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Popinjay dreams of making poverty a thing of the past for Pakistani women

When it comes to earning money, women in Pakistan have historically received the short end of the stick. Because of the country’s conservative culture, girls typically find it hard to get an education or progress beyond low-paying jobs. In fact, the Global Gender Gap report published by the World Economic Forum just last year saw the Muslim nation rank a dismal 141 out of 142 countries in terms of economic participation and opportunity for women. “I started a pilot in Pakistan to provide young women access to basic education and livelihoods. As it started gaining traction in the local community, I realized that it lit my fire like nothing had before,” she says. “Quitting my job after that was a no-brainer.”

The pilot program – which evolved into a full-fledged non-profit organization called BLISS – involved after-school classes in which girls learnt embroidery and needlework. Their embroidered fabric would then be sent to local producers to be finished into high-quality handbags, which were sold in boutiques. The proceeds would be used to fund the girls’ education, as well as recruit other students.