Born in Pakistan before heading towards the cobbled paths of Batley Carr, Habiban Zaman BEM has become an inspirational example for south Asian women across the region and beyond.

Last year she was featured in the Queens birthday honours list and on Friday become the first person in Kirklees to receive the British Community Honours Award which recognises BME people for cohesion and integration work in the UK.

In an exclusive interview with Paigaam earlier in the year, we learned of the challenges the mother of two faced in those early days and the support and help she received to carry on making a difference.

“I started my career with Awaaz Newspaper,” she cheerfully told us.

Her part-time role on a one year contract was enjoyable, but Habiban soon became interested in the sister organisation ‘the Asian Arts Group,’ and organised funding performances of Asian artists from across the country.

As her career developed she maintained a connection with Awaaz as a volunteer.

She moved on to become the Women’s Development Officer with the South Asian Society in Halifax in 1989 before joining Kirklees Council where she now works as a Community Engagement and Development officer.

In the 1990’s she helped to set up Savile Town Women’s Association, the Bismillah Association and a youth project called Niya Rasta. Soon after she also established a youth work team. All highlighting the inspirational effort which began to make headway in bringing opportunities to the community.

We asked Habiban about the challenges and barriers she faced when engaging with the community in what was for many new territory particular in relation to her work with women.

When it came to colleagues, she said, “Their perception was you’re a young dynamic woman, you’re not going to really succeed within these communities.”

Whilst with the community she told us,

“It was difficult. At the time women didn’t work, the community weren’t used to having training courses or social groups for them to go to or just general activities in the community.

“It wasn’t a well thought of thing to do. That’s where some of these people had that objection of why is she doing this? And where are our women going to be led to?”

Habiban has always tried to deliver projects taking the local community’s faith into consideration ensuring “all the work I have done has been within the Islamic frame work.” She told us.

“I suppose once you’ve worked in a community over time and people know who you are – because Asian families are very quick to make those connections – once you’ve established the connection they realise you’re a safe person.”

We asked how the community had changed since she started as a community worker. Habiban said “Generally we’ve become a lot more open to change. We’re more open to wanting education, in fact there seems to be a hunger for more education or training, to do well with young people as well as within families.”

Bridge building work between diverse local communities is another area which has been challenging especially when breaking down stereotypes communities hold of each other.

She told us, “At one point we went into an area where the BNP had a strong hold and somebody said to me how are you going to manage this.

“The local head teacher said “you’ve come on your own?” adding these women are really rough” She even offered more staff but Habiban declined.

Lunch had been arranged and some of the women were saying they hoped for a variety as they didn’t want to eat any ‘Asian food’.

“I mean she was using quite abusive language.

However. there was Asian food and the reaction once tasting it was very different.

“They went for the Asian food instead of the sandwiches and quiche.

“I mean the Khir [Asian milk based dessert] they were licking it out of the bowl.

“I thought that was absolutely fantastic because if it’s the first time they’ve tasted the food, sat with women from different communities and just to break even a small barrier to accept each other and tolerate each others religion, each others views its just fantastic.”

As well working with the community Habiban has been playing a variety of voluntary roles on management bodies. Last year, she told us, “I was on three school governing bodies at the same time

Habiban was honoured by Her Majesty with the British Empire Medal for outstanding services to women in 2014. Before that she was already the recipient of a number of awards from Kirklees Council and one from Baroness Warsi’s Savayra Foundation.

Her latest award is the British Community Honours Award which recognises BME people for doing cohesion and integration work in the UK to integrate communities into British society.

Habiban is the first person in Kirklees to receive this award and told us “This one is more closer to my heart.

“This is what I feel more passionate about. Making that difference to people, the integration and better understanding.

“I suppose I feel more humble receiving this one and it’s an absolute great honour to be the only person from Kirklees to have received this award.”