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n the quiet town of Gharo, Thatta, where the rhythm of life often follows the same predictable course, a 16-year-old girl decided to challenge the norm. Muskan Mallah had never imagined that her voice, small but determined, could spark a change that would shape the future of education in her community. But today, she stands as proof that even the youngest voices can ignite powerful movements.
Muskan has always been fascinated by science. She would sit in her classroom, flipping through textbooks filled with representations of chemical reactions, microscopes and electrical circuits. But for her and her classmates, science was just words on a page; an abstract concept they could only imagine but never experience.
“We read about experiments in books, but we’ve never seen them happen in real life,” she said, her voice carrying both frustration and hope.
Her school lacked even the most basic science lab, making it impossible for students to engage in hands-on learning. She knew that this gap in resources wasn’t just about missing out on fun experiments—it was about losing the chance to truly understand and explore the world of science.
Muskan wasn’t the kind of girl to accept things as they were. As a member of the Children Parliament, a platform that empowers young voices to address community issues, she saw an opportunity to take action. With courage that belied her age, she stood up during one of the parliamentary sessions and posed a simple but powerful question:
Muskan’s story is a testament to the power of young voices. In a world where children are often told to wait their turn, she proved that change doesn’t come from waiting; it comes from speaking up.
“How can we become scientists, doctors, or engineers if we never get to touch a test tube or look through a microscope?”
Her words struck a chord. Encouraged by her teachers and fellow young parliamentarians, Muskan decided to take her fight further. She drafted a formal request, urging the authorities to allocate Rs 3,000,000 for the construction of a science laboratory in her school. With her heart pounding but her resolve unwavering, she personally handed the letter to the deputy commissioner of Thatta.
For many, writing letters to officials feels like shouting into a void. But Muskan’s voice was heard. The deputy commissioner recognised the urgency of her request and took immediate steps to push the proposal forward. What once seemed like an impossible dream was now on the brink of becoming reality.
With the budget nearing approval, Thatta is now set to have a well-equipped science lab where hundreds of students will finally be able to see and touch the science they’ve only ever read about.
For Muskan, this victory isn’t just personal.
“This is not just for me,” she says with a proud, hopeful smile. “It’s for every child who dreams of becoming a scientist, a doctor or an engineer. If we have the right resources, we can change the world.”
Muskan’s story is a testament to the power of young voices. In a world where children are often told to wait their turn, she proved that change doesn’t come from waiting it comes from speaking up.
Her courage has not only shaped her own future but has paved the way for generations of students in Thatta to explore the wonders of science beyond textbooks.
She reminds us all that when children speak up, they don’t just ask for change; they create it.
The writer is a multimedia journalist based in Hyderabad, Sindh. His X handle: MathraniSanjai. He can be reached at smmathrani1gmail.com