A $25 tablet is giving out-of-school girls in Pakistan a chance to continue their education
Gulmakai Champion Haroon Yasin is bringing the technology to some of the most marginalised regions
“What do you want to be when you grow up?”
It’s a simple question any child would love to answer. But when Gulmakai Champion Haroon Yasin asked it of a group of girls in Rajanpur, Pakistan, their answer took him by surprise. “Why does it matter?,” they said, “We won’t get the chance.”
These girls — like many in their village — had dropped out of school after grade 5. With no nearby secondary school for girls, many parents believe it is too dangerous to send their daughters long distances to finish their education. Instead, they are married off or kept at home to do chores.
But Haroon offered the girls a different option: a free tablet containing digital lessons so they could keep learning in the safety of their homes. With support from Malala Fund’s Gulmakai Network, Haroon’s organisation will distribute these tablets and give more than 1,000 girls in Pakistan an opportunity to continue their education. Donate to Malala Fund today to help us reach more girls — so they can reach their full potential.
In Rajanpur, the girls were overjoyed when Haroon explained to them that these tablets would give them an opportunity to continue learning and eventually become whatever it was they wanted to be — a pilot, a cricketer, an army soldier.
The tablets cost just $25 to make, but the lifetime value is limitless. An educated girl not only helps provide for herself, but also her family and community.
Local educators and activists understand challenges in their communities and are best placed to identify, innovate and advocate for policy and programmatic solutions.
