Location: Chitral Upper, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
Status: Active Since May 2025
The Worldwide Education Fund (WEF) USA, in collaboration with the Foundation to Empower Students (FES) Pakistan, is implementing the Secondary School Scholarship Program in Upper Chitral, Pakistan.
In this region, many students are unable to continue their education beyond Grade 8 because of financial hardship. Parents are committed to their children’s future, often paying school fees even if it means cutting back on essential needs like healthcare. This scholarship program directly responds to that challenge. By covering tuition fees, WEF and FES reduce the pressure on families, allowing them to reallocate their limited resources toward other basic necessities while keeping their children in school.
WEF has a long track record of advancing education globally, while FES brings decades of grassroots experience in Chitral. Together, they form a strong partnership that ensures the program is both effective and deeply connected to local realities.
Current Impact
At present, the program supports 115 students enrolled in five private schools in Upper Chitral:
- Oxford Public School
- Orion School of Learning
- Frontier Corps Public School
- Alkhidmat Foundation School (Space Era Campus Booni)
- Aga Khan High School Booni
For these students, the scholarships mean much more than just financial help. They represent encouragement, dignity, and hope. One student expressed it simply: “Without this scholarship, I would have had to leave school to help my family.” Stories like these show the true impact of the program—restoring belief in education and building confidence for the future.
This initiative also reflects our wider vision: “We invest in the potential of children and youth across underserved communities in Central and South Asia. Through early childhood development programs, English language learning, and scholarships, we open doors to brighter futures—empowering young learners with the skills and confidence to transform their lives and uplift their communities.”
Looking ahead, WEF and FES are preparing to expand the program to include students entering 1st Year and 2nd Year (Intermediate level). By 2026, our goal is to double the number of students supported, ensuring that bright learners continue seamlessly into higher secondary education without financial barriers.
The Secondary School Scholarship Program is more than an education initiative—it is an investment in a generation of leaders, thinkers, and change-makers who will shape the future of Chitral and beyond.
