{"id":4529,"date":"2025-07-08T17:51:14","date_gmt":"2025-07-08T17:51:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mahmoodtariq.com\/hnp\/?p=4529"},"modified":"2025-08-09T18:34:40","modified_gmt":"2025-08-09T18:34:40","slug":"defining-and-empowering-women-enterprises-microfinance-in-pakistan-2-2-2-2-2-3-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-3-5-2-2-2-2-2-2-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mahmoodtariq.com\/hnp\/defining-and-empowering-women-enterprises-microfinance-in-pakistan-2-2-2-2-2-3-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-3-5-2-2-2-2-2-2-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Success Story: Shiza TG"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Success Story: Shiza TG<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Case Studies of Shalimar VTI Beneficiaries<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Shiza\u2019s Story: From Struggle to Strength \u2013 A Transgender Woman\u2019s Journey to\nBecoming a Successful Entrepreneur<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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My name is<\/span> Abdullah Riaz<\/b><\/span>, but I am proudly known as<\/span> Shiza<\/b><\/span>\u2014<\/span>a 24<\/span>–<\/span>year<\/span>–<\/span>old <\/span>transgender woman who dared to dream beyond the limitations imposed by <\/span>society. This is not just my success story, but a message of<\/span> hope, courage, and<\/span>
resilience<\/span> <\/b>for every transgender person who<\/span> has ever felt unseen or unheard. <\/span>Today, I stand tall as a<\/span> skilled beautician and entrepreneur<\/b><\/span>,<\/b> but the journey to <\/span>get here was anything but easy. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

Being a transgender individual in our society is a challenge from the very <\/span>beginning.<\/span><\/b> From a young age, I real<\/span>ized I was different, and unfortunately, that <\/span>difference was not celebrated<\/span>\u2014<\/span>it was criticized, ridiculed, and rejected. I grew <\/span>up in a household with<\/span> three brothers and three sisters<\/b><\/span>,<\/b> but despite having a <\/span>large family,<\/span> I never received the emotional suppor<\/b><\/span>t I needed<\/b>.<\/span> My father <\/span>passed away early in my life, and that left a huge emotional and financial void. Instead of being embraced, I was <\/span>constantly made to feel like a burden.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Education was always my passion<\/b>.<\/span> I wanted to learn, to grow, and to become indepe<\/span>ndent. But with no support\u00a0<\/span>from my family, I had to fight tooth and nail to pursue my dreams. I remember the countless nights of tears,\u00a0<\/span>frustration, and hopelessness<\/span>\u2014<\/span>but I never gave up. After facing unimaginable hurdles, I finally managed to\u00a0<\/span>complete my m<\/b><\/span>atriculation<\/b>.<\/span> For me, this was not just an academic achievement<\/span>\u2014<\/span>it was a victory over prejudice.<\/span><\/span><\/div>

The search for a job as a transgender woman was heartbreaking.<\/b><\/span> Time and time again, I was either denied work\u00a0<\/span>because of my identity, or when I did find employm<\/span>ent, I was harassed, mocked, and treated without dignity.\u00a0<\/span>People would make insulting comments, stare at me, and humiliate me until I had no choice but to leave. Even\u00a0<\/span>stepping out of the house was difficult, as every public space became a battlefield for b<\/span>asic respect. The world saw\u00a0<\/span>me as a joke<\/span>\u2014<\/span>but I knew there was more to me than what they chose to see.<\/span><\/span><\/div>

Then, my fate took a turn<\/b>.<\/span> Through a close friend, I was introduced to<\/span> HomeNet Pakistan (HNP)<\/b><\/span>.<\/b> This was the\u00a0<\/span>turning point in my life. At Home Net Pakistan, for the first time, I felt<\/span> seen, heard, and valued<\/b>.<\/span> The team not only\u00a0<\/span>welcomed me, but they also empowered me. Through<\/span> awareness sessions<\/b><\/span>,<\/b> I learned about<\/span> my rights as a\u00a0<\/b><\/span>transgender person<\/b>,<\/span> and more importantly, I realized that<\/b><\/span> there are good people in the world who genuinely\u00a0<\/span>want to help.<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/div>

<\/b>HNP, in collaboration with<\/span> UNDP<\/b><\/span>, gave me an opportunity that changed my life forever. They enrolled me<\/span>\u2014<\/span>free of\u00a0<\/span>cost<\/span>\u2014<\/span>in a<\/span> three<\/span>–<\/span>month Certified Beautician<\/span> <\/b>Course at VTI Shalimar<\/b>.<\/span> I cannot express the gratitude I feel for this.<\/span><\/span><\/div>
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The course taught me practical skills, boosted my confidence, and gave me a sense of purpose. I learned not just\u00a0about makeup and beauty techniques, but also about professionalism, cli<\/span>ent interaction, and the importance of\u00a0<\/span>self<\/span>–<\/span>reliance.<\/span><\/div>
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Today, I work as an online beautician<\/span>\u2014<\/span>and I am proud to say that I am earning a respectable income.<\/span><\/b> My clients\u00a0<\/span>trust me, value my services, and most importantly, treat me with respect. I have gone from<\/span> being unemployed and\u00a0<\/span>unsupported to becoming<\/span> financially independent and self<\/span>–<\/span><\/b>confident<\/b>.<\/span> Every time I earn from a booking, I am\u00a0<\/span>reminded of how far I have come. This transformation was made possible by the support of Home Net Pakistan\u00a0<\/span>and UNDP, and I will<\/span> forever be thankful to them.<\/span><\/span>

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Their efforts did not just give me a skill<\/span>\u2014<\/span><\/b>they gave me my identity back<\/b>.<\/span> I now walk with my head held high. I am\u00a0<\/span>no longer ashamed of who I am. I am<\/b><\/span> Shiza, a transgender woman and a successful entrepreneur.<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/div>

<\/b>I hope that HomeNet<\/span> Pakistan and UNDP continue their incredible work, organizing more<\/span> capacity<\/span>–<\/span>building\u00a0<\/span>programs for women entrepreneurs<\/span> <\/b>like me. There are so many others out there, just like I was<\/span>\u2014<\/span>struggling,\u00a0<\/span>waiting for a single opportunity to prove themselves. With contin<\/span>ued support and training, I believe we can create\u00a0<\/span>an inclusive society where everyone, regardless of their gender identity, has the right to dream and achieve.<\/span><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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