Awatif wanted to go to school. She had big dreams. But because her parents could not afford to continue her education past primary school, they attempted to do what some families in rural, resource-constrained communities do. They tried to get her married.
Awatif heard about a scholarship program - launched by Bedari and supported by Girls Education International - for girls who had completed their primary education in Awatif's village located in the Punjab province of Pakistan.
She applied for the program and was selected.
But that was not the most difficult hurdle Awatif had to overcome. Awatif had to convince her parents to delay her marriage and let her continue with her education - no easy task. With the help of a local Bedari-backed volunteer, Awatif and the representative discussed the matter with community elders who then counseled Awatif’s parents on the importance of her education. Her parents accepted and in a matter of a few weeks, Awatif was back in school.
And she thrived.
She cleared her secondary school exam and requested Bedari to support her for another two years to earn her higher secondary certificate necessary for graduation. Bedari, witnessing her sincere passion, decided to continue the support. After Awatif successfully completed her higher secondary level education, Bedari was unable to support her past higher secondary level.
But Awatif’s passion for further education had swelled. She was self-advocating.
Awatif was intent on dismantling obstacles that stood in her path towards education and she was gaining allies along her way. Seeing her dedication to her studies, her family got together and discussed options. The largest portion of expenditure on her education was her daily travel from her village to her college in the nearby town. If that expense could be avoided, the family could afford to continue her education (Bedari was paying for her transportation prior).
Awatif's grandmother stepped in. She lived in the same town near Awatif’s prospective college and offered to let Awatif live with her so she did not have to take a van daily and could walk to and from college. Awatif happily accepted her offer. Then, her uncle provided her with books. She walked to her college daily and visited her parents on weekends. In another two years, she graduated.
The ripples Awatif created began to grow, and stretch, and touch lives.
An NGO wanted to establish an adult literacy center in the neighboring village and was looking for a teacher. They were not able to find a suitable female teacher in that village and started looking for one in the neighboring village. Luckily, they met Awatif. She was immediately hired and sent for basic training in adult literacy. She has completed her training and is now teaching at an Adult Literacy Center, empowering others in her community to become their best selves.
This is the transformative, community-altering power of educating just one girl.