In grade 4, Zunaira Qayyum Baloch, had startled senior professor Dr Hamid Ali Baloch, and assistant professor Zahir Mengal of University of Balochistan. They were speakers at an interactive reading club session, The Importance of Reading, in the School of Intensive Teaching (SIT) in Hub Chowki.
“Is there anyone here who reads?” Mengal asked the students. Several students, including Zunaira who joined SIT in grade three, raised their hands. “I have read George Orwell's Animal Farm as well some novels by Charles Dickens and many others books too,” said Zunaira, and went on to briefly share her thoughts on Animal Farm. The speakers certainly didn’t expect the little girl from Hub Chowki to be an avid reader at such an early age. That was only the beginning of Zunaira’s journey.
Originally from the remote town of Zehri in the Khuzdar district, 14-year-old Zunaira currently studies in 8th grade at Global Islamic Public School at Hub Chowki. Recently, she was nominated to attend the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) on climate change, organised by UN, in Baku, Azerbaijan. Here, as the energetic climate change activist and award-winning researcher from District Hub Chowki, she rubbed shoulders with global leaders, activists and experts.
“I was nominated by UNICEF as a climate champion,” Zunaira shares. “At COP29, I hoped to raise awareness about the intersectionality of climate change, education, and gender equality and to advocate for immediate action on behalf of vulnerable communities like those in Balochistan.”
With a focus on climate change, education, and gender equality, Zunaira is working to empower the girls in her community in order to create a difference as an agent of change.
“However, my work on girls' education and climate change is primarily self-driven,” says Zunaira who collaborate with various organisations and individuals to amplify the impact of her work.”
Her childhood was not an easy one as her father passed away leaving her mother to stitch clothes to make a living as the sole breadwinner. Being the eldest child of the family, Zunaira has mentored her four siblings to not just pursue education for its sake, but to strive to be extraordinary in every aspect so as to be able to empower themselves and their community. For her siblings, Zunaira remains a stature of resilience.
“My primary focus is on girls' educational rights in the context of climate change because I believe that education is a fundamental right that can empower individuals, especially girls, to become a symbol of change,” she says with confidence and passion. “Climate change disproportionately affects vulnerable populations, including girls and women. By advocating for girls' education, I aim to address the intersectionality of climate change, education, and gender equality.”
Belonging to an underprivileged family background, Zunaira didn’t spend her childhood playing with dolls or with other children. She lives with her siblings in a rented house with basic facilities and realised early in life that only education and hard work will bring her empowerment for a better life.
“Growing up in a single-parent household can be tough, having to deal with responsibilities and emotions,” she says. “Financial struggles restrict access to education, healthcare, and other resources, which is certainly a difficult challenge to meet.”
Zunaira worked hard to become proficient in English language and when she speaks, one can hardly tell that she belongs to a Brahvi-speaking Baloch family. She teaches English at SIT, where she learnt to speak the language.
“Zunaira was my student at the academy,” says Arif Baloch, the principal of SIT. “She has a sharp mind and was a hard-working student and is an avid reader.”
During different sessions with experts at COP29, Zunaira expressed her concerns about the impact of climate change disasters in Balochistan and how children have been affected by these changes.
“Living in Balochistan, I’ve witnessed firsthand the devastating impact of climate change,” said Zunaira. “Floods and heatwaves have become our new reality, affecting our lives and threatening our future. Climate change is a child-rights crisis. Rising temperatures and extreme weather events jeopardise our health, education, and well-being."
“The youth want climate education, renewable energy to make their lives easier, and clean drinking water,” she added. “They also want to be part of decision-making processes,” she said in one session of the climate change conference in Baku.
Talking about the opportunity to network with global leaders and participate in high-level discussions, Zunaira describes her experience as insightful and empowering. “It is a great achievement for me, Balochistan and Pakistan,” she says.
Zunaira shared her thoughts about her goals. “My goal is to continue advocating for girls' education and climate action,” she says. I plan to pursue a career in environmental policy, education, or a related field, where I can make a meaningful impact. I also aspire to work with organisations that share my passion for creating a more sustainable and equitable world.”
Along with her advocacy on climate change and other issues, Zunaira has conducted awareness programmes and training sessions. “I have conducted awareness programmes in Balochistan to advocate for girls' education and climate change, such as youth advocacy guide training. Convincing parents to educated their daughters and sons is one of our biggest challenges.”
Zunaira is grateful to her family for being extremely supportive of her activism. “My parents are my role models, as they have always taught me to never stop pursuing one’s goal and try and be different from the mainstream,” she says. “Their dedication to create a positive change and their courage in the face of adversity has inspired me to continue my work.”
Zunaira feels that world leaders must take immediate, collective, and ambitious action to address the pressing issue of the climate crisis. "We need to ensure that vulnerable segments, especially girls, are empowered through education and that the daunting threat of climate change must be addressed on an urgent basis to preserve the future of our upcoming generations."
“Climate change matters to me, and it should matter to you too,” said Zunaira in her address at a UNICEF event. “Pakistan is on the front line, being affected by climate change and climate-related disasters. Balochistan is also being adversely affected by floods, hurricanes, heat waves and droughts, etc. Climate change is not just a crisis. It is affecting our children in every arena of life. So, as an advocate for child rights, I ask you to join me in this fight to demand action from our governments and the leaders of the world.
Shahmeer Masood is a Turbat-based multimedia journalist. He writes about culture, education, and various issues facing Makran. He tweets at @shahmeermasood2
Instagram @shahmeerjourno
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