Mr. Aurangzeb Khan, aged 23, is dwelling at Qaom Feroz Khel, Tapa Qeemat Khel, village Leari, Lower Orakzai Agency. Like other parts of the Federally Administrated Tribal Areas (FATA), his village has also been greatly affected during the influx of militancy; additionally his village was deprived of even the most basic needs like health, education, and communication services before the militancy related violence begin in the region.
Mr. Aurangzeb’s family lives in a joint family that numbered 14 individuals, including his parents and siblings. His family livelihood source is mainly agriculture that hardly fulfils his family needs, therefore Mr. Aurangzeb Khan said goodbye to his studies when he completed the intermediate level education and thus he became a daily wager at a mechanic shop in the local market of Kalaya, Lower Orakzai Agency to support his family.
Mr. Aurangzeb stated, “Though I was hardly earning up to PKR 5,000 a month as a daily wager, but this amount of money was enough for my family needs because it had enabled my father to support the expenses of my brother’s education.” However on November 5, 2011 his younger brother, Hikmat Ullah, aged 16, got serious injuries in a bomb blast at headquarter Chowk Kalaya Orakzai Agency, which created hurdles for Mr. Auranhzeb and his family. “All of our income diverted on the treatment of my brother and those were the most difficult days of my life because I quit the job to look after my brother at the hospital, but I am very happy that my brother successfully recovered and continued his education.” Mr. Aurangzeb added.
In order to support Mr. Aurangzeb family, USAID’s Conflict Victims Support Program (CVSP) gave an opportunity to him for a three-month long vocational training at District Kohat, in which he successfully completed the Building Electrician course. In the training, Mr. Aurangzeb was not only awarded PKR 10,000 a month as a stipend and transportation allowance for a total of three months, but also provided the lodging facility. After the successful completion of the training, a tool kit consisting of required tools and equipment for building electrician was also provided to him.
Mr. Aurangzeb expressed “When I returned home after the successful completion of the training, I was a bit worried how to utilize my newly acquired skills and transfer them to my villagers.” He further added, “I established a vocational training center at the village and very soon I got a contract from IQRA Trust to train 14 participants. Now I earn PKR 15,000 a month and I am very happy about transferring my skills to the villagers.”
“If I was not supported by the USAID, today I would be working as a daily wager and my family income would very low, even my younger brother would quit his schooling.” Mr. Aurangzeb ended.
