Maryam Iftikhar

I have spent much of my working life supporting and advocating for people going through very difficult circumstances, including women who have experienced violence and abuse. My advocacy role in Pakistan involved working directly with vulnerable people as well as researching and documenting their situations. Alongside this I have an MA in Gender, Education and International Development, which deepened my understanding of the challenges women face and the importance of treating people with dignity and patience.

I am a calm, reliable and approachable person who is good at listening and building trust, and I am now looking to bring these strengths into a support worker role where I can help women feel safe and supported day to day.

Human Rights Advocate - Roshni Welfare Organisation - Multan, Pakistan

(2020-01 - 2022-07)

• Supported people who had experienced serious harm and rights violations, spending time with them directly as well as documenting their cases carefully and sensitively.
• Helped people access support by guiding them towards legal professionals and connecting them with the right services.
• Built trusting relationships with individuals and communities and took time to understand the difficult and complex situations they were facing.
• Worked alongside local charities, community leaders and other organisations to improve the help available to people.
• Ran awareness and advocacy work to stand up for the rights of people who are often overlooked.

Researcher - Strengthening Participatory Organization (SPO) - Multan, Pakistan

(2019-01 - 2019-12)

• Worked on a project aimed at ending violence against women, carrying out interviews and surveys in the community.
• Spoke with and listened to women who had experienced abuse, handling their stories with care and writing them up in detailed reports.

Volunteer - SOS Children's Villages Pakistan - Multan, Pakistan

• Spent time teaching and supporting children from disadvantaged backgrounds, adapting to what each child needed and encouraging their confidence.

Volunteer & Fundraiser - Community volunteering during studies - London & Pakistan

(2015-01 - 2018-12)

• Raised money for flood victims and helped organise community events as an event manager and student council member.
• Took part in environmental volunteering with WWF-Pakistan, including tree-planting and local awareness activities.

Marketing and Sales / Internships - Various (Zafar Associates, Coca-Cola, Nestlé, Zong CMPak) - Pakistan

Before focusing on advocacy work, I gained experience in marketing and administrative roles in Pakistan, including a marketing and sales role at Zafar Associates and internships with Coca-Cola, Nestlé and Zong CMPak. These roles helped me develop my communication, organisation and teamwork skills and my ability to stay organised when I'm busy.

MA - Gender, Education and International Development - University College London (UCL) (2022-08 - 2023-07)

BSc (Hons) - Business Administration - Royal Holloway, University of London (2015-08 - 2018-08)