Galvanizing changes

 Husniyya’s name means “goodness” in Arabic. It is a fitting name that accurately describes our heroine, who is a brave and volitional woman, whose words and actions have brought tremendous change to her community. The philosophy of her life is the best instance of a responsible citizen.

 Husniyya has a powerful personality that captures your attention with a beautiful smile and seemingly inexhaustible energy; both important characteristics for her work as a school teacher. 

Over the years, Husniyya, 42, has successfully “released” a lot of students, as she says, describing how as opposed to many other professions, teachers yearly life cycles tied to their classes. Each year, Husniyya gives her self unselfishly to the graduating class. As she puts it, she is: “giving the old game to new players".

Teaching, however, was not something new to Husniyya. She was born into family of teachers. Her parents also worked as educators in this village and were held in high respect by all community.  It was her family that inspired Husniyya to choose teaching as her occupation. And, it is her occupation that also allows her to confront life’s prejudices and biases, especially those facing girls and young women in her small community, located 50 km from Baku; prejudices and discrimination she still sees daily.

“Women endure dreadful circumstances since birth,” she says. “They are restricted too much. They are not able to decide for themselves. They are deprived of the right to a normal life.”

Although Husniyya observed the obstacles other women face, she was fortunate not to have to experience them first hand. “I was brought up differently than others. I never tried to hide my feelings, I have been friends with guys. I went to the beach and enjoyed my adolescence. By acting in this way, I have tried to break down dismal stereotypes and mind-sets about women,” she shares, concerned that even today many girls are not afforded the same opportunities she experienced. “To this day, many parents misleadingly envisage an education as the tool for spoiling girls’ future life,” admits Husniyya.

“To this day, many parents misleadingly envisage an education as the tool for spoiling girls’ future life”

  Bringing light

 Perhaps, there is no coincidence that Husniyya’s favourite myth is a tale about Prometheus, a Greek god who brought fire to people. Husniyya sees herself in a similar role as she is also trying to bring light to her pupils’ lives, encouraging and motivating them to learn.

Every morning, on her way to school, Husniyya worries that one of her female students will not come because they failed to convince their parents of the importance of education and attending a school over early marriage, which are still common due, in large part, to the cultural and socio-economic factors persistent in different regions. Parents often make unilateral decisions to marry their girl children, violating the rights of adolescent girls to general education and compelling them to cease attending classes after marriage.  According to the State Statistics Committee, more than 5,000 girls were subject to early marriages during 2013 in Azerbaijan.

Growing up in a family of educators, Husniyya was fortunate that she didn’t have to fight for the opportunity to study, like many of her students still do. Still, she works hard even today to incorporate ideals like gender equality into her lessons. “My schoolgirls should bear in mind, that they have a voice. They have voice to cope with challenges and to change their lives towards sustainable equality. I do not encourage girls to [instigate] family brawls and conflicts. I [do, however] help them in getting the mental skills and resources they need to reach their dreams to be independent and successful,” Husniyya adds.

"They have voice to cope with challenges and to change their lives towards sustainable equality"

Recently, Husniyya has been using the information she receives through World Vision’s Youth Development and Employment Networking Project, to help spur her students, especially the girls, towards a brighter future.

Because not many parents will let their girls travel to attend these trainings, Husniyya recreates them in her community and gives girls the opportunity to acquire information that will help shape their goals and future plans. “I see more confidence in the girls’ eyes. “[Many] girls were not allowed to attend the high schools even 10 years ago,” she says. “Nowadays, youngsters are applying for university degrees. The trainings organised by World Vision helps them to think out of the box,” highlights Husniyya.

It is easy to see the impact that Husniyya and this project are having. “You can ask each of us where we see ourselves in 10-15 years,” says Asiman, 18, who dreams of becoming a journalist.  “Each of us will tell you that our pattern of behaviour is [based on] Husniyya’s example. Participation in these lessons [gives us] a chance to become strong leaders. We do not want be helpless and just obey; we want to change the minds of the people," she adds.

Through her work, Husniyya builds a correct and vivid picture of what the future can look like for children, many of whom will always have undying gratitude to Husniyya.

And, her work does not stop with adolescents. Her motto: It is never too late to learn, drives her to also share her knowledge also with the women in her community, many of whom are not even allowed to leave their homes without the permission of their husbands.

“I am thrilled to bits when success knocks my graduates’ doors. I am not afraid to be misunderstood, by calling for change and inspiring transformations. I am open to discussion, debates and even friction,” Husniyya confesses, while looking far ahead from a school window.

Husniyya is an icon of a person who thinks for a century ahead of his or her time, giving hope and confidence to children to change their attitudes and destiny.