Political Science student brings hope to Pakistan village

November 21, 2022

Photo caption: The children of Sandoka Village stand in front of Raza Khan Primary School built by UVic political science student, Marwan Khan and named after his late grandfather. (credit: Marwan Khan)

"Assalamu Alaikum," a customary greeting in the Northern part of Pakistan, lets villagers or neighbors of the home you are visiting know of your presence in the community. These are the words that began the journey for Marwan Khan, a 4th-year political science student at the University of Victoria.

 Khan, a UVic Excellence scholarship recipient, wanted to give back and alleviate some of the stress that comes with attaining education for those in Pakistan. He was inspired not only by a strong cultural and emotional bond with his homeland of Pakistan but by a drive to create positive change in the world. "One does not need millions of dollars in funding or the backing of large institutions and organizations to create positive change," says Khan.

 In January 2020, Khan embarked on a journey with his charity Pencils and Erasers, organizing fundraising events to purchase school supplies for orphans. At first, his focus was on providing free school supplies to children attending school from impoverished families in the Swat district of northern Pakistan. His story then shifts to the isolated village of Sandoka, a community composed of largely uneducated people, unable to read or write their mother tongue or national language. This Sandoka village has been historically disenfranchised due to its ethnic makeup and tribal affiliation, forcing the people to retreat into the mountains and live a lower quality of life than the rest of the region.

 "Though this may seem obvious, education means much more than a literate population; education arms people with the ability to think for themselves, make their own decisions, choose their leaders and thus affect their destinies," says Khan. Khan's interactions with the community soon blossomed into building a primary-level school, including the development of a curriculum and employing staff. Before Khan's efforts, the children of Sandoka lived approximately a 4-hour hike away from the nearest school. The mountainous terrain and the sheer distance made it inaccessible for children to travel by car. Through Khan's work, the distance has now been reduced to a couple of minutes walk.

 For Khan, the Political Science program at UVic allowed him to understand the importance of countries' political systems, history, and social and economic circumstances. The program has expanded his outlook and perspective on how he views the world. He feels it has armed him with the tools to have a holistic background of knowledge before he pursues a career in law after he graduates. He hopes to continue to expand his work in Pakistan and continue to make a difference in his community.

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