On the wings of hope
Transforming Education in Umerkot
How ten years of community-led work in Umerkot, Sindh, brought girls and boys back into classrooms.
In the sand dunes of Umerkot, Sindh, livelihoods have long depended on rain that may not come. For decades, poverty, environmental hardship, and deeply entrenched traditions kept children, especially girls, out of the classroom. With many families relying on every working hand and a shortage of women educators, a girl’s education often ended before it ever truly began.
Today, that story is changing. Schools that once stood silent now echo with learning, laughter, and hope.
Parents who never had the chance to attend school themselves have now become its fiercest advocates.
Discover how families, volunteers, and dedicated teachers made classrooms in the desert come alive.
A Decade of Community-Led Impact
Our decade-long intervention across 350 villages and 350 schools in Umerkot district, with focused efforts in the Fakhir Abdullah, Kaplor, and Sekhro union councils has delivered transformative results:
| Key Impact Area | Measurable Change |
| Students Reached | 70,000 children supported (75% girls) |
| Girls’ Enrollment | 75% average rise in girls’ enrolment |
| Dropout Rates | 70% reduction in dropout rates among adolescent girls |
| Secondary Transition | 50% increase in girls transitioning from primary to secondary school |
| Gender Parity | Equal ratio achieved in primary & lower-secondary schooling |
| Teacher Training | 4,000 teachers trained in interactive, child-friendly methods |
| Community Engagement | 140,000 parents & representatives actively involved |
How Change Took Root
Transforming access to education required addressing the root causes of absenteeism through holistic, dignifying interventions:
- Nutritional Support: School meals designed around Sphere Standards help fight acute food insecurity, keeping children healthy and focused on learning.
- Upgraded Infrastructure: Schools are now equipped with desks, chairs, renovated WASH facilities, fresh paint, and solar-powered fans to keep learning continuous, even in extreme heat.
- Teacher Development: Government and CWSA-placed educators completed multi-cycle training programs in multigrade teaching, child-friendly learning methods, and updated curricula.
- Local Leadership: Active Village Management Committees keep governance in local hands, driving over 500 community sessions to promote girls’ right to education.
Stronger Together
This decade of measurable progress was made possible through the unwavering support and shared vision of our partners:
- Presbyterian World Service & Development (PWS&D)
- Act for Peace (AFP)
- Sindh Education Department (SED)
Join the Conversation
Where schools once stood silent, 70,000 children in Umerkot are now building a brighter future. Watch ‘On the Wings of Hope’ to see how ten years of community-led action transformed girls’ education in the sand dunes of Sindh.
- 15 local teachers, including women, placed in underserved schools
