In the remote village of Chamhora in Mansehra, Pakistan, a new primary school is set to open - a milestone that will secure education for 300 marginalized girls. What makes this achievement even more remarkable is that it was made possible by the community itself, demonstrating the power of locally-driven change.
Soon girls in Chamhora, Mansehra, will have their own school.
In Chamhora, young girls dreamed of going to school but faced a harsh reality: despite a population of over 8,000 people, there was no nearby primary school for girls.
While older girls managed longer commutes, approximately 300 girls between 5 and 10 years old had no feasible options for primary education, resulting in substantial learning gaps during a critical stage of their development.
“There was a young girl from Chamhora who used to visit my house. She would watch my daughter do homework with great interest. Knowing she had no school to attend made me sad.”
This might have remained the girls’ reality, but supported by Education Out Loud, civil society has stepped in to turn community concern into collective action.
Led by the Institute of Social and Policy Sciences (I-SAPS) and the Consumer Rights Commission of Pakistan, the Reframing Education Accountability in Pakistan (REAP) project empowers civil society groups to engage more effectively with government, shaping education policy and improving service delivery through evidence-based dialogue and strengthened accountability.
REAP also fosters collaborative spaces where government officials value and are more receptive to community input.
“Traditionally, establishing government schools has depended heavily on government prioritization, complicated planning processes and availability of funds, with little or no participation from the communities. Communities often are not aware of the proper channels to engage with government functionaries or find government less receptive to solving their problems.”
Through the civil society education network (CSEN) - a network created under the REAP project that brings together local civil society groups, leaders and community representatives - the people of Chamhora received ongoing guidance on the procedural engagement needed to channel their demands for a school.
“The community’s response was overwhelming. Parents were ready to knock on every door to make this school a reality,” says Ms. Shumaila.
According to CSEN member and convenor Ishtiaq Ahmad Khan, bringing the community together wasn’t easy: there was mistrust at first; some thought it wouldn’t work and others were focused on daily survival.
“But once we all spoke with one voice, our message became powerful. The school’s approval proves that when we stand united, even long-standing challenges can be overcome,” he says.
With strategic guidance and technical support from the Institute of Social and Policy Sciences, CSEN members and community volunteers went door to door to collect household data documenting the number of school-age girls, including how many were enrolled in distant schools and unable to attend school due to distance or financial hardship.
The data showed over 300 girls were out of school, giving the community a powerful evidence base to press for change.
The civil society education network facilitated community meetings to draft a unified set of demands and actively engaged local leaders, elected representatives and education officials to build wide support.
With data in hand and the backing of the broader community, they submitted a formal application for a new school and kept the momentum going through regular follow-ups, advocacy meetings and dialogue with government officials.
“I still remember our first meeting: uncertain but hopeful. Today, holding the school’s official approval fills me with immense pride. Our daughters will finally have a school of their own.”
The government has granted approval for the new school, confirms Arifa Khan, Sub-District Education Officer for Mansehra: “Driven by the community’s demand, we have approved the school and are in the process of fulfilling all formalities, including compliance with legal and administrative requirements to establish it.”
With a local school on the horizon, around 300 girls who have never been enrolled in an educational institution will soon have access to primary education in their own village.
Qaiser Munir believes the impact will be transformative and credits both the community and CSEN for driving change with data, persistence and unity.
“And this is just the beginning,” says Ishtiaq Ahmad Khan. “We must stay involved to ensure this school becomes everything our children need.”
Under the REAP project supported by Education Out Loud, the Institute of Social and Policy Sciences established the civil society education network (CSEN) across Pakistan to strengthen grassroots advocacy and promote accountability in education.
In Chamhora, CSEN took the following steps to make a new school a reality through:
The approval of the new school marks a major milestone for Chamhora, but the journey isn’t over.
With funding secured and formalities underway, government officials are working with the community to identify a safe construction site in the village’s earthquake-prone terrain.
Once this is complete, construction will begin, bringing 300 girls one step closer to finally accessing the education they deserve and reaffirming the power of community-led change.
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