Transgender students participating in a unique project at a culinary school in Pakistan are learning more than just cooking skills. The program offers them a chance to develop new careers and a sense of belonging.
Neha Malik, 31, who previously earned a living by dancing at parties and weddings, as well as occasionally working as a sex worker, is now enrolled in a special course for the transgender community at the Culinary & Hotel Institute of Pakistan. The free six-month course, which began in January, accepted its first group of 25 transgender students, with a second group starting their training on February 1.
Malik now dreams of becoming a chef in Dubai, a city known for its futuristic skyline. She has fully committed to her studies, saying, “I am so absorbed in learning that I don’t have time to dance anymore.”
In Pakistan, where conservative views on gender and sexuality often marginalize transgender people, many are pushed into begging, dancing, or prostitution to make a living. They also live under the constant threat of violence. This culinary program offers a new path, providing education and hope to those who have long been outcasts in society.
The U.N. development agency reported last year that most transgender individuals in Pakistan have faced violence or abuse, with many also being denied job opportunities due to their gender identity. The UNDP noted that only 7% of transgender people are employed in formal sectors.
Trans women in public office and the media have helped raise awareness about the challenges faced by the transgender community, leading to some progress in safeguarding their rights.
Supreme Court rulings in Pakistan have affirmed the right of trans individuals to self-identify as a third gender, neither male nor female, and have emphasized that they are entitled to the same rights as all other citizens.
In recent years, Lahore introduced its first ride-sharing service specifically for trans people and women to protect them from discrimination and harassment. Additionally, in 2022, Pakistan launched a dedicated hotline for the transgender community.
“Society often looks down on us,” said Malik. “We need to change this mindset. Now, people approach me and ask what I do when they see me in a chef’s coat and hat.”
Since starting their courses, students arrive at the culinary school in Lahore with backpacks and big smiles, trading their colorful clothes for white uniforms. However, the journey is not easy. Each student receives a monthly stipend of 8,000 rupees (about $26), which is not enough to cover living expenses.
“How can we survive on that when my rent is 15,000 rupees?” asked 26-year-old Zoya Khan, adding that utility bills take up most of her stipend. To make ends meet, she performs at a few events each month.
“I used to make a decent amount from dancing, I won’t lie,” she said. “But there was no respect in it.”
“Why do we come here? It’s because we see hope,” Khan explained, sharing her dream of opening a roadside cafe after graduating.
Nadia Shehzad, the institute’s chief executive, said the project aims to provide the transgender community, often marginalized and overlooked, with the recognition they deserve.
The school is working to secure government support to help students obtain visas for work abroad, and there are discussions with local hotels and restaurants about job opportunities after graduation, with salaries reaching up to 30,000 rupees (around $107).
Shabnam Chaudry, a leader within the trans community, explained that transitioning from dancing, begging, and sex work to joining the culinary program is not an easy path for many transgender individuals.
There is uncertainty about whether society will offer them employment opportunities or whether customers will be willing to eat food prepared by trans chefs.
Chaudry shared that in the past, many trans people have taken makeup and sewing courses but struggled to find work afterward, often having to return to begging and dancing to survive.
She also expressed concern about the difficulty of finding jobs, as Pakistan has a large number of young people with skills and degrees who are unable to secure employment.
“With such fierce competition, who will hire trans people?” Chaudry asked. “People are not ready to extend their hand to us.”