The girls who have not had the opportunity to complete their education at least to the secondary level are actually denied the right to realize their full potential. These girls neither have a great childhood nor can they have high hopes about their future. Rather they are extremely vulnerable to child labor and teenage marriage, which results in violence and abuse. Their future is marred with teenage pregnancies, large family size, malnourishment and disease.

Bedari supports families and communities to send their girls to schools at least up to secondary level. This project is sponsored through grants as well as through individual sponsors. This project has the potential to stop poverty from passing on to next generation.

Ghulam Fatima belongs to a remote village Sarkalan in the sub-district Kallar Kahar, District Chakwal. She had studied up to 8th grade, but then her father died, and it became impossible for her to continue her studies. As her mother started taking up small assignments to earn a few bucks to support her children, Ghulam Fatima had to stay at home and do the daily chores of a house wife. Though she could not study, yet she made it sure that her younger sister Maafia goes to school.

As time passed, Maafia also passed her exam for 8th grade, and expressed her desire to continue her education. As Fatima had been unable to study further, she wanted fulfill her younger sister’s desire at any cost. For this, she took to sewing and embroidery to earn a little extra money to support her sister. “It was a moment of great joy for me, when Maafia brought her new books home. My eyes were filled with tears”, said Fatima as tears welled up again in her eyes.

As Bedari team came to know about this story, it decided to ensure that both Maafia and Fatima could go to school. Now Ghulam Fatima has joined her younger sister Maafia in school. Though Fatima is a bit overage, but feels happy and is trying to perform better than her much younger classmates.

Kanwal had stopped going to school when she passed her exam for 8th grade. The reason was financial crunch that her family faced. Her parents wanted her to continue her education, but could not afford to send her to High School, as it involved traveling to a nearby town some 10 km away. She could not walk this distance on daily basis, and her parents could not afford to pay for her fare.

As Bedari came to know about her situation, it connected her to a sponsor through its Girls’ Education Program. Her sponsor lives in Athens, Greece. As the sponsor agreed to pay for her academic expenses, she joined high school, and started studying again. Her sponsor sends her scholarship grant through Bedari. It covers her regular monthly fee, transportation, uniform, and books. Kanwal has made the best of this opportunity, and stood first in her secondary school examination.

Her sponsor in Athens was so happy with her progress that he agreed to continue to support her as long as she wants. Kanwal has got admission in college and is studying further with the same zeal. Kanwal lives in a small village some 45 km to the southwest of Chakwal City.