Transform Pakistan's under-resourced Girls Schools

A Journey of Courage, Curiosity, and Growth

What a few months it’s been! From coding and CPR to chess championships and colorful Profession Day parades, our SMB Fatima Jinnah Government Girls School and Khatoon-e-Pakistan Government Girls School have been buzzing with energy, laughter, and learning. With every class, workshop, and celebration, our girls are growing into confident changemakers, and we’re here for every step of that incredible journey.

Exploring Creativity Through Tech

We kicked off the year with brand new digital art classes for our Grade 6 students at SMB. Under the guidance of Sir Zain, students explored a whole new way to express themselves. The joy on their faces was proof that creativity has no limits.

And while some were sketching on screens, 17 students were diving into a two-week Introduction to IT course, learning everything from setting up emails to navigating virtual platforms like Zoom and Teams. Tech skills? Check!

Real-World Exposure & Life Skills

This quarter, we saw what happens when learning steps outside the classroom. Five of our Grade 10 students joined SIUT’s week-long volunteer program. They explored hospital departments, witnessed robotic surgeries, and learned about CPR and personal hygiene. They came back not only more informed but also inspired to pursue careers in healthcare.

In school, our younger students also picked up life-saving knowledge. Grade 5 students learned basic first aid with the school nurse, and our teachers received hands-on CPR training from Pakistan Life Savers. Safety first, and now, they’re ready to share it forward.

Investing in Our Teachers

Our teachers are always learning, too. Seven English subject teachers completed a powerful 60 hour training on modern teaching methods at NED University. Two others graduated from the UKAA Leadership Program, bringing back fresh ideas and big dreams.

Coach Mariyum hosted three amazing classroom management sessions with nearly 100 teachers, and 18 teachers also took part in a Child Protection workshop discussing everything from student safety laws to emotional wellbeing. Strong teachers, stronger classrooms.

Students Making Waves

From classrooms to competition halls, our students are making us proud:

• Anabiya (Grade 8) won 1st place in an inter-school art competition.
• Rimsha (Grade 10) clinched 3rd position in speech.
• We grabbed 2nd place at the regional STEAM competition, imagining what Pakistan might look like in 2100.
• Areeba (Grade 10) took 1st place in the Toyota Dream Car Art Competition out of 1200 entries!

Sports: Where Grit Meets Glory

Our girls dominated the field this season:

• SMB’s senior futsal team won the Shan-e-Pakistan Championship, while also taking 3rd place at the Karachi United School Championship. Shout-out to Captain Harmain for bagging the Golden Boot!
• Khatoon-e-Pakistan's team brought home trophies from the Throwball Quaid-e-Trophy and the Sindh Pink Games, with 1st in cricket and 2nd in throwball.

Queen’s Gambit, ZT Edition

Chess is big at ZT, and we mean big. Fifteen of our students competed in the 3rd National Youth Chess Championship, held at Karachi Grammar School. The event featured 260 participants from across Pakistan, using the Swiss league format over two intense days.

Our girls truly left a mark:

• Mehak: 1st (Under-18)
• Yamna: 2nd (Under-14)
• Alina: 3rd (Under-12)

Thanks to her phenomenal performance, Mehak qualified to represent Pakistan at the Asia Youth Chess Championship (Western) in Tajikistan from April 20–29, 2025. But that’s not all. On March 1st, Mehak played a special exhibition match against Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah at CM House. And yes, she won! The CM, clearly impressed, announced a Rs. 100,000 cash prize for each of the top three winners and unveiled a groundbreaking chess curriculum for Grades 3 to 8. Developed by Zindagi Trust, this curriculum aims to build critical thinking and strategic planning in public schools across Sindh.

This moment wasn’t just about a game, it was a statement: When given the chance, government school students can compete with and outperform the very best.

Art, Environment & Innovation

Students and teachers from both schools were honored at The Next School’s Odyssey 2025 Carnival. They saw projects on solar-powered filters, biodegradable packaging, and smart gardens, and were celebrated for their performance at the STEAM Muqabla. Everyone went home with certificates, goodie bags, and big ideas.

Tiny Professionals in the Making

Nothing beats Professional Day in our Early Childhood Education (ECE) classes! From stethoscopes to spatulas, our little learners proudly dressed up as doctors, chefs, artists, engineers, and even police officers, bringing their career dreams to life in the most adorable way. The classrooms at both SMB Fatima Jinnah and Khatoon-e-Pakistan Government Girls Schools were buzzing with excitement as parents stepped in as guest speakers. From sharing what a day in their job looks like to answering curious questions from the kids, their stories helped spark big dreams in small hearts. Profession Day isn’t just about costumes, it’s about planting seeds of possibility. Through role play and storytelling, our students begin to imagine the many paths their futures can take.

Visits, Scouts & Student Exchanges

We also hosted 24 students from BVS Parsi High School for a day full of learning, music, and child protection discussions. Meanwhile, 38 of our students celebrated Scout Day by learning first aid and emergency preparedness. These sessions are about building confidence, leadership, and compassion.

Thank You for Every Step of the Journey

Every workshop attended, every medal earned, and every smile captured in this report was made possible because you believe in the power of giving. Whether it's learning to code, painting their first mural, mastering public speaking, or just finding the courage to raise their hand in class, these girls are stepping into their full potential because they know someone like you is cheering them on.

Your support has helped create safe learning spaces, brought expert mentors into their lives, and opened doors to experiences that shape confidence, creativity, and resilience. These milestones aren’t just achievements, they’re building blocks for futures full of promise.

Thank you for walking this journey with us. Here’s to more stories, deeper impact, and even bigger dreams ahead!