Humaira Bachal is a renowned education activist and social entrepreneur whose courage and vision have transformed the slums of Karachi and beyond. Born in 1988 in Sindh, Pakistan, Humaira grew up in a community where girls were expected to marry young and education for them was seen as unnecessary. Defying these norms, she pursued her own education in secret with her mother’s support and, at the age of twelve, began teaching local children using borrowed books and scraps of paper.
In 2009, she founded the Dream Model School in Moach Goth—initially a small, resource-strapped initiative that has since evolved into a hub of learning and empowerment. Her school not only provides formal education from nursery to Grade 10 but also offers non-formal crash courses for out-of-school youth, adult literacy programs for mothers, health and hygiene awareness, mental health counseling, and nutrition support.
To expand her impact, Humaira established the Roshan Pakistan Foundation (RPF), a registered non-profit that now runs education programs, vocational training for youth, women’s empowerment projects, microfinance initiatives, healthcare and hygiene drives, and emergency relief operations. Under her leadership, RPF has built schools in underserved areas, provided monthly rations to hundreds of families, and created shelter and aid for flood-affected communities in Sindh and Balochistan.
Her groundbreaking work has earned her global recognition, including being named an Asia 21 Young Leader (2012), one of the Bravest Women on Earth by the Women in the World Foundation (2013), and a Global Teacher Prize finalist (2016). She is Advisory Board Member of Chime for Change, US-PAK Alumni Member, and Emerging Leaders of Pakistan Class Fellow of 2013, Atlantic Council. She has been honored by organizations and leaders worldwide, including Christiana Amanpour, Oprah Winfrey, Madonna, and the U.S. State Department, and featured in Time, Forbes, The Economist, CNN, and in Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy’s documentary Humaira: The Game Changer.
Humaira’s mission is clear: to break the cycle of poverty and inequality through education, healthcare, and community-driven development. Her future plans include establishing Dream College, Dream University, and Dream Hospital—ensuring that every child has not just the right to dream, but the means to achieve those dreams.
“For me, education is not just about classrooms and books—it’s about giving every child the power to change their future.” – Humaira Bachal
More information on biography, achievements, challenges, and vision of Humaira Bachal can be found here.
