Project Overview

MRC has entered into a partnership with Malala Fund, where it is implementing a project to enable 2,000 out-of-school or drop-out girls from five union councils of Khuzdar district to attain their right of access to quality education. The program is envisioned, designed, and implemented by promoting girls' involvement as active stakeholders of the program. Since the inception of the program, Girls Child Ambassadors from five project-focused union councils are vital aspects of the interventions. These change ambassadors are playing a leadership role within their schools where not only they identified these barriers which are challenging for girls education. Even they are reducing these barriers Moreover, they are doing advocacy for the betterment of girls' education. They will be advocates of girls' education not only in Khuzdar even in Balochistan and will bring reforms in the education policy of Balochistan.

Capacity Building of 100 Girls Change Ambassadors on STEM education & advocacy & campaigning

MRC identified 100 active girls of age 12 years and above as Change Ambassadors. These girls were identified by a thorough process of community involvement and set criteria. These ambassadors will be equipped with capacity-building programs in the areas of digital and social media, campaigning and advocacy, and demand generation of education. After capacity building, they will mobilize parents to send their girls to schools and will also make duty bearers accountable for effective resource utilization and fulfillment of their responsibilities towards girls' education.

As of now, 100 ambassadors are identified from five Union Councils, i.e.; Khattan, Khairabd, Faizabad, Gazgi, and Koshk of Khuzdar district. By the support of the Malala Fund. The aim was to create awareness among 100 girls who are ambassadors of change in the Khuzdar district. The ambassador is imparted about the importance of STEM education, advocacy, and campaigning to enhance the quality of girls' education.

Initially,  it was observed that only one school has its computer lab and only two schools have their small science lab and only one school has a library but these are not active. But after MRC intervention and storing mobilization Especially school. school of scholars, Koshak Girls High school, Lizoo girls model school, GOvt girls Model high school established and started their IT Lab, Even the city school started their lab with a single computer.

Ambassadors are playing a vital role in girls education of Khuzdar they took the initiative of establishing book libraries and supporting girls education in Khuzdar Balochistan .before MRC capacity building training they were not habitual to speak about their educational rights but now on each platform they are raising their voices for the protection of girls educational rights and doing advocacy for IT lab in schools.

• District Level Coordination Meetings

At the inception stage of the project, the MRC strengthened, the already established coordination with Government Line Departments, NGOs, Civil society networks, such as; Education Department, Social Welfare, Women Development, and District Administration. The main purpose of these coordination meetings was to provide a detailed overview of the proposed intervention and seek their cooperation for the smooth execution of the project interventions.

Along with Department heads, the MRC team held meetings with Head Teachers of the project focused schools, Ms. Wirdha from The School of Scholars, Ms. Saleema Alam from Koshk Girls' High School Khuzdar, Ms. Ayesha from Girls High School Hinar Nogay, Mr. Hakeem Sasoli Principal Special School Khuzdar, Mr. Tariq Principal Sunrise Girls High School Khuzdar, and Ms. Farzana Jamot Principal, Girls' High School Khairabad Khuzdar.

During the reporting period, MRC organized 23 coordination meetings where 44 participants (29 male, 15 female) attended these meetings. MRC team delivered a presentation and highlighted the salient features of the project. In the last reporting period, MRC build linkages with colleges and Universities Such as Jalawan medical, Engineering university, and girls collages

These all stakeholders played a vital role in the implementation of project activities as well as the performance of schools and ambassadors. These all joined MRC as volunteers where they are giving their services for promoting girls' STEM education in Khuzdar and Balochistan. 

Teachers Training on STEM Education

MRC conducted a one-day Science festival for young women and girls of Khuzdar Balochistan. It was 1st ever Science Festival of Khuzdar of its own nature, where the participants were only young females and girls; which enhanced the importance of this festival. The main objective of the festival was to inspire and arouse interest in science and STEM education among women and girls of Khuzdar and in the bigger picture of Baluchistan.

This festival carried out 6 Science themes, with the aim to inspire young girls that they should be motivated to take interest in science education and play a vital role in promoting the girls' STEM education in the future. For this purpose different girl students put up science stalls with their science projects and get up like different female scientists which were appreciated by the participants of the festival.

This festival not only inspired the young girls even inspired the school Head. After this festival 4 High schools organized a science festival in which they engaged their community women and more young girls. These festivals created an opportunity for girls to know more about science and they shared their learnings with each other.

These 4 festivals attracted other high schools, education departments, and communities so they decided to conduct science awareness sessions and festivals for educating and engaging more girls in the coming months.

MRC is Honored to share that their first step activated all education stakeholders to wake up and play their role in girls' STEM education. 

Union Council Level Community Engagement Events

MRC, in collaboration with community members, organized 10 community engagement events at the union council level. These events were aimed at girls' enrollment, increasing awareness among communities, sharpening their advocacy skills, and including them in the advocacy process to fulfill their responsibilities towards girls' education, especially at the post-primary level. So far, MRC organized ten Union Council level Meetings wherein each meeting approximately 20 - 25 participants from different walks of life participated.

MRC identified active volunteers who supported us to form Girls Education advocacy forum which helps out the goal of MRC as these volunteers/ stakeholders are engaged in community mobilization to increase girls enrollment, IT lab establishment, Book libraries, extra curriculum activities as well as organizing events for Students.

These events increased the number of MRC volunteers especially the women. 

MRC is Supporting Girls Education Advocacy forum Khuzdar. The organization conducted consultations with relevant stakeholders and formed an Education forum with clear roles and responsibilities. All stakeholders are raising their voices for girls' STEM education promotion in districts and Balochistan. It was an excellent initiative of MRC, where all Stakeholders put their efforts and planning and advocating girls' educational rights.