Girls in Rural Pakistan Are Tackling Inequality Using the Internet
As Fatima Baloch exited her high school in rural Pakistan, she couldn’t help thinking about her future. It was June 2022, near the school year’s end, and her hopes weren’t high. In her village, good jobs for women were scarce. Fatima wanted to work in an office, but without a higher education—which her family couldn’t afford—it was out of the question.
Her only real options, for which she would earn around PKR 200 (US$ 1.00) per day, were to sew handmade items to sell at markets, cook and clean for a wealthy family, or work in the fields, harvesting cotton or wheat.
Making her way home, Fatima remembered what her teacher had said about the Internet. Universities in the capital offered scholarships, allowing young people to continue their education for free. Anyone with computer access and digital skills could find many such opportunities online. But Fatima’s school had no computers, and leaving her village was next to impossible.
Making her way home, Fatima remembered what her teacher had said about the Internet. Universities in the capital offered scholarships, allowing young people to continue their education for free. Anyone with computer access and digital skills could find many such opportunities online. But Fatima’s school had no computers, and leaving her village was next to impossible.
A Beacon of Hope
Several years before, in another part of Balochistan, the sociologist Qaisar Roonjha realized the Internet’s potential to educate and empower the young people of rural Pakistan—especially girls. Having noticed that his sisters had far fewer opportunities than he, only because they were girls, he was determined not only to bring the Internet to young people but also to close the gender divide.
In 2012, he founded Welfare Association for New Generation (WANG), a nonprofit serving marginalized youth through education and digital literacy initiatives. One of their main projects focused on mobilizing parents to enroll their daughters in school and securing funds for scholarships to make this easier for families. He soon saw that a more holistic approach involving parents and children alike would be key to sustainable progress.
“To reach populations that would otherwise be left behind, we’d decided to build a community network and activity center with something for everyone, no matter their age,” Qaisar said. “With support from the Internet Society, we were now ready to take the next step.”
In October 2022, in Fatima’s community, Qaisar and his younger brother Aftab opened the doors to WANG Lab of Innovation (WALI), their new, state-of-the-art technology lab with a volunteer staff. Offering a strong Internet connection and various educational and training programs, it paved the way for opportunities that were previously unimaginable, such as learning to create a podcast or taking remote courses through prestigious universities abroad. Within the solar-powered WALI building’s sky-blue walls, the community can now access the tools and skills they need to thrive in the 21st century, completely free of charge.
“To reach populations that would otherwise be left behind, we’d decided to build a community network and activity center with something for everyone, no matter their age,” Qaisar said. “With support from the Internet Society, we were now ready to take the next step.”
In October 2022, in Fatima’s community, Qaisar and his younger brother Aftab opened the doors to WANG Lab of Innovation (WALI), their new, state-of-the-art technology lab with a volunteer staff. Offering a strong Internet connection and various educational and training programs, it paved the way for opportunities that were previously unimaginable, such as learning to create a podcast or taking remote courses through prestigious universities abroad. Within the solar-powered WALI building’s sky-blue walls, the community can now access the tools and skills they need to thrive in the 21st century, completely free of charge.
Empowering Women and Girls
In line with their initial motivations, Qaisar and Aftab designed everything with women and girls in mind. “We built the lab in a central location easily accessible by foot from several villages,” said Qaisar. “Since women and girls can reach WALI on their own…they’re more willing to enroll in our programs.”
The brothers also opened Kaka’s Garden, a nearby public space offering a safe and comfortable environment for women—men cannot enter except with their families on dedicated mixed-gender days. Kaka’s Garden is managed by the WANG community, particularly by Abdul Qadir, a dedicated volunteer.
With a big smile, Qaisar explained the role this garden plays in their mission.
When mothers visit it with their daughters, they notice the WALI building and get interested. By seeing other girls just like theirs going in to learn important skills, they become more likely to allow their own daughters to enroll.”
Fatima buzzed with excitement on WALI’s opening day. At this lab, she would be able to learn to use a computer at no cost, just minutes from home. Soon, she’d be able to type, use software, and improve her English. Her dreams of a good job didn’t seem so far-fetched after all.
Before long, WALI rolled out a new initiative that would make training for girls more financially sustainable for their families. While girls are at the lab learning digital skills, their mothers, aunts, or sisters—many illiterate—can now go to the stitching unit to use its sewing machines. They sew home textiles and school uniforms for their daughters to sell online, using their newfound digital expertise, at better prices than at physical marketplaces.
With a profit-sharing model in which both the women and WALI receive a portion of the income, such social enterprises not only empower beneficiaries and give them a steady income source, but also make the initiative self-sustaining. Fatima’s elder sister, who’d had no formal schooling, joined her at WALI to work in the stitching room.
Fatima buzzed with excitement on WALI’s opening day. At this lab, she would be able to learn to use a computer at no cost, just minutes from home. Soon, she’d be able to type, use software, and improve her English. Her dreams of a good job didn’t seem so far-fetched after all.
Before long, WALI rolled out a new initiative that would make training for girls more financially sustainable for their families. While girls are at the lab learning digital skills, their mothers, aunts, or sisters—many illiterate—can now go to the stitching unit to use its sewing machines. They sew home textiles and school uniforms for their daughters to sell online, using their newfound digital expertise, at better prices than at physical marketplaces.
With a profit-sharing model in which both the women and WALI receive a portion of the income, such social enterprises not only empower beneficiaries and give them a steady income source, but also make the initiative self-sustaining. Fatima’s elder sister, who’d had no formal schooling, joined her at WALI to work in the stitching room.
Supporting and Uplifting the Community
Two years after opening, WALI has trained hundreds of people and serves as a vital resource for the community. As a solar-powered entity, it stays operational during natural disasters such as the devastating floods of 2022 “WALI played a key role in organizing rescue efforts,” said Qaisar. “We created a map of the houses needing help, with GPS coordinates and essential information such as the number of people in each affected family.” In a further move to support the community, WALI raised funds to build new houses for 50 families headed by women, the only condition being that they send the daughters to school and plant a tree in their yard.
WALI continues to empower girls, such as Hafs Qadir, who launched the podcast Campus Kahani to give young women a voice in public dialogue. With the skills she learned at WALI, she’s able to record each episode with her mobile phone and then edit it at the lab.
As for Fatima, she has thrived at WALI. She is now a volunteer, acting as an ambassador to encourage more girls at her school to join classes. Her dedication is key to expanding the reach of WALI’s mission. Now nearing graduation, she is looking at scholarships and eagerly awaiting the day she will begin a bachelor’s program.
Expanding the Impact
With your help, the Internet Society will be able to support other communities like Fatima’s.
Donate today to empower more girls around the world.
Image copyright: ? Welfare Association for New Generation
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