Listening to rural girls: skills, ambition and a sustainable future

What do girls want to learn beyond the classroom? In July 2025, students aged 12–18 at The Learning School in Kot Radha Kishan shared their ambitions in a virtual session organised with Freedom Gate Prosperity.

Starting with students’ own priorities

The two-hour discussion, led by Saaremeen Fatima, used dream mapping, polls and open questions to explore practical learning needs. Girls expressed interest in coding, digital content, handmade products and online enterprise, alongside confidence, financial literacy and time management.

Connecting opportunity with the environment

Journalist and environmental advocate Afia Salam joined an interactive conversation about climate change and local action. Students also discussed composting, gardening and reuse, showing interest in both environmental stewardship and possible livelihood skills.

Informing the next stage of programme design

The session served as a training-needs assessment for the proposed EmpowerHer Labs approach. Its contribution was to bring students’ priorities into planning. Equipment, learning circles and other next steps described in the original account were programme proposals.

In pictures

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