My name is Kinza Tariq, and I live in the village of Nahlay. For a long time, my life felt like a series of closed doors. My father is a hard-working laborer, and though he broke his back every day to provide for us, his wages were never enough to cover the cost of my dreams. The hardest day of my life wasn’t a single event; it was the day I realized I had to stop my education because we simply couldn’t afford the fees. I felt like I was becoming a burden rather than a daughter.
In our society, when a girl stays home, people start to talk. There are expectations and limitations put on us. But I knew I had more to give. When I heard about JECUP, I didn’t just see a program; I saw a lifeline. They provided me with the professional beautician kit and materials I needed to start my own business from home.
A Young Entrepreneur’s Journey to Household Success
It wasn’t easy at first. I had to shut out the voices of those who doubted me or told me a girl from our village couldn’t run a successful business. I made a promise to myself: I would take every brush, every tube, and every tool JECUP gave me and turn them into a future.
Today, my small salon is more than just a place for beauty; it is the engine that keeps my family moving forward. I am now earning around PKR 20,000 every month. To some, that might seem like a small number, but in our house, it means everything.
The most beautiful transformation isn’t the one I do for my clients, it’s the one I’ve seen in my father’s eyes. The heavy weight of being the sole provider has finally been lifted from his shoulders. I am proud to stand beside him and contribute to our daily expenses.
I remember the pain of having to leave school, and I swore my siblings would never have to feel that. Today, I have taken full responsibility for their tuition fees. Every time I pay for their books or their exams, I feel a sense of victory. I am working hard today so they can have a “wholesome life” tomorrow one where their education is never cut short by a lack of money.
I started with a kit and a dream, and now, I am the architect of my family’s future.