Elder Name: Maryum Javed
Interviewer Name: Rubeqa Salomi
My name is Maryum Javed. I am 50 years old. We lived in a rented house. My husband is a mechanic, but he was addicted to drugs. This addiction caused a lot of sadness and anxiety in our lives. Sometimes he went to work, but other times he stayed home for days, which made our family life very difficult.
We have three children, and because of our financial problems, their education was suffering. But the hardest part was that we didn’t have a home of our own. Every month, paying rent was stressful. Our landlord was often harsh and disrespectful when we couldn’t pay on time. This hurt us deeply, especially my children.
Despite all these problems, I didn’t lose hope. I started sewing clothes to earn money. At first, it was very hard, but some women in my neighborhood encouraged me. Slowly, my work improved, and I could better support my children’s education. I worked day and night on my sewing machine, always holding on to one dream — to have our own home.
I saved every bit of money, cutting back on my and my children’s needs. After years of hard work, sacrifice, and prayer, the day finally came when we bought our house. Holding the key to our own home was the happiest moment of my life. That key was not just for a door, but for dignity, peace, and independence.
Today, when I see my children playing freely in our yard, I feel tears — not of sadness, but of joy.
Through my story, I want to tell all women: Never give up. Dream big, work hard, and trust God. One day, your dreams will come true.