In a powerful story of defiance and determination, a community health worker from rural Pakistan is preparing to stand for local political office, driven by a childhood promise to herself and her village.
A Dream Deferred, But Not Denied
Naushaba Roonjho, from Sheikh Soomar village in Pakistan's Sindh province, made history in her district in 2010. At just 17, she became the first girl anyone knew to pass the national secondary school exam. Instead of celebration, her father delivered an ultimatum: her studies were over. Within weeks, she was married to labourer Muhammad Uris.
Despite leaving formal school after primary education, Roonjho had continued studying independently, often facing mockery from her community. "People said girls don't need education and get spoiled if they study," she recalls. For years, she focused on raising her children and managing the household, but the desire to work and learn never faded.
Confronting Stigma to Serve the Community
Seeing an advert for a national rural development programme, Roonjho applied to train as a community worker. Her decision to go door-to-door as a health worker was seen as deeply shameful, bringing accusations that she was dishonouring her family. The conflict escalated until 2019, when she was given a choice: stop working or leave the family home.
With the full support of her husband, Roonjho chose to leave. "My parents stopped talking to me for two years," she says. The separation only hardened her resolve. Working on polio vaccination drives and health hygiene initiatives, she witnessed stark needs in her community, from a lack of basic handwashing to dangerous gaps in maternal care.
Pakistan's maternal mortality rate, while improved, remains high at 155 deaths per 100,000 live births, far above the UN's 2030 target of 70. Resistance was also fierce; some families refused polio vaccines, believing them to be fake, while her husband faced daily taunts for allowing his wife to work.
Building a Legacy of Education and Leadership
Undeterred, the couple turned their attention to girls' education. The local government school in Sheikh Soomar had no functioning space for girls. Roonjho went house to house, persuading parents. Her efforts saw seven girls enrol, including her own two daughters—a monumental shift in a village where previously not a single girl attended.
Her leadership was formally recognised through the Sindh Rural Support Organisation (SRSO), a body fostering grassroots change. Roonjho became president of her village's Local Support Organisation, coordinating development and mobilising women. Zulfiqar Kalhoro, CEO of SRSO, notes her selflessness: "She never asked for anything for herself, she worked for other women. That's real leadership."
Now 33, and with experience from a disaster-preparedness programme on the Indus River, Roonjho has set her sights on the 2027 local elections. She aims to run for the position of Union Council (UC) chairman, the lowest tier of government responsible for basic services like water and roads. "The UC chairman doesn't do anything," she states bluntly. "For years, we have asked for clean water, electricity and roads. Nothing happens."
Village elder Manzoor Ali, 60, attests to her impact: "She has done so much for this village without even having a seat in politics. If she gets a seat, she will do even more." He believes her work has transformed attitudes, with nearly every household now sending its daughters to school.
Her ultimate mission remains rooted in her past. "I wasn't allowed to study," Naushaba Roonjho declares. "But I will make sure no girl in this village grows up hearing those same words."
