MDF Board Member wins Human Rights Award

Congratulations Shehrbano

Shehrbano Taseer

Pakistani journalist and daughter of former Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer, Shehrbano Taseer, received a Human Rights Award during an annual award dinner in New York City on Saturday, October 22, 2011.

Human Rights First honored Shehrbano “for her courage in carrying out her father’s legacy of religious tolerance.” She has published a series of op-ed pieces calling for change in Pakistan, and has openly criticized those who  glorify her father’s murderer, said the press release.

Please click here to read the full article Promoting Religious Tolerance

World Literacy Day observed

‘Constitution envisages compulsory education up to secondary level’

Daily Times – Friday, September 09, 2011

KARACHI: Sindh Senior Minister for Education & Literacy Pir Mazharul Haq has said that the 1973 Constitution of Pakistan provides for free and compulsory education from primary to secondary level and the state is responsible to implement the same.

In his message, read out by Secretary Education Muhammad Siddique Memon to the participants of a walk held here on Thursday to mark World Literacy Day, the minister quoted the Article 37/B of constitution, which says, “Free and compulsory education up to secondary level is the constitutional obligation of the state”.

He said the theme of International Literacy Day is ‘Literacy and Peace’ which make people independent and ensure their participation in social system to enlighten them with civil rights. The literacy also builds self-confidence in the people and enhances their interest for participation in political and social system.

He said literacy is essential for the eradication of poverty, curbing of population growth, achieving gender equity and ensuring sustainable development, peace and democracy. “Literate people are better geared to meet pressing development challenges,” he added.

He said the Provincial Plan of Action 2003 on Education For All (EFA) was being prepared in the wake of challenges being faced by the Sindh government in achieving the goals set by Jometin Conference 1990, subsequently revised in Dakkar Conference 2000.

Present Peoples’ government is taking serious efforts to achieve the targets before the specified time till 2015, he said.

EFA Units have been established in all 23 districts and at provincial level in the year 2008-09 as the first step towards positive progress.

Awareness campaigns were initiated at union council, taluka/town, district, regional and provincial level to aware the people about the dangers of illiteracy and their responsibilities individually and jointly at all levels.

Girls’ enrollment was also enhanced through re-opening of 400 closed girls’ schools through Rural Support Programmes, in which 12,000 girls students continued their education.

To read the article please click here.

A printer friendly copy is available here Daily Times – Site Edition [Printer Friendly Version]

by Fritz Lodge

This summer, after nearly two years of bureaucratic wrangling, the first of Pakistan’s famous mangoes will appear in fruit aisles across the United States. Unfortunately, their arrival will turn few heads. Though officially the world’s sweetest mango (by scientific consensus) the fortunes of this newest export seem unlikely to fill the schedule of Pakistan’s eloquent ambassador to Washington, Hussein Haqqani. Rather, it is the bitter state of his country’s already sour relations with the United States that will tax his talents for the foreseeable future. Long dubious of Islamabad’s commitment to the fight against militant Islam, American officials and lawmakers have been increasingly inclined to read the discovery of Osama bin Laden in the town of Abbottobad as damning evidence of complicity at the upper levels of Pakistan’s intelligence establishment. Now, the murky circumstances surrounding an unsuccessful raid on two bomb-making facilities have led the Obama administration to announce the suspension, or even cancellation, of nearly $800 million from the more than $2 billion in assistance provided annually to its South Asian ally. But should the mango’s arrival be so easily ignored?

The furor in Washington over Pakistan’s lukewarm commitment to the ‘War on Terror’ is hardly undeserved – CIA Deputy Director Michael J Morell rated Pakistan’s cooperation on counterterrorism operations as a “three” on a scale of ten – yet the question is not whether funds should be cut, but how they should be allocated. U.S. policy in Pakistan is understandably dominated by America’s interests in neighboring Afghanistan. Accordingly, the vast majority of aid to Pakistan is composed of security assistance, and the cooperation won by this largesse has been vital to military efforts in the region. But the blind bundling of foreign policy into one security-focused ‘Af-Pak’ package fatally ignores the human element of counterterrorism. American predator drone strikes may effectively “bug splat” (as the lingo goes) bad guys, but they are essentially negative in nature. Even if their targets are destroyed without killing innocents, – which 90% of Pakistanis do not believe to be the case – their success will only prevent destruction, not create growth. The cultivation of an export market for Pakistani mangos in America might, on the other hand, offer jobs and livelihoods to thousands of impoverished farmers and generate millions in new revenue. Such positive action must accompany the negative in any counterterrorism strategy if crucial “hearts and minds” are to be swayed. However, mangos aside, the provision of this kind of assistance is woefully anemic. The Kerry-Lugar-Berman bill passed in October 2009 pledged to triple economic assistance to $7.5 billion over five years, but a 2010 Pew Poll found that only 55% of Pakistanis were even aware that their government receives funding from the United States and, of these, only 27% believed a significant portion of that funding to be directed towards development.

In short, American policy is, as Nancy Birdsall of the Center for Global Development (CGD) notes, “way off course in Pakistan.” A fixation on security has led us to “neglect low-cost, low-risk investments in jobs, growth, and the long haul of democracy building.” In a political system crippled by corruption, and an economy struggling to employ its rapidly growing population, such neglect must not continue. Fortunately, the U.S. development mission in Pakistan is not beyond repair, but cash and cannons will be of little further use. Instead, a June 2011 report by the CGD suggests, what is needed is a reorganization and redirection of aid efforts. The combination of USAID programs in Pakistan under a single director, as well as the posting of development goals and data on the progress of those programs in one accessible location, would help streamline the messy distribution of AID funds. While, a temporary suspension of trade tariffs, duties, and quotas on exports to the U.S. would help rebuild trust between the two countries, and breathe life into Pakistan’s underutilized manufacturing capacity.

Similarly, addressing the dismal state of Pakistan’s education system would go far in proving a real commitment to the welfare of the Pakistani people. Pakistan, the sixth largest country in the world (by population), currently places 143rd in country league tables on education expenditures (a measly 2.6% of GDP). No wonder, then, that only 47% of Pakistani boys, and a shocking 22% of girls, complete even primary level schooling. Less than 19% move on to upper secondary school. Education is the foundation of any modern economy and sweeping reform of Pakistan’s bloated military budget is needed to combat its learning crisis. Still, American agencies can help push such reforms at the policy level, while private charitable organizations have also proven quite effective at the grassroots level. Greg Mortenson, writer of the best-selling book “Three Cups of Tea”, and previously the most successful proponent of Pakistani education in the United States, has recently been discredited by an April 2011 “60 minutes” exposé, which revealed his widespread misallocation of charitable donations. But the dream of an educated Pakistan should not be thrown out with his dirty linen. The Marshall Direct Fund, a small charitable outfit based in Carbondale Colorado, presents one attractive alternative. Eschewing Mortenson’s expensive model of constructing whole schools from scratch in rural areas, the Fund leases cheap space and focuses on teaching in order to provide alternatives for Pakistani youth in the urban areas where a majority of terrorist recruitment takes place. The charity also runs a program called “Global Kids Connect”, which seeks to connect young American school children with their Pakistani counterparts and humanize, for both sides, a cultural ‘other’ that is so often defined by inflammatory and sensationalist rhetoric. Though small, MDF has put its limited budget to excellent use, and the example set by its generosity ripples far beyond those students directly affected.

Such individual generosity, combined with a dedicated effort at the policy level, can help reverse the worrying trends developing in US-Pakistani relations. Economic uncertainty and ramshackle progress on security have made Pakistan-bashing an easy past-time in Washington, and efforts to cut U.S. aid are well underway. Perhaps, they should be; however, the antics of Pakistani leadership (especially within the ISI) should not lead Washington to abandon the country. The temptation to view Pakistan solely through the prism of security is strong but essentially misguided. Relations must be approached holistically if American goals in the region are ever to be fully realized. Military solutions are vital in the fight against violent extremism in the region, but that dead horse has been thoroughly beaten. Mangoes and education could present a faster path to stability than bullets alone.

To view the article on the Huffington Post please click here.

To print or download a PDF version of the article please click Mangoes and Schools: Rethinking U.S. Aid to Pakistan.

AfPak Daily Brief

Daily brief: Pakistani naval officers to face court martial
By Andrew Lebovich, August 4, 2011

A day in court

Pakistan’s military will reportedly court martial three naval officers in connection with the failure to prevent an attack carried out by the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) on the country’s Mehran naval base in May, which resulted in the destruction of key surveillance aircraft and the deaths of 10 security personnel (ET, Reuters). The officers include the base’s former commander Commodore Raja Tahir, as well as two subordinates.
Violence continues to roil Karachi, as Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain and officials from the Awami National Party (ANP) called for Pakistan’s army to be deployed to tamp down the fighting (DT, ET, ET, Dawn, DT). Hundreds of paramilitary Rangers have spread throughout Karachi, and the government in Sindh province Wednesday authorized Pakistani president Asif Ali Zardari to head negotiations with the city’s political parties (Tel, DT, ET). As part of the talks, Dawn reports that Zardari is expected to ask the MQM to rejoin Pakistan’s governing coalition (Dawn).

China toned down its criticism of Pakistan in the wake of violence in the country’s western Xinjiang province last weekend, lauding the latter’s counterterrorism efforts in a public statement released Wednesday (ET). Meanwhile, Dawn reports on the looming September discussion at the United Nations on American efforts to halt the production of fissile nuclear materials, and NBC’s Robert Windrem discusses the possibility that American forces may attempt to “snatch” Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal in the event of crisis in the country (Dawn, MSNBC). And U.S. ambassador to Pakistan Cameron Munter said in a visit to Baluchistan that the province is “very significant” for the United States, as unidentified gunmen destroyed three NATO fuel trucks near the Baluch town of Dasht (Dawn, Dawn).

Four stories close out today’s Pakistan news: The Punjab home office has reportedly concluded in an intelligence report that certain religious schools in the province are promoting radicalization, and have increased their activities in the past six weeks (ET). Fighting between the army and militants continues in Kurram agency (ET). A new report from Oxfam International has concluded that 36 percent of Pakistanis are undernourished, while two-thirds of the population spends more than half of their income on food (ET, Dawn). And 16 Pakistanis held prisoner by human traffickers in Afghanistan have been repatriated (Dawn).

Slow progress?

The Times reports that a statement released recently by the Taliban calling on the United States and foreign forces to, “seek a face-saving exit from Afghanistan in understanding with the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan,” could indicate a shift from previous Taliban demands for a withdrawal from Afghanistan before peace negotiations could take place (NYT). Observers note that any negotiations or peace process with the Taliban are nascent, and Taliban violence continues unabated. However, former Afghan prime minister Ahmad Shah Ahmadzai, who served between 1995 and 1996, told The News that Taliban officials indicated to him that the group would negotiate after a public commitment from the United States to withdraw (The News). And Afghanistan’s High Peace Council, the body tasked with promoting reconciliation with the Taliban, has appointed Algerian Abdullah Anas, the son-in-law of the legendary slain anti-Soviet militant organizer Abdullah Azzam, to represent the council officially in Europe (Pajhwok).

A Taliban car bomb on Thursday killed Payenda Khan, a junior official in Afghanistan’s National Directorate of Security (NDS) in the northern province of Kunduz (BBC, AFP). In eastern Afghanistan, a man wearing an Afghan National Police uniform shot and killed a NATO soldier Thursday (Reuters, AP). And Bloomberg notes the rising recruitment of women into Afghanistan’s security forces, a role for women in Afghan society that may be at risk following a potential deal with the Taliban (Bloomberg). Bonus read: Gayle Tzemach Lemmon, “Fighting a 50 percent solution in Afghanistan” (FP).

The cat’s meow

The Post brings to light the months-long debate at the U.S. embassy in Kabul over the fate of the 25 to 30 cats that populate the embassy grounds (Post). Some staffers have been fighting a push to exterminate the cats, which reportedly have scratched or bitten at least one embassy employee.
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ASIF HASSAN/AFP/Getty Images

Marshall Direct Fund reception at the home of Marcy and Leo Edelstein

Annual Fundraiser Was A Resounding Success!

We raised over $100K; the most we have generated in a single event. Many thanks to all who supported us whether it is by attending, providing the coveted wares for the silent auction or volunteering. Thank you especially to the event chairs: Marcy and Leo Edelstein, Soledad and Bob Hurst, and Mary and Patrick Scanlan. We offer the ultimate gratitude to the host committee and all of the sponsors and underwriters who helped make this event possible.

“This benchmark is so inspirational to me, my staff and the board,” exclaimed executive director Silbi Stainton. “The faith and generosity of our donors shows us all that the formula is working and we can and must persevere”.

The reception took place in Aspen, CO, at the beautiful home of Marcy and Leo Edelstein. The vivid photography of Shari Applebaum who accompanied MDF staff to Pakistan last October, showcased students whose lives are enriched by the educational programs provided by the Marshall Direct Fund.

Featuring Shehrbano Taseer

Highlights from the evening include a very moving speech by Shehrbano Taseer. Shehrbano, the daughter of the late Salmaan Taseer (governor of Punjab who was recently gunned down by one of his own bodyguards), has followed in her fathers’ footsteps by continuing his pledge to pursue a humanistic society with equal protection for all under the law.

Shehrbano is a reputed reporter and human rights activist. During the event she shared the story of her father’s commitment to a peaceful and progressive Pakistan, a commitment that resulted in his assassination. Shehrbano continues to speak out for religious tolerance and freedom. You can read more of her story here: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/09/opinion/09taseer.html

THE GALLERIE boutique Tunics Début

The event marked the debut of the beautiful products produced at the women’s vocational centers that the Marshall Direct Fund supports and the creative designer and fashion-forward owner of the Aspen, Colorado boutique THE GALLERIE, Sarah Lippincott.

Marshall Direct Fund is advancing the education and work skills of women and children in Pakistan. By uniting Sarah’s successful business model, fashionista sensibility and philanthropy with the needs of Marshall Direct Fund; entrepreneurial women in Pakistan are creating merchandise that will be soon featured in THE GALLERIE.

Marshall Direct Fund is able to offer cost-efficient product that puts distinctive merchandise in the hands of clientele looking for that one-of-a-kind piece.

The Gallerie is instrumental providing input on the designs and is taking orders and selling the tunics at The Gallerie in Aspen. For more on how you can purchase a distinctive tunice please visit www.gallerieaspen.com/

You can check out the Get Involved page of our website for information on everyday ways to contribute to programs specifically designed to increase economic opportunity for the poor, especially girls and women, in Pakistan http://www.marshalldirectfund.org/get-involved/

Make your Valentine a girl you don’t know!

You were probably planning on your Valentine being your spouse, children, significant other, best friend, mother and/or someone you know, right? This year, surprise everyone and choose a girl you don’t know to be your Valentine!

Nageena: She lives in an impoverished community in Pakistan and is vulnerable to human trafficking and her future children are susceptible to recruitment into extremist activities. For $25, you could buy chocolate, or provide her with a uniform and shoes at a MDF school where she can learn in a safe place!

Saima: She lives in Kashmir. She is a mother of three. She wants to start her own business. For $50, you could send flowers, or help her obtain raw materials through the vocational center where she will be taught how to make embellished clothing products.

Fatima: She is 9 and also lives in a poor area of Pakistan. Because her family needs additional income it is difficult for her parents to have her in school instead. For $100, you could buy jewelry, or make sure she can attend another year of school, and obtain daily nutritious lunches.

These girls don’t want candy, flowers or jewelry. They want an education, resources and a chance to prove themselves. We believe in them. How about you?

Happy Valentine’s Day!

With lots of love,
Silbi Stainton and the Marshall Direct Fund Team

p.s. To prevent any relationship problems that may stem from choosing another Valentine, consider making your donation in honor of your original Valentine, we will email a Marshall Direct Fund Valentine’s tribute card.

Forward from Aanya Niaz

Knowing that today, it is unsafe for a young child to make their way to school serves as the first warning sign of a staggering nation; a nation where the prime medium of attaining stability, “education”, has been deemed sinful by the extremists, and unsafe by the citizens. My strong belief lies in our struggle to strive for, and then maintain a high standard of education, which is undoubtedly necessary to achieve qualitative success over time. It will bring into our societies informed individuals, with imagination, strength and the imperative understanding of using knowledge to help a nation rise, rather than religion or any personal beliefs. Without education, simply put; without an appropriate standard of schooling for our masses in Pakistan — there is almost no hope of survival, let alone prosperity.

Therefore, I walk hand in hand with the reality that with better schools and increased spot light on education, we can change our lives, one student at a time. I ask you, literate souls and kindred minds, to walk hand in hand with me in this venture.

Learn more: http://aanyafniaz.wordpress.com/2011/01/09/foreword-education-on-the-horizon/

Please make every gift count this holiday season. You can find coupons at more than 1,600 top stores (including Amazon, Macy’s, J.Crew, Toys R Us, Best Buy, Gap and more) AND a percentage of virtually every sale will be donated to Marshall Direct Fund.

Just go to GoodShop at http://www.goodshop.com, select our cause and then click over to your favorite store and shop away!

Or, add this toolbar to your browser at http://www.goodsearch.com/toolbar – and your purchases will earn a donation for us even if you forget to go to GoodShop first!

There’s no easier way to support us this holiday season!  Please spread the word.

Q: What precisely about Pakistan appealed to you and lured you to work with this nation?
A: I was concerned about the magnitude of the crisis in education there.  There are 75 million children out of school globally, and nearly 10 percent of them reside in Pakistan.

Q: Could you outline some of the biggest obstacles you faced in your journey of setting up schools here?
A: One must have a good sense of humor and patience to negotiate the numerous obstacles in the way of setting up schools in Pakistan.   Our biggest obstacles are the lack of coordination amongst agencies working in the sector of education and development and on occasion dealing with local interests in proximity of the schools who attempt to stop education, particularly of females, at any cost.

Q: What has been the most rewarding experience for you in this journey?
A: Seeing the faces of children after they completed their first year of school – for many their first year of school ever.  It was like seeing brand new children.  Bright eyes where hopelessness loomed just a year before.  Sing song voices and the happy chatter of young inquisitive people, where a quiet had prevailed when they began.  Children sitting up taller, where a lack of confidence had been just a year before.  Smiles on the most beautiful little faces.

Q: How many schools have you established/locations/student enrollment/teacher enrollment/specifics about results?
A: We have two schools operating and another one planned.  The operating schools are in Sheikhupura and Barakaho.  These schools serve 240 plus students.  They employ 12 local teachers.  Over 1,200 meals a week are served to these children further boosting the local economy.  An additional 100 children are reached in the United States via our partner classroom project that connects the schools in Pakistan with classrooms in the U.S.  The premise being that a lack of understanding only promotes hostility.  Friendships between the children are strong.  These are children who will not nod their heads if someone tells them the ‘other side’ is all bad.  This is something needed for the American children every bit as much as the Pakistani children.
The results are determined via traditional testing and site visits for monitoring and evaluation.  The schools are thriving.  I am very proud of the teachers and children.  The proof is in the pudding as they say.  This year we had to turn away an additional 120 applicants who had learned of the schools via word of mouth.  Funding alone stands in the way of our capacity to deliver education to all of those worthy young children who apply.

Q: What academic curriculum do they follow? What made you choose that?
A: They follow a modified and augmented version of the Govt. of Punjab curriculum.  We chose that so the children would be getting an accredited education but we also wanted more for them.  We utilize modern pedagogic approaches to learning in the classrooms.  More why and how questions in place of what questions.  Critical thinking in place of rote learning.  The teachers receive training in these areas and they are rewarded for any additional education/schooling they receive on their own.

Q: Who was the first person in Pakistan who took a step forward to assist you, and how did having this local connection help you with your endeavor?
A: The first person was Hassan Abbas who is currently the Quaid-i-Azam professor at Columbia University.   He was a classmate of mine at Fletcher School and Kennedy Government School nearly 10 years ago.  He taught me a lot about Pakistan during our time in school together.  And then five years later, when I grew tired of waiting for the U.S. government to do more to prevent the growth of extremism in Pakistan by supporting education, Hassan Abbas encouraged me to start Marshall Direct Fund.  He then connected me to a trusted group of contacts in Pakistan to help me with the endeavor.  Today our team is 98 percent Pakistani and comprises the most spirited and committed group of individuals you will ever see.

Q: How can average Pakistani youth attending schools and Universities participate in your cause?
A: We urge university students to launch Marshall Direct Fund Circles at their schools.  These support circles can work together with MDF.  Students can raise funds to support our programs.  And of equal importance, we are very open to having students come to our schools as guest speakers.  They can serve as something akin to a big sister or big brother to the students in our schools… keep the children motivated to work hard.  University students can also help with book drives and with technology.  They can donate used computers and computer programs to the schools.  And if they are so inclined, we welcome them to provide training in the computer sector.   The children and the teachers would love that!  Being in an MDF Circle helps young students feel engaged in their world and their country.  We are the biggest proponents of getting young people involved.  They have so much to gain from the experience….especially leadership and capacity building skills.  And seeing the smiles on the faces of the students is pretty memorable too.

Q: Why do you believe investing your life in education would make a difference?
A: Because I have seen the change in these children’s lives with my own eyes.  And if that was not enough, studies show that investment in education has one of the highest payoffs to society of all possible expenditures.  Did you know that for every 1% increase in education there is a .3% increase in economic growth?  And for every increase of one year in the average schooling of a population, the risk of civil conflict is reduced by 3.6 percentage points?

Education of girls is especially rewarding to society.

When a girl in the developing world receives 7 or more years of education, she marries 4 years later and has 2.2 fewer children. She can then provide greater attention and investment in each child she does have.

An extra year of primary school boosts girls’ eventual wages by 10 to 20%. An extra year of secondary school: 15 to 25%.

When women and girls earn income, they reinvest 90% of it into their families, as compared to only 30 to 40% for a man.

Educating a girl reduces the infant mortality rate and ensures better healthcare for each child a girl has in her future.

Can you think of a better asset to invest in than a girl in the developing world when considering this immense returns to society?…Especially a girl in a country facing conflict as these children have the least amount of access to international economic support.

Q: What do you, with your honorable experience and expertise, believe that Pakistan requires most in the education sector? A revised curriculum? More teachers? Female teachers? Incentives? Better teacher training programs? More parental involvement?
A: Well, I must say that I believe the people of Pakistan are in the best position to answer that question.  I can offer that in our experience community involvement is the key to success for a school.  A ground-up, community support system must be in place to ensure the longevity of a school and prevent the growth of ghost schools.  The teachers and families of the students will notify you if something is not going well in the school and a good administrator always wants to know what is working and what is not.  Local, community food producers and seamstresses should be used whenever possible.  Additionally, the style of learning must be exciting and one that promotes critical thinking skills.  More science, less rote learning.  And yes, female teachers are statistically proven to be the best choice for teachers of young people.  Statistically they engage their students more effectively and they are not as prone to using corporal punishment which does nothing but teach a child shame.

Q: During your work, you must have come across families who refuse to send their daughters to work due to conventional reasoning – How did you deal with this?
A: We do come across this on occasion although surprisingly less frequently than one might think.  Usually the decision not to send a daughter to school is an economic one and/or out of concern for her privacy and safety.  Having female teachers and bathrooms for the girls helps give families confidence that their daughter will be safe and respected at school.  In the most resistant cases, we can take the son to school first.  The family becomes comfortable with the school via their son and then the next year they send their daughter too.  We have affirmative action, yet applied gently and carefully so as not to shock a system already in place.  But quite honestly, I have witnessed proud Pathan fathers fight quite firmly for their daughter’s right to go to school or for their daughter’s right to be a teacher.  These fathers would make any daughter proud.  The key is engaging the families.

Q: How can the upcoming generation of Pakistan follow in your footsteps? Where should/can they begin if they would like to establish schools as well?
A: I urge the rising generation of Pakistan to place education as the centerpiece of their country’s development.  Students can and should insist that all children have a right to attend school and then do what they can to make that happen.  If they want to set up schools, I encourage them to work with other reputable NGOs and/or to partner with govt. schools to help bring about improved educational quality and access.  MDF welcomes all students and other supporters of our cause to reach out to us via email at info@marshalldirectfund.org . Our team will facilitate all offers to help.

Q: How can Pakistani students studying abroad help you and your organization? Any specifics?
A: Same as local students (above) but not as practical to visit the schools I realize.  Anyone can still help with fundraising and awareness generation via MDF Circles (which can be launched at any school, we have supporting materials and ideas).  Some students show films about Pakistan to increase awareness.  Others read books as a community. And some meet monthly for coffee or tea and discussion of the current events.  Any of these ideas can be a part of fundraising by just asking people to give $10 to attend.  Anyone interested in starting an MDF Circle group can email info@marshalldirectfund.org .

Q: If you would like to share any advice/suggestion with Pakistan today, what would that be?
A: Make as many investments as you can in advancing access to quality education for all of your people. This is paramount in unlocking your country’s full potential.

This interview was conducted by Aanya Niaz.

Did you know that educating youth (and ensuring girls and women’s education) improves the health status of children and the economic development of their communities? Statistics reveal that for every 1% increase in education there is a .3% increase in economic growth.

Now more than ever, youth in Pakistan need access to safe and quality education. Prior to the floods, only 63% of Pakistani students finished primary school. With so many schools damaged or being used for other public needs in the aftermath of the floods, over a million students are now without schools. Without education, critical thinking capabilities and economic opportunities, impoverished youth are susceptible not only to extreme poverty but even more vulnerable to recruitment into extremist organizations.

Fortunately none of our schools were directly affected by the floods, but the long term impacts will be felt. Access to clean water and health care are formidable problems. Fuel prices have skyrocketed. Ensuring access to healthy meals will become more difficult since massive crop destruction took place during the floods and there is huge inflation of food prices. The start of our school year was delayed but is now successfully in session. We are determined more than ever to make sure that underserved youth in Pakistan have access to quality education which increases self-confidence, improves the ability to make informed decisions and ensures marketable/professional skills, thereby allowing the youth to grow up to become contributing members of society and capable of assisting with the reconstruction of an improved Pakistan. We welcome your assistance with our goals.

Visit us here – http://www.marshalldirectfund.org/get-involved