Imagine a squatter community of 160,000+ people living in poverty outside of Karachi, Pakistan.
Unpaved streets, no sewage system, and water must be bought from private contractors.
Power is only available nine hours a day.
One of the three government school remains in the community. Boys attend school until age 12, when their families pull them out to work. Girls are rarely allowed to attend.
The literacy rate for women in Pakistan is 26 percent.
Now imagine a 13-year-old girl in that community. Who initially saw school as a punishment, but grew to love mathematics.
The young girl had the courage and initiative to start a school in her home to teach others in the community.
With one blackboard, she taught ten friends from the community. Seven of the friends were girls.
That’s what Humaira Bachal did in 2001, when she started the Dream Model School.
Now 26 years old, Bachal is president of a school that teaches 1,200 students. Her story is one of the many inspiring stories you’ll hear today as people around the world celebrate International Women’s Day.
What is International Women’s Day?
From the first event in the United States over a hundred years ago, International Women’s Day has expanded to a global observance held annually on March 8 to commemorate and raise awareness of the movement for women’s rights.
People around the world hold events, presentations, talks, marches, and other celebrations to reflect on the progress and achievements made by women.
The first Women’s Day event took place in 1908, when garment workers marched in New York City in protest of working conditions.
The day became more widespread when the United Nations began celebrating International Women’s Day in 1975.
This year’s theme, “Women in the Changing World of Work: Planet 50-50 by 2030,” aims to build momentum for achieving gender equality, women’s empowerment, and women’s rights.
On International Women’s Day, let us all pledge to do everything we can to overcome entrenched prejudice, support engagement and activism, and promote gender equality and women’s empowerment.
— UN Secretary-General, António Guterres
Inspiring Stories
You’ll hear and read dozens of inspiring stories about women today as people share them on social media, the news, and their websites.
In addition to Humaira’s story, here are a few stories I’ve enjoyed today:
- Giving Power to Women in Ghana
- Ida Lewis, the most well-known lighthouse keeper in the world
- Edith Summerskill and her fight for women’s rights
- Jesusita Aragon, La Partera
If you have other inspiring stories to share, I’d love to read them. I hope you’ll post them in the comments.
