CELP Empowers Rural Girls
Nabila Abbas, the founder, is promoting inclusivity and a gender equality through CELP.
Nabila Abbas, a native of a remote area in Pakistan, has made a significant impact on the international stage. As the first Pakistani female delegate at the International Congress of Youth Voices, which brought together 130 delegates from around the world, Nabila spoke passionately about the rights of rural women. Her advocacy work focuses on amplifying the voices of those who are often unheard and invisible, with a particular emphasis on representing the 31% of rural women worldwide. Nabila is also actively engaged with the Prime Minister's National Youth Council, working tirelessly to draw attention to underprivileged areas and promote accessibility to primary education for underprivileged children. Through her efforts, Nabila aims to establish strong partnerships and intercultural collaborations. She is also the first female community activist and public figure in her region, where most girls are not involved in social reforms. Nabila's desire to uplift young rural girls in her community has led to the establishment of the Conversational English Language Program, a collaboration with the Youth Writing and International Congress of Youth Voices. The project is financially supported by co-founder Amanda Uhle, who discovered Nabila's potential at the International Congress Youth Forum. Nabila is now a beacon of hope for community work in areas where basic awareness of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is lacking.
Mission Statement: Our mission is to break down social and cultural barriers through language. We aim to achieve this through CELP, a literacy program designed to transform young girls.
CELP Overview: CELP, or the “Conversational English Language Program,” is a unique initiative aimed at empowering young girls in rural areas. This program was founded in Choti Zareen, a remote region in Pakistan where young girls were discouraged from participating in social and outdoor literacy activities due to social and cultural taboos. CELP enables young girls to develop their capacity and character by participating in healthy workshops and classroom activities. It is an effective literacy program for adults to develop their interpersonal skills and recognize their potential.
CELP Objectives: CELP aims to break down language barriers and promote urban-rural cohesion by providing young girls in rural areas with an opportunity to connect with the world. This program fosters peer-to-peer learning, individual self-awareness, team building, connecting with world leaders, transforming mindsets, eradicating norms, and shifting stem stereotypes. It also promotes partnership and funding sustainability in areas affected by floods. CELP’s structure and foundation are rooted in fighting long-standing social and cultural norms to implement good literacy policies for the rights of young girls. We believe that by starting from the stem root cause within their community and educating people, we can achieve our literacy goals. CELP serves as a shining example of this belief. To date, three batches of CELP have graduated, with a total strength of 70+. Nabila is hoping to expand the program by introducing more technical and additional skills to uplift the young rural girls, financially. Hence, she is openly inviting various NGOs to become part of her journey. We are dedicated to our mission and hope to continue breaking down barriers through language and literacy initiatives like CELP.
