Breaking the Stereotype: Soriya Bibi’s Journey with Pehli Kiran Schools

Soriya Bibi grew up in a home shaped by poverty, instability, and fear. Her father struggled with addiction and unemployment, violence was common, and education—especially for girls—was openly resisted. With no steady income, the family lived with relatives and relied on donated clothes. School was not considered necessary, or even acceptable, for daughters.

But Soriya’s mother believed otherwise. Denied education herself because of tradition, she was determined that her daughters would have a different future. Her resolve hardened one day when she got lost in a hospital for hours—unable to read signs or room numbers. “I don’t want my children to live like this,” she decided.

Belonging to a deeply conservative Pathan family, Soriya’s mother faced intense opposition. On the day of Soriya’s school registration, she was pressured by relatives to abandon the idea altogether. Instead, she asked her young daughter to go alone.

Nervous and unsure, Soriya walked to Pehli Kiran School No. 2 (PKS-2) by herself. There, she met Islam Khana, an older PKS student from the same community, who helped her speak to the principal and opened the door that would change her life.

PKS did more than admit Soriya. The school fully supported her education—covering fees, books, stationery, bag, and uniform. The same support was later extended to her siblings. For the first time, Soriya entered a space that was safe, structured, and affirming. “School became my refuge,” she says. “It was the one place where I felt protected and valued.”

At PKS, Soriya learned far more than academics. She learned how to speak with confidence, how to interact with people beyond her household, and how to think critically. Education gave her a voice—something she did not have at home.

Resistance did not disappear. Relatives continued to oppose her education and later her employment. Even when she became a teacher at PKS, accusations and pressure persisted. Through it all, her mother stood firm—arguing, defending, and refusing to step back.

Soriya completed her education while enrolling in distance learning at Allama Iqbal Open University, and during her second year of college, she returned to PKS—not as a student, but as a teacher.

The transition was not easy. “At first, I struggled to be heard and to be assertive,” she admits. “But my principal and colleagues supported me until I found my confidence.”

Today, Soriya is a respected PKS teacher and a central pillar of her family. Her income helps cover household expenses, electricity bills, medical visits, and weddings—expenses that were once unimaginable. For the first time in years, her family now celebrates Eid. She accompanies her parents to hospitals and markets, ensuring they are not exploited because of illiteracy. She has introduced small but meaningful changes at home—shared meals, hygiene practices, and open conversations.

Perhaps the most profound change is symbolic. “My father now calls me ‘my son,’” Soriya says quietly—not because she is no longer a daughter, but because she has become the family’s backbone.

Education has given Soriya independence, confidence, and agency. For the first time, she makes her own decisions. She recently bought herself a handbag—small, ordinary, but deeply meaningful. “It was the first thing I ever bought just because I wanted it,” she smiles.

Soriya Bibi’s journey reflects what Pehli Kiran Schools make possible—not only education, but transformation.

PKS creates spaces where girls from the most restrictive environments can grow into leaders, earn dignity, and change family dynamics from within. From a frightened child sent alone to register for school, Soriya has become a teacher, a decision-maker, and a role model for her sisters and her community.

This is what it means to break a stereotype.
This is the long-term impact of Pehli Kiran Schools.