Last month, READ was excited to celebrate the impact and achievements of the Empower Her project with an exhibition in Manchester, marking the conclusion of three years of progress in expanding access to education for girls across Sindh and Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan.
Supported through public donations matched by the UK Government’s UK Aid Match programme, the project was designed to help address barriers preventing girls from accessing education, including poverty, distance, social norms and limited access to safe learning environments.
Through powerful photography, testimonies and case studies, the exhibitions shared the stories of students, teachers and Village Education Committee members whose lives and communities have been shaped through community-based education.
Held at the Whitworth Art Gallery, the exhibition brought together supporters, partners, sector stakeholders and members of the public to reflect on the impact of the project through photography, film and personal stories.
Guest were introduced to girls like Sonia, who once felt afraid to attend school and now dreams of becoming a doctor; Bushra, who was initially excluded from education because of her learning disability and is now thriving in the classroom; and Jarena, who became one of the highest-performing students in her learning space despite living with a disability and facing financial hardship.
The exhibitions also highlighted the wider changes taking place within communities. Through community engagement, trained female teachers, safeguarding initiatives and the support of local Village Education Committees, the project helped strengthen understanding around the importance of girls’ education and create pathways for more girls to continue learning.
Over the last three years, Empower Her has supported 3,600 girls through Community-Based Accelerated Learning Spaces (CBALS), helping girls receive education and continue learning closer to home within safe, inclusive and community-based environments.
From girls attending school for the very first time, to communities now actively championing daughters’ education, Empower Her has demonstrated the transformative role education can play in building confidence, protection and long-term opportunity.
The project has delivered significant educational outcomes, including:
- 3,600 girls supported through community-based education programmes
- 86% of learners scoring 60% or above in final literacy and numeracy assessments
- 100% completion of the taught curriculum among enrolled learners
- 14 formal schools established across Sindh and Gilgit-Baltistan
One of the project’s most significant achievements has been the wider change in attitudes towards girls’ education. Through sustained engagement with families and local leaders, support for girls’ education increased significantly across target communities, helping more girls enrol and remain in education.
Alongside Community Based Accelerated Learning Spaces, the project also supported the establishment of 14 formal schools across Sindh and Gilgit-Baltistan, creating sustainable pathways into long-term education. Today, more than 820 students are enrolled across these schools, including 142 girls who successfully transitioned from CBALS into formal education.
While this phase of the project has concluded, READ Foundation will continue supporting girls’ education through ongoing community-based education programmes and formal schooling initiatives, helping ensure more girls can access safe, quality education close to home.
Thank you to everyone who joined us in celebrating this important milestone, as well as those who supported the project and helped make this work possible. We look forward to sharing future progress on Empower Her as the next chapter of the programme begins.
