In a remote village in the Tharparkar desert, where access to education remains limited for many girls, 16-year-old Sonia is now pursuing opportunities that once felt out of reach.
Like many girls growing up in rural communities, Sonia’s early experience of education was shaped by fear and uncertainty.
Sonia’s parents longed for their daughter to receive an education, but there were few learning options available for girls within the village itself. Hoping to give their daughter the chance to study and build a strong future, their only option was to enrol Sonia in the local government boys’ school when she was five years old.
But the environment at the school made it difficult for Sonia to continue.
The school had only male teachers, mixed-gender classrooms and no proper sanitation facilities. For a young girl, the environment felt unfamiliar, uncomfortable and unsafe. Over time, Sonia became increasingly anxious about attending classes.
The fear eventually became so overwhelming that she refused to go to school all together.
That began to change when READ Foundation established a community learning space in Sonia’s village. For the first time, girls in the community had access to a local learning space designed to provide a safe, supportive and inclusive environment for education.
For Sonia, walking into the centre marked a turning point in her life.
“The first day I walked into the CBALS, I felt peace,” Sonia says. “I saw girls like me, learning happily, and a teacher who truly cared.”
The welcoming environment of the centre, together with the support of her teacher, Ms. Bhagwani, helped Sonia rebuild the confidence she had lost in her old school. Surrounded by other girls from her community and encouraged by a caring female teacher, Sonia’s joy and passion for learning was sparked once again.
Since joining the class, Sonia has become one of the most dedicated students, never missing a class and consistently performing exceptionally in her assessments.
Teachers and community members have watched her confidence grow steadily over time. The fear and hesitation that once prevented her from attending school have been replaced by determination and ambition.
Alongside her studies, Sonia is also an active participant in activities and events organised through the project to help raise awareness about the importance of girls’ education within the wider community. During celebrations for the International Day of Education, Sonia shared her dream for the future.
“I want to become a doctor and help people in our society, especially children and women.”
For girls in rural communities like Sonia’s, access to safe and supportive education can be life changing. The learning centre has provided girls with opportunities that previously did not exist close to home, helping them continue learning in an environment where they feel secure, included and supported.
Her journey reflects the wider impact that these learning spaces can have for girls who are excluded from education due to poverty, distance, safety concerns or social barriers. With the support of dedicated teachers and accessible learning environments, girls who once feared the classroom are now thriving within it.
The Empower Her project was made possible thanks to generous public donations to READ Foundation, matched by funding from the UK government through UK Aid Match. Through safe, inclusive and community-based learning spaces, the project is helping out-of-school girls aged 6–16 access education closer to home.
