KARACHI, November 26th 2018: Mahira Miyanji, an activist and social worker hails from Karachi, baged the N-Peace network award for Untold Stories Pakistan. Mahira is an advocate for girls’ education in Lyari – a town of Karachi Pakistan.
N-Peace is a United Nations Development Programme Asia-Pacific flagship initiative founded in 2010 to implement UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security. It is a network of peace advocates in Asia who are advancing the women, peace and security agenda through these awards.
She managed to grab the award after being voted for by both the general public and judges. While around six women from Pakistan were nominated for the same award. She founded the Woman Is A Nation (WIN) welfare organisation in 2013, a platform that provides free of charge education for 125 girls through a system of 12 volunteers. The programme has benefited more than 3,000 girls in Karachi so far.
Mahira with the help of her sisters started working for her passion by giving tuition on her rooftop when she was in grade 7dedicated her award to the girls of Lyari who believe in the power of education. Inspired by a group of younsters she expanded her work in 2013.
She discussed the idea with her teacher who gave her an empty storeroom as a space at a coaching centre to start her venture. “I found out that in 2013 that only 17% of girls in Lyari are educated.”
Miyanji said that there are numerous reasons for this — early marriages, financial issues, lack of interest and parents not giving permission are among a few.
She wanted to help girls who are school drop outs or have never attended school. Her organisation set up a school for women to attend free of charge and she is working with political leaders to standardise free education for girls as well.
Mahira had requested people to vote for her in September. She was nominated by her mentor and was surprised to received an email that she was shortlisted.
In 2015, she participated in the Emerging Young Women Congress Fellowship programme with the Institute of Peace and Diplomatic Studies. She represented Pakistan at the ‘Beyond Girls Education Global Summit’ in 2017 as well. She has also won the Lyari Youth Icon Award and I Am Karachi Award.
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