Education
“Education is a human right, a powerful driver of development, and one of the strongest instruments for reducing poverty and improving health, gender equality, peace, and stability. It delivers large, consistent returns in terms of income, and is the most important factor to ensure equity and inclusion”
World Bank IBRD-IDA
When Marafie Foundation Pakistan began its humanitarian work in Gilgit-Baltistan in the 1980s, the landscape of education was bleak. The communities had little or no access to schools, and higher education was non-existent in the area. The general lack of education had also locked the local population into a vicious cycle of poverty and ill-health. We quickly understood that we had to turn our attention to creating educational access and improving healthcare in the area, if we wanted to alleviate poverty in the region and to move the local people on a path to prosperity in lasting ways.
Our work in the education sector isn’t just about building schools; it’s a journey towards prosperity in local communities by using education as a lever for change. We’ve raised literacy rates, inspired individuals to pursue higher education in top-notch universities, and encouraged them to become professionals and entrepreneurs—a crucial first step in alleviating poverty.
Here’s a snapshot of our impact:
School Infrastructure: Constructing school buildings handed over to the education department or credible local NGOs.
Facility Enhancement: Providing various facilities to existing educational setups.
Scholarships: Empowering students for higher studies through impactful scholarships.
Technical and Vocational Training: Offering avenues for skill development and professional training.
IT Labs: Fostering digital literacy with the provision of state-of-the-art IT labs in educational institutes.
Scholarships
Our robust scholarship program serves as the launchpad for ambitious youth in Gilgit-Baltistan. By providing financial assistance, we ensure that promising individuals can pursue higher education without the burden of financial constraints, enabling them to reach new heights in their academic and professional journeys. A total of 3963 students have been granted scholarships from bachelor’s to doctoral level across various fields since 2005.
Increase litracy rate in Gilgit Baltistan since 1987
Understanding the importance of school infrastructure for quality education, we have helped to construct 287 primary and 85 elementary schools. These educational havens cater to a total of 35211 students.
We have sought to involve all stakeholders in a collaborative effort. Local communities generously provided the land, the government education department and NGOs took charge of school operations, while our Foundation has dedicated funds for the construction. This harmonious model has proven incredibly effective, resulting in an impressive 80% increase in literacy rate in the Baltistan division since the 1980s.
IT Labs
To bring this transformation to more schools and madrassas, we pioneered the creation of cost-effective computer labs. Each lab boasts ten workstations complete with refurbished computers, furniture, networking, and printers. These labs became a gift to educational institutes that demonstrated both the space and the resources for such an endeavor.
Vocational Trainings
Diverging from traditional education paths, our strategic investment in technical and vocational training is reshaping futures. Since 2007, we’ve collaborated with public sector training institutions, allocating funds to tailor programs to market demand.
In 2007 & 2008, 74 carefully selected boys embraced technical skills training. Today, 80% thrive in sectors like construction, hospitality, and automotive workshops.