Posted to Sister Zeph’s Journal
By Sister Zeph
On 08 January, 2014
By Zephaniah
As a 13-year-old girl, I was a dreamer with aspirations of becoming a lawyer like Asma Jahangir from Pakistan. I used to dress up like Benazir Bhutto, our former prime minister. I was an avid debater and writer, often focusing on stories that shed light on social issues.
My mother, like most mothers in my country, often reminded me that one day I would get married. However, I couldn’t shake the feeling that my purpose in life was greater than just marriage. Deep down, I believed there was more to my journey.
I was a sensitive soul, and one particular incident altered the course of my life forever. I left my school during the 7th grade and vowed never to return. I felt a deep sense of humiliation that haunted me for days. I wanted to disappear, and for days, I shut myself away from the world, feeling as if my heart were withering inside me.
One day, I decided to address my classmates as if I were the teacher, standing on the teacher’s chair. When my actual teacher discovered this, she berated and humiliated me in front of my peers. She used hurtful words, and the girls in my class joined in the mockery. I was left in tears, deeply wounded both mentally and emotionally.
In that moment, I made a life-altering decision to leave school. Everything changed, and my dreams seemed to evaporate. My parents attempted to persuade me to enroll in another school, but I refused.
Yet, I never stopped learning. I began studying independently at home, without any formal tutoring or tuition. Concurrently, I embarked on a mission to provide girls with the respect, love, and care that I had not received at my previous school. I started making home visits in my village, crafting pamphlets to distribute, and promoting the idea of free education for all. I walked from village to village, tirelessly spreading the message and urging parents to send their daughters to my school. I promised to teach them English for free. My mother and I visited homes every Sunday, but no one seemed willing to trust or join me.
It was an uphill battle, and the people around me found it amusing that a 13-year-old girl was attempting to establish a school. Nobody trusted me, as my age seemed to undermine my credibility. However, I persisted, driven by the determination to prevent other children from enduring the same hardships I had faced. I made a solemn commitment never to use corporal punishment in my school and to make learning engaging and enjoyable for my students.
In the beginning, there was just one student, and we conducted our classes outdoors. Even today, we have no building, no room; we sit under the sun in summer, under blankets in winter, and when it rains, our studies are interrupted. Our roof is the sky, which sometimes favors us with fair weather for our studies and at other times, it does not. At the age of sixteen, I completed my matriculation and secured a job as a receptionist in a telecom franchise. My monthly salary of $15 became the financial lifeline for my school, used to purchase essential supplies.
My journey did not stop there. I earned my master’s degree in Political Science in 2010, and I am currently pursuing another master’s degree in History. All this education I acquired without any formal institution or teacher.
To this day, I have taught around 500 girls, and my school now boasts three classes: the Women Learning Center, which instructs twenty students in stitching, embroidery, and soft skills; Formal Education, with one hundred students; and an English language course with fifteen girls. All of this work is done on a volunteer basis. Additionally, I run a beauty salon training center where 20 girls learn hairdressing and bridal makeup. Next month, I plan to launch a computer learning center to connect our girls with the global village.
I use my own salary to pay competitive wages to the staff at Zephaniah Free Education. In addition to my teaching responsibilities, I hold a job in a larger organization. I serve as the administrator of the World Wide Women’s community page, oversee my own page, “Zephaniah Free Education,” and contribute to various blogs addressing women’s issues in my region. I am continuously learning and currently studying journalism through World Pulse and World Wide Women. I also produce informational dramas within my community to convey messages of peace, respect for women, and the importance of education.
My teams are my family, and my coworkers in my office provide unwavering moral support. My kind and loving friends on Facebook offer opportunities to explore my ideas. In my region, there is a dire need to improve education. My work has only just begun.
In my part of the world, women endure lifelong suffering—mental and physical abuse. They lack education, empowerment, and protection. Child marriage and honor killings persist. When I witness the plight and helplessness of women, it fuels my determination to persist and never give up. I believe that education and awareness of our rights are the ultimate solutions to all our problems. My vision is to see every girl educated, empowered, and protected, and I will continue to work tirelessly toward this goal throughout my life.