Syed Gohar Hassan: A Pakistani transgender and a beneficiary of ‘Reintegration of Returnees in Pakistan’ under the TVET Sector Support Programme
Gender equity and social inclusion are the most debated topics of today’s era. The economic and holistic growth of a society is dependent on gender inclusivity and gender inclusivity means the participation of everyone, regardless of gender, in every sphere of life.
Inclusive education, especially technical and vocational education and training, is the key to improving the functional and analytical abilities of people, thereby opening up opportunities for individuals as well as other groups to achieve greater access to labor markets and livelihoods. An inclusive and better-educated labor force is essential if Pakistan wants to meet the labor supply demands of the fast-growing industrial sector.
Meet Syed Gohar Hassan, a brilliant and ambitious transgender belonging from Lahore. He completed his Bachelors in Commerce (B.Com) from Punjab University, Lahore, and tried his best to get a job, but to no avail.
Presently, it is necessary that with formal education you should also have relevant technical skills because both formal and non-formal education is obligatory for each other. Gohar realised this when he was unable to find a job with his formal education. Therefore, he asked around for options regarding acquiring a technical skill and got the answer from a community member who directed him towards the training in fashion designing offered under the ‘Reintegration of Returnees in Pakistan’ programme. ‘Reintegration of Returnees in Pakistan’ is an initiative under the TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) Sector Support Programme that offers reintegration assistance to Pakistani returnees and nationals, particularly young adults. Reintegration of Returnees in Pakistan is commissioned by the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH in partnership with the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC).
After completing the fashion designing course, Syed Gohar Hassan is now working with Baazyaft, a fashion designing institution for transgenders only. He is very happy to receive a sewing machine and a kit to help start his own tailoring business.
Within this third-gender community, there are many who did not let societal pressure decide their fate. There are exceptional examples of transgender individuals who have achieved great success by merging talent, hard work, dedication, and the desire to do something for their community.
“It always seems impossible until it is done.”
