{ school is key to turning things around . He said Zhymag did not have any hope of improving education or retaining the girls until CAI came along . “ Education is the life of a person . Without education , we cannot understand our life .”
GIRLS BECOME WOMEN Although CAI is all about education , its work has evolved beyond educating children and building schools .
CAI ’ s literacy and vocational projects give women opportunities to overcome the “ seemingly insurmountable array of obstacles [ that ] are preventing them from becoming productive and empowered citizens within our society ,” Syed Mohammad Ali wrote in a January 2013 op-ed in the Tribune ( Pakistan ).
One of the biggest problems is illiteracy . Pakistan ’ s literacy rate is 55 percent , but only 40 percent of women can read and write , according to UNESCO , and only 18 percent of Pakistani women have received 10 years or more of schooling . The numbers are even lower in rural areas where CAI works .
As a result , many women “ work from home to help ensure their households ’ survival ,” Ali wrote . Yet they “ contend with varied problems , including restrictions on their physical mobility , inadequate education , a lack of skills , limited access to productive resources or credit , and scant state support . … Their work is undervalued and they are denied any form of legal protection .”
One way to change that is by “ encouraging improvement of their existing skill levels while simultaneously ensuring that the households of these workers derive greater benefit from the fruits of their labor ,” he suggested . And that is precisely what CAI does . In June , at CAI-supported Hasis Vocational Center in the Ishkoman Valley west of Gilgit , about 50 women completed additional training for sewing and embroidery .
“ We thank CAI for the building and the training ,” elder Niyat Murad told the crowd that gathered for the graduation ceremony . “ Now about 50 of the women of our village are able to support their family . … This is our first step .”
But Hasis needs more help , he said . “ Still we have lots of problems in our village and we hope Central Asia Institute will further support us to solve those problems .”
Saidullah Baig , CAI project manager in Paksitan ’ s Gilgit region , said he admired the villagers ’ determined enthusiasm , but CAI takes things one at a time . Before any new projects can be discussed , the community must make the vocational center a success .
“ Now this is the phase where you assess your own sustainability ,” he said . “ We provided the place and training . Now it is up to you how far you can make it successful , how you can make yourself empowered .”
COMMUNITY-DRIVEN FOCUS Empowering local communities is at the heart of CAI ’ s mission . That requires step-bystep work with village elders , religious and government leaders , students , teachers , and parents .
“ CAI ’ s success is because we integrated the communities into the projects ,” Mortenson said . “ That ’ s the only way to keep these
A father and son take an early morning stroll on the streets of Murghab , Tajikistan .
6 | Journey of Hope C E N T R A L A S I A I N S T I T U T E