In the heart of a remote village in Tharparkar, lived a father of seven daughters. His days were spent collecting and selling firewood, earning a meager 10,000 to 12,000 PKR per month—barely enough to feed his family. Despite the hardships, he held onto a dream: that his daughters would receive an education and have a future brighter than his own.

At first, he managed to enroll four of them in school, but financial constraints soon forced him to make a painful decision. Two of his daughters had to drop out. Their days, once filled with learning, were replaced by household chores, their future slipping further away.

When the SCI team started to visit the village, they learned about the girls’ situation and decided to speak with the father and his family, along with other parents in the community. After the awareness and mobilization sessions in the community, sitting with him in the shade of his modest home, they engaged him in deep conversation about the long-term benefits of girls’ education, the financial obstacles, and SCI’s plan to support girls like his. They spoke of opportunities beyond survival, of futures where daughters could break free from the cycle of poverty.

Moved by their words, he found himself reflecting. "I always wanted my daughters to study," he admitted. "But when survival is uncertain, education feels like a luxury."

Yet, something shifted in him during this process. Encouraged by the SCI team’s support, he made a decision—one that would change his family’s future. With newfound determination, he re-enrolled the two daughters in school, ensuring that all four of them could continue their education.

Today, their story is becoming an important one to support mobilization efforts by SCI to bring back girls to school. The girls wake up each morning with excitement, getting ready for school with happiness. Their attendance is regular, their enthusiasm unmatched. Watching them, their father smiles—hope prevails in his heart.

"If organizations continue to support families like mine," he shares, "I promise that all my daughters will complete their education. I want them to have a future better than mine."

The return of these two girls to school has also inspired other families in the village to rethink their choices. Their story is no longer just about one father’s promise—it is about a community beginning to believe that education is not a privilege but a right, a path toward a brighter future for all.

SCI will continue to engage with the family, community, and girls on an ongoing basis to make sure that they remain in school and complete their education. SCI will also consider the two girls for an upcoming support package to be initiated during quarter two.