Accessing the Inaccessible: A case study of the EDIP extension to Diamir

The district of Diamir in Gilgit Baltistan (GB) has witnessed severe deteriorations in security and extremist related violence, and violation of human rights over the past decade, resulting in abject poverty, a lack of health and education infrastructure and lack of motivation on the part of local communities to partake in the development processes. During the early 2000?s several girls? schools there were attacked by terrorist elements with an anti-female-education agenda, which shook the confidence and motivation of development partners to contribute to the cause of education in Diamir. The DFAT funded and AKDN run project called the Education Development and Improvement Program (EDIP) began in July 2010 with an aim to enhance access, equity and the quality of education in GB. In late 2012 an opportunity was presented to partner with the Government, and Police to provide support to police managed home schools (PMS). This presentation will chart out the course EDIP has taken to embed the values of education in a region with historically no girls? education, to a region whose community members now openly campaign for their girls? education rights. This community has now, in partnership with the Government, initiated 100 home schools in the model of the EDIP PMS?s. This Diamir case shows that in a region considered culturally and theologically opposed to the notion of ?girls education?, an innovative, culturally sensitive, and community driven approach can drastically change popular opinion and make communities reconsider their approach to their own development trajectory. Utilizing the Diamir model and understanding its parallels with much of the context of the nation can be instrumental in the pursuit of a prosperous, developed and peaceful GB and ultimately Pakistan.