Pakistani educator describes challenges of opening a school in a conservative community

Karachi: A Pakistani education activist Rewa Khan has described the intimidation, misinformation and violent threats she faced while establishing a school in an underserved community, saying false rumours and attacks were used to discourage parents from sending their children to class.

Speaking to Dialogue Pakistan about the project's early days, she said many parents were eager for their children to receive an education. However, others strongly opposed the initiative and spread misinformation to undermine it.

"Many parents wanted us to educate their children, but there were also many people who did not want children to study at all."

Rewa Khan said some religious figures and members of local groups frightened parents by claiming the school had a hidden agenda.

"People were told that a woman had come to the area who would give children 'medicine'. When I asked what they meant, they said the medicine would stop children from having children of their own in the future."

According to the activist, further rumours claimed the school was backed by foreign interests.

"They said we were Jews, that we were funded by the United States, and that we wanted to take children away from Islam. They claimed that was the real purpose of the school."

She said the allegations caused several families who had initially agreed to enrol their children to withdraw.

The activist also reflected on her own childhood. Born in Quetta, in Pakistan's Balochistan province, she spent her early years in the rural district of Pishin before her family was forced to relocate to Karachi following tribal violence in which her uncle was shot.

"We had to leave because of tribal conflict. For years we did not tell anyone our address, and none of my family returned to Quetta for a long time."

Rewa Khan described the stark contrast between life in Quetta and Karachi, saying the former was largely rural and underdeveloped, while Karachi offered a vastly different urban environment.

The activist said her interest in understanding people's behaviour and motivations eventually inspired her to pursue social work and education.

"I was always fascinated by observing people and understanding why they behave the way they do. I wanted to find people who acted without personal gain, and I think that ultimately led me down this path."

She admitted that launching the school proved far more difficult than expected, with recruiting staff, securing premises and overcoming community resistance presenting major obstacles.

The campaign against the school escalated beyond rumours, with members of her team coming under attack on two separate occasions.

During the first incident, she said there was no security present while staff were distributing school uniforms and measuring children for shoes, forcing them to evacuate parents and pupils.

The following day, she said, staff attempting to open the school were confronted by a group led by a local cleric.

"They arrived carrying spades and chased my team, refusing to let the school open."

Following police intervention and the registration of a formal complaint, local officials stepped in to mediate the dispute.

"The Station House Officer was extremely supportive. He spoke to community members, and after that we were not harassed again."

Despite the challenges, she credited her parents with giving her unwavering support throughout the process.

"When I told them my team had been attacked for a second time, they immediately got into the car with me and said, 'Let's go to the police station.' Without their support, none of this would have been possible."

The activist also urged Pakistanis to rethink their charitable giving, arguing that long-term investment in education and community development has a greater impact than one-off donations.

"People are very generous when it comes to food drives or distributing meals, but they often hesitate to support long-term systemic work. I would encourage people to invest in sustainable systems rather than only providing short-term relief."