Empowering Christians in Pakistan With Education
In Pakistan, Christians make up about 1.27% of the population of Pakistan, living under oppressed conditions and often facing persecution due to their faith. Many among them are weakened and homeless, which further restricts their access to basic human rights, especially education.
Education is Pivotal Tool
Education is a pivotal tool that can alleviate their living conditions and pave the way towards a brighter future for the individuals and the community at large. Unfortunately, the path to education is riddled with hurdles for Christians in Pakistan. Their marginalized status in society often means that they are shunned or discriminated against in mainstream educational institutions. Additionally, their financial constraints render them unable to afford education, thus trapping them in a cycle of poverty and ignorance.
Report By Centre for Social Justice ...
According to a report by the Centre for Social Justice, only 7% of Christians in Pakistan have completed higher secondary education, compared to 23% of Muslims. The literacy rate among Christian women is even lower, at 28%, compared to 46% among Muslim women. The report also found that Christian students face harassment, bullying, and discrimination in public schools, where they are often forced to study Islamic studies or recite the Quran. Some Christian students have been accused of blasphemy, a crime punishable by death in Pakistan, for expressing their views or beliefs.
Jaranwala Attack
Also, in Pakistan, 5,000 radical Muslims recently went on a rampage, attacking Jaranwala, a Christian suburb of Faisalabad. They set at least 26 churches on fire and damaged or destroyed at least 196 homes. The Jaranwala incident has left a lasting impact on the more than 1,000 Christian families living in the affected neighborhood. The destruction of their homes and businesses left them homeless and financially devastated.
Many lost their livelihoods as their shops and sources of income were destroyed. The psychological trauma cannot be overstated, as they were subjected to violence purely based on their religious beliefs. The incident also had a profound impact on the broader Christian community in Pakistan. It served as a wake-up call, highlighting the vulnerability and marginalization experienced by religious minorities. Fear and insecurity spread among Christians across the country, leading to a heightened sense of vigilance and concern for their safety.
Empowering The Christian Community (ETCC)...
Addressing this challenge head-on is Empowering The Christian Community (ETCC), which is dedicated to easing the conditions of Christians in Pakistan. Through ETCC’s activities, many children and adults from the Christian community are gaining access to education, thus acquiring a chance to break the chains of poverty and persecution. ETCC’s programs focus not only on providing formal education but also on vocational training, which allows individuals to learn skills that can help them secure employment.
Christian community in Pakistan
So, the path toward enlightenment and empowerment for the oppressed Christian community in Pakistan largely lies in education. With the concerted efforts of ETCC, there is a beacon of hope that the tides of change will bring about a better, more inclusive tomorrow for the marginalized Christian community in Pakistan. Through education, they can envision and work towards a future that ensures their rightful place in society with dignity and respect.