Pakistani School Security Improvements

We recently started a series of interviews with some of our students in Pakistan, below are the answers from a student in her own words:

"I am Nooria, a current student of grade 6 in Barakat Elementary school in Attock, Pakistan.

I belong to a community which doesn’t take much care about education especially for their girls. They don’t want to spend money on their daughters for their education. Our community owes gender discrimination and many other issues to the male members of the family. Male members of the family are their first priority whatever the need is.

I am here in Barakat due to the free education here. And I am sure when I’ll  graduate from Barakat school, my family will not let me continue my further studies as they will have to pay the expenses.

At this stage sometimes I face “ you have now grown up and don’t go to school” sort of traditional statements from my family and I am scared of having done with me. But I’ll not step back and will try everything to do what I want for my life.

This is the main tragedy of our community. But at the same time I know this too that there is no solution to this issue because this is a long term process to be changed.

I love to study and want to change myself as well as the circumstances around me. Only education can make a difference and you all guys in Barakat are doing remarkably to do this.

I wish to complete my education and become a useful member of society by becoming a software engineer.

My greatest thanks to Barakat schools who are struggling hard to change our lives. And pray that their efforts bear fruit."