The United Nations defines domestic violence as “a pattern of abusive behavior toward an intimate partner in a or family relationship, where the abuser exerts power and control over the victim.” Furthermore anyone regardless of age, race, gender, sexual orientation, faith, or class can be a victim of domestic violence. Some studies estimate that up to 50% of men have also faced domestic violence. Victims of domestic abuse are not just women and may also include children, relatives, or any other household members. Moreover, it is important to note that domestic abuse can be mental, physical, economic, or sexual in nature. Incidents are rarely isolated and usually escalate in frequency and severity. Domestic abuse may culminate in serious physical injury or death.

The workshop shed light upon several facts and statistics regarding domestic abuse, which many employees were unaware of. This information was shared with the employees with the help of a presentation and questionnaire. Firstly, the scale of domestic abuse in Pakistan was explained. The presentation then went on to explain the effects of abuse on women and children living in these households.

According to some estimates, 70-90% of women from ages 15 to 49 have experienced some kind of domestic violence. However, considering domestic violence is an issue shrouded by many, these figures are most likely a gross under-estimation. In reality over a million cases of domestic abuse go unreported each year.

Several factors play a pivotal role when it comes to the reasons for domestic abuse. These factors include the low-economic status of women, lack of awareness about women’s rights, lack of education, falsified beliefs, an imbalance of power between men and women, male-dominant social structures, and lack of support from the government. 5000 women in Pakistan are brutally murdered per year from domestic violence, with thousands of others left severely injured or disabled. Domestic violence has become an important public health concern.

After the enlightening presentation, a questionnaire was handed out, which aimed to peruse how the participants viewed the increased rate of domestic violence. The set of questions included in the questionnaire was in relation to the number of cases that have been reported in the last ten years and the percentage of women who have faced abuse at the hands of their husbands or in-laws.

Himmat aims to spread awareness in areas where people do not have access to education. It aims to reduce the rate of domestic violence by opposing the falsified beliefs which have been created by our society. Their visit to Roshan was effective as it assisted in making an impact on the mindset through which others viewed domestic violence. The questionnaire helped people realize the difference in the statistics they had envisioned compared to the prevalence of the problem. Spreading awareness can have a positive impact on the reduction of domestic abuse.

-Bahisht Nadeem, Intern, Roshan Packages Limited 

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One day I was randomly surfing through LinkedIn and I came across a post that mentioned that Roshan Packages Limited was conducting walk-in interviews. I was not even sure if I would go but when I mentioned it to my family, they insisted I should. On the day of the interview, I went there but I was doubtful if they would even consider me because I have done Bachelors in Psychology and it was quite normal for me to give job interviews for the post of Human Resource personnel and explain the role of a psychologist in the field business and specifically HR. That is why I asked the resource person to be sure I was not only wasting my time. She told me since I was already there, I should try my luck and take the test. And well, the rest is history.

I was appointed in the Learning & Organizational Development department of HR. At first, I was very confused about how I would manage everything but my supervisor, Mr. Usama Hamid, helped me a lot and showed me how I would use my skills and knowledge of psychology in the field of business.

After our first three days of detailed orientation, I finally settled in and started working. Mr. Usama showed me the ropes. He and I discussed how we can develop our organization even more and promote a learning culture. We came up with many ideas about what could be done.

In our second week, we decided to celebrate “Employee Appreciation Day” on the first Friday of March to make the employees feel valued. This activity was a huge success for us as the employees got very happy. Other than that, I was also given a project of conducting personality tests for our employees so that Roshan could understand the needs of its employees better. I am glad to be working at this company where I can promote Learning & Organizational Development and polish my skills.

In my head, I have always had the vision to work in a role that fulfilled me creatively, at a company that valued me enough to groom me for future roles and Roshan gave me the chance to fulfill my dreams. There’s a frequently quoted saying “sharks kept in fish tanks won’t grow to their full size. A shark in a fish tank will grow 8 inches, but in the ocean, it will grow to 8 feet or more. The shark will never outgrow its environment and the same is true about you”. I was a shark in a fish tank. But Roshan Packages Limited gave me the opportunity to feel what it’s like being in an ocean. Being the biggest fish in your tank is great, you are the Alpha. But in the ocean the possibilities are endless. I’ve met so many talented and smarter people here. They’ve more experience and know the ropes. I try my best to learn from them and be better with each passing day. Every day is a new challenge and this has pushed me to get out of my comfort zone and work hard to achieve my ultimate goal. I know they just don’t hire everyone, so I know I’ve earned my spot at the table and it’s up to me to keep it.

-Ayesha Amin, MTO HR, Roshan Packages Limited

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