How remote programs are empowering women in Pakistan to kickstart their career.

Naila strives to to see change not only to achieve something in her life, but rather to lead by example.

Shameen Khan Published July 1, 2022 - Updated about 19 hours ago

Six years ago, Naila, who is now 24, decided to do her bachelors in Zoology.

This decision was not driven by passion, but rather it was the only path she knew to follow when she was unable to get admission into the medical college of her choice.

'My parents wanted me to get married, just like my sister and all the other girls in my area. But I convinced them to let me graduate first', Naila shares.

'My cousin told me that if I did not get into med school, maybe I can choose the next best option.' Naila, then graduated in Zoology in 2020 from the University of Peshawar.

Meet Naila from Bannu, KPK

Naila lives in Bannu, a city in the south of the KPK.

She went to a public school and then a private school for her secondary education. Most women in her area are not allowed to work or study, and even if by some stroke of luck, they manage to study, there are no future prospects or job opportunities in the city.

Naila went through a great ordeal to convince her parents to let her stay in a hostel and finish her undergrad program in Peshawar, which is approximately four hours away from her hometown. She wants to beat all odds as she continues to work towards bringing change.

Knowing she has no career prospects locally in Zoology, Naila is still striving to see change not only to achieve something in her life, but rather to lead by example and uplift the women in her neighbourhood.

Right now, she is teaching at a local school, something that according to her, is the most common field of work women in her area settle for.

'When I graduated and came back to my hometown, I did not have many opportunities but the schools here were in dire need of teachers so I joined a school here in Bannu as a teacher,' she explains.

One day when she was scrolling through Facebook, she came across CaterpillHERs, an initiative spearheaded by two women who offer remote-based programs to women in entrepreneurship or those women who are looking to accelerate their careers.

This program turned out to be a major turning point in Naila's life.

She carried a rigorous spirit to grow, and despite all the perplexing thoughts about her career she still challenges to break barriers that keep her from achieving her dreams. And during this effort, she grasps whichever opportunity that comes her way. And so the online...