Khyber District, 20 September 2023 — Frontline Care Foundation is pleased to announce a significant step forward in its mission to empower the underprivileged and marginalized communities residing in the Pakistan- Afghanistan bordering region by fostering hope for a brighter future. On September 20, 2023, our esteemed Patron in Chief, Shahid Ahmed Afridi, visited the area where our upcoming project, the “SHAYAN SHAHEED MEMORIAL GIRLS SCHOOL,” is set to be launched to make a substantial impact on girls’ education in the tribal society. Not surprisingly, Khyber district has the worst literacy rate for girls in the world, i.e. less than 2.5 percent. This deplorable situation demanded immediate action to engage the community and other wider networks to start a project that would transform the culture and their worldview towards women’s education.
Named in honor of a young boy, who was martyred in the massacre of APS of 2014, “Shayan Shaheed”, the school embodies our commitment to creating a brighter future for the children of our community. The chosen location, a house in Sangu village, Bara Tehsil, Khyber merged district of KP, holds particular significance because of its low literary rate and deprived status. Once a stronghold of the notorious terrorist Mangal Bagh, this area will now witness a transformation into a center of education and enlightenment.
During the visit, Dr. Afridi exchanged ideas with the local community about the dire need for peacebuilding through education. Peace through education will have a very endurable and sustainable impact on our youth. Since Girls’ education is the most neglected area of tribal communities, for example, in the Khyber district, the girls’ literacy rate is just below 2.5 percent; therefore, working in this area will have far-reaching positive effects on the growth of society.
“We believe that education is the cornerstone of progress. By establishing the Shayan Shaheed Memorial. By launching this school project, we are not only honoring the memory of a brave soul who sacrificed his life in a school but also investing in the future leaders of our community,” said Patron-in-Chief.
Meanwhile, the local community member, the father of the Shaheed boy has already donated a house (which needs renovation) to convert it into an elementary school. The FCF is actively seeking external funding sources, and the FCF Community is confident that it will soon have sufficient funds to initiate the project. Gradually, this project will represent a significant stride and shift towards our vision of a more educated, empowered, and harmonious society.