Empowering girls through education

At DIL, girls aren’t just included, they are central to our mission.

In many parts of Pakistan, girls face steep barriers to education, from safety concerns to social norms that discourage continued schooling. DIL is changing that reality, by creating safe, trusted, and inclusive schools that give girls the chance to learn, lead, and thrive.

82%

of students in DIL schools are girls

DIL hires local women as teachers, creating trusted role models in every classroom

Our schools are designed to be gender-responsive, with safe facilities and inclusive learning environments

Families trust DIL schools to support their daughters’ long-term success

But access is just the beginning.

More girls are staying in school longer, achieving stronger academic results, and envisioning futures that weren’t always possible a generation ago.

“

In my family, girls weren’t allowed to go to school. I was the first because I was my father’s favorite. After I became a teacher at DIL, I convinced my relatives to send their daughters too. Today, every girl in my extended family has studied here, and most are now in college or pursuing higher degrees. All the credit for this transformation goes to DIL.

Shehnaz

DIL Urdu teacher for 17 years

Women leading the way

DIL’s commitment to gender equity goes beyond the classroom. It’s reflected in the people who power our work:

50%

of our board are women

96%

of DIL teachers are women—many of them from the very communities we serve

Founded by women, DIL continues to lead with a gender equity lens

Every school leader is a woman

Most of our chapter volunteers are women, mobilizing support for girls’ futures

This is what a grassroots, scalable model looks like, built on long-term investment, local leadership, and deep community trust.