Give 15 young people an alternative to extremism

This is the story of Nabila, who found an alternative to extremism with the help of Aware Girls.

Nabila lives in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, in Pakistan. When she was nine years old, her parents sent her to a madrassa. Nabila explains, "It is a place where mothers select small girls for their grown up boys." For five years, she was taught about extremism by mullahs under the influence of militants. 

She studied in a small room with 18 other girls, who were all forced by their parents to join the school. Her family told her, "the place for girls is within four walls."

Militants regularly threatened to blow up the madrassa if the mullahs did not teach extemist ideologies. Teachers and parents were scared to challenge the mullahs.

Every year, Nabila received marriage proposals from men three times her age. Her parents expected her to marry once her education at the madrassa was complete.

However, Nabila refused. She was 14 years old when she decided to leave home. Alone, she had to take on three jobs to survive. Nabila could only see a life of poverty and loneliness in front of her. 

Luckily, with the help of Aware Girls, she escaped this fate. Aware Girls leads intensive training sessions to empower young people to stand up for their rights and challenge messages of extremism. Nabila took part in Aware Girls’ training programme along with other young men and women. She learnt to speak for her rights and the right of other young people.

Nabila’s story could have turned tragic but thanks to our local partner her story was turned around. She was able to take her life into her own hands and decide her own future. Thank you for your support. But many others need help. Please donate to our project.