the time, I had no one I could turn to for help. I had to raise my children and I had no qualifications and no idea what to do. I started embroidery and stitching. I used to make five rupees (0.06 GBP) a day. Gradually, I got fed up of working for someone else and started showing my work around. Then I got help through micro-finance. I took a small loan and started working for myself. I supplied to retailers and started making enough money to recruit women who could sew and embroider. Today, there are about 100-150 such women working for me. I have enough money to send my children to school and to give them a good upbringing.
I want to tell all of you sweet girls that I am very happy I got the chance to come and meet all of you today and share my story. I want to tell you all that as long as you have a passion, a strong desire to be independent, to make a life for yourselves, you will succeed eventually. All you need to do is to find that passion and then give it your all.
I have girls like you who are working for me and many other women who are in a similar situation that I was in some years ago. Through my work, I have not only succeeded in making my life better but am also helping other women who are in need. It is always good to spread good fortune and give back to others what you achieve.
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I wish you all luck, stay strong, God is watching you and you are not alone. Thank you very much.