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Redefine Success
Meet the 2023 Pakistan Fellows
Read about the 2023 Pakistan Acumen Fellows as they join a community that has forged a powerful legacy of social impact.
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Pakistan Acumen Fellows 2023
Drum roll, please! Join us in welcoming the 2023 cohort of Acumen Pakistan Fellows, armed with the tools, networks, and unwavering resolve to tackle the toughest challenges facing Pakistan. But before we officially welcome them to the Acumen family, let's take a moment to discuss the Acumen journey and the legacy of the Pakistan Foundry.
At Acumen Academy, our mission is to unleash a new generation of entrepreneurs and leaders equipped with the determination and grit to build a more just, inclusive, and sustainable world. We define success not by how the privileged fare but by how the poor, the vulnerable, and the earth we inhabit are treated.
The 2023 cohort joins a community that has a strong legacy of impact, etched in communities across Pakistan. From tackling climate change with innovative farming techniques to empowering women entrepreneurs through financial literacy. They've proven that passion, coupled with Acumen's unique blend of business and social impact, can spark transformative change.
And now, we proudly introduce the 2023 Acumen Pakistan Fellows! This vibrant cohort, brimming with diverse backgrounds and bold ideas, brings a fresh perspective to our mission. Together, they represent the future of Pakistan. A future where poverty is not an option, where innovation thrives on empathy, and where leadership is measured by the lives touched, not the titles held.
Amna is leading the annual mass deworming of school aged children in the at-risk areas in Punjab where the prevalence of Soil Transmitted Helminths exceeds 20%. She works as the Regional Manager in Interactive Research and Development and provides technical assistance to the provincial and regional governments to not only carry out safe and free preventive chemotherapy of school aged children but to also spread awareness in parents and teachers about the importance of water and sanitation hygiene.
Hiba is a Senior Associate at the Centre for Digital Transformation at Tabadlab. Positioned uniquely as a think tank and a consultancy, the centre works towards shaping a forward-looking, inclusive and equitable digital ecosystem in Pakistan to improve outcomes for all. Hiba works with stakeholders across the public-private spectrum focusing on the intersection between digital and human development, and public service delivery. Hiba holds an MSc. in International Politics from SOAS, and a BSc. in Economics and Political Science from LUMS.
Imama is a Senior Project Officer at Science Fuse, an organization committed to creating access to high-quality, culturally relevant and exciting STEM engagements for children from diverse communities and socio-economic backgrounds across Pakistan. Imama is also a Science Communicator and Teacher Trainer, skilled in designing and delivering training and curriculum for early years to middle school teachers and students - particularly in building essential STEM skills and creating hands-on, student-centric formal and informal engagements.
Shamsher's organization, The Awakening, mobilizes people for human rights, women economic empowerment, gender and climate change. He trains to create awareness, enhances the skills of youth to ensure the promotion and protection of human rights of all vulnerable people of the community, gender equality and women's economic empowerment. He works with youth raising awareness and taking actions to tackle the adverse effects of climate change.
Qandeel is the co-founder of Solar For Her. She aims to resolve the energy crisis and reduce the impact of climate change on Pakistan by solarizing girls' schools in rural areas. Student enrollment is very low in such areas and the dropout rate is high due to the harsh climatic conditions. Therefore, Qandeel's focus is to reduce the gender gap in the education sector by facilitating girls' education in neglected areas. She is currently working with UNHCR to assess schools in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for solarization.
Burhan is a World Bank Consultant with over 10 years of public sector digital transformation experience, engaged in multiple GovTech initiatives for the governments of Madagascar and Mozambique. He is a Humphrey Fellow in Technology Policy and Management at the Maxwell School, Syracuse University, New York. Burhan has received multiple awards for technology-based reforms in the health, education, and justice sectors in Pakistan and has served as a Member of the Prime Minister’s Task Force on Institutional Reforms & Austerity.
Annes Fatima is a health professional working with the Government of Gilgit Baltistan. She is actively involved in combating malnourishment with a special focus on stunting, wasting and IYCF practices. Her major areas of concern are food and nutrition. She has also engaged in nutrition sensitive interventions with mothers and farmers. She has worked as a contractual trainer with different renowned organizations. Annes holds degrees in Masters in Biochemistry, Science Education and Public Nutrition.
Wardah Noor is a social entrepreneur who is working on poverty alleviation through technical skills education. Wardah is running xWave, a digital skills education center in Layyah, Lahore, and Kingri with a plan to expand into more cities. Wardah has received the Youth Excellence Award from the Prime Minister of Pakistan for her exceptional service in skills education. She has counseled over 8000 students for different educational opportunities. She is also a recipient of Twenty Five under Twenty Five by Australian Awards.
Hamza is COO at Ihsaas Trust, an organization that works on poverty alleviation by supporting aspiring entrepreneurs in setting up cart based businesses. Through engaging trusted elders, households, and mosques, Ihsaas Trust works directly at the community level in underdeveloped areas of Karachi. Additionally, Hamza designs and leads experiential training programs for organizations and teams. He is a co-founder of Youth Impact, another nonprofit that develops youth as social leaders.
Osama is the founder of Soby Agro Machinery, an organization empowering farmers with mechanization and technical knowledge around the machines to standardize the inputs with reduced cost and maximized outputs. Soby Agro Machinery helps farmers to adopt the latest technologies at earliest with farmer to farmer community and field demonstrations to overcome the trust issues. Before starting Soby Agro Machinery, Osama worked in his father's agriculture machinery manufacturing unit for 3 years.
Madiha Rehman is the Corporate and Digital Communications Lead at Indus Hospital and Health Network (IHHN). With a focus on national programs and communication teams, Madiha spearheads the development of print and digital publications, content, and strategic initiatives. Previously, Madiha has over 15 years of dedicated service in the education sector and has collaborated with a diverse range of non-profit organizations, social enterprises, and ed-tech startups. She ardently believes in the transformative potential of high-quality education and healthcare and is committed to making this vision a reality.
Ravindra Kumar is a social activist and founder of a social venture named Jagruti, a social change campaign for education for underprivileged communities in Karachi. With a team of energetic youth, Jagruti is working on ground to serve communities in all aspects of education and career guidance. Ravindra also served as the youngest elected member in the Local Council Karachi and also as Chairman Education in his Union Council. Ravindra holds a Bachelor's Degree in Computer Engineering from Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology.
Ramsha Khurshid has been an integral part of Taleemabad where she has designed innovative solutions catering to different learning styles and abilities, revolutionizing the education system in the country. Ramsha is a well-respected speaker and thought leader in the education community, with a tireless dedication to providing every child with access to the best possible education.
Muhammad Hussain graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) from University of Sindh, Jamshoro. Muhammad is the founder of Scientific And Research Academy - The SARA Schooling System. Three schools are being managed and operated under the umbrella of this schooling system. The aim of these schools is to address and tackle poverty and injustice in society through high-quality education at free of cost in far flung areas of tehsil Johi.
Izzah is a research and policy expert with extensive experience in the non-profit and public sectors in the fields of education, skills development and youth engagement. She works with cross-functional teams to improve access to and quality of education in Pakistan. Currently, she works at the British Council where she develops cutting-edge thought leadership research to inform policy and programming. Izzah holds a Master's degree in Economics and Education Policy from Columbia University.
