Nabila Abbas, the visionary founder and director of Rural Development Initiatives (RDI), hails from the rural village of Choti Zareen in the Dera Ghazi Khan district of southern Punjab, Pakistan. As the first generation in her family to attain higher education, Nabila has faced and overcome significant cultural and societal challenges. Growing up in an area where women were often restricted to domestic roles or early marriages, she recognized early on the necessity of education and empowerment for women. Her journey began with her father's foundation school in her village, where she completed her primary education. She later moved to the district for middle and secondary education and eventually to Lahore for higher studies, where she became a renowned district and provincial level sports player despite facing resistance. Nabila's passion for social activism took root early, leading her to establish the Aviation Literary Forum during her undergraduate studies. This forum aimed to bridge the social cohesion gap between rural and urban areas and advocate for rural girls' education and rights. Her work caught global attention, earning her the National Business Aviation Association award in Washington DC in 2020. She is also the first Pakistani rural girl to attend the International Congress of Youth Voices in the US in 2019 and spoke about rural women rights and their issues. Her poem "Still Like a Wind" was published in the congress edition. Nabila's dedication to public service continued with her election to the Prime Minister's National Youth Council in 2021, where she focused on mainstreaming marginalized youth across Pakistan. She also represented Pakistani youth at international forums such as the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Kigali and the Youth Ministerial Meeting in London. She has also participated in EIMUN in Nepal and the Atlanta Youth Leadership and Development Program in the US. Her initiatives include the Conversational English Language Program for young rural girls in partnership with the International Congress of Youth Voices and a Digital Inclusion Project with the Pakistan-US Alumni Network, which equipped rural youth with essential digital skills. Through RDI, Nabila Abbas aims to transform rural communities by providing access to education, promoting gender equality, and fostering innovation. Her unwavering commitment to her community and her ability to overcome barriers have made her a beacon of hope and a catalyst for change. Nabila's story is a testament to the power of education and determination, and she continues to inspire and empower the next generation of leaders in Pakistan. Read more