Kifayatullah Malik: The Young Changemaker Fighting for Tribal Education
In the snowcapped mountains of North Kashmir, where struggles are daily companions, one young man’s efforts shine like a star of hope for countless children especially the girls who were once told that education was a luxury they could not afford. At just 25, Kifayatullah Malik has dedicated his life to keeping tribal children, especially young girls, in the classroom—ensuring their education isn’t interrupted by financial hardship or domestic responsibilities. His selfless work, driven by a deep personal connection to the cause, recently earned him the prestigious President’s Award for National Social Service, marking a turning point in his mission to transform lives of tribal children.A Journey That Began with PainGrowing up in Lawaypora village, in Bandipora, North Kashmir, Kifayatullah Malik knows the weight of lost dreams. As a child, he witnessed many of his friends abandon their education forced to stay home, work, and help their families survive. For him, school was not just a place for learning, but a fight for a future. In the face of immense obstacles, he became the first in his family to step foot into school, defying the odds stacked against him. Now, at 25, he has made it his life’s mission to ensure no child especially a girl has to face the same tough decision he once did.Kifayatullah’s struggle to remain in school became the spark that ignited a movement. After completing his master’s in social work from Amar Singh College in Srinagar, he began gathering like minded youth who shared his vision. Together, they tackled the ongoing dropout crisis in the tribal areas, starting with the simple act of collecting used textbooks from his community and redistributing them to those in need.Empowering the Girls Who Dare to DreamAmong the many students whose lives have been transformed by Kifayatullah’s relentless efforts is Sumaiya, a young girl from a tribal community. “In our community, most girls drop out because their parents can’t afford to educate both their sons and daughters,” she shares, revealing the harsh realities that forced her to leave school at the age of 10. Heartbroken and full of unfulfilled dreams, Sumaiya watched helplessly as her future seemed to slip away until Kifayatullah stepped in. Not only did he provide her with the books and stationery she needed, but he also took the time to speak with her parents, explaining the value of education.Thanks to his intervention, Sumaiya returned to school. Today, she dreams of becoming a teacher, determined to give back to her community by helping other girls who are forced to sacrifice their education.The dropout rate in Kashmir’s tribal communities is alarmingly high, particularly for girls. Official data shows that the dropout rate among girls in these communities stands at 19.05%. But Kifayatullah’s work goes beyond simply bringing students back into the classroom it’s about changing the mindset that holds them back in the first place. Kifayatullah’s ambitions don’t stop with reenrolling children. His long-term mission is to bridge the digital divide, ensuring that every tribal child has access to modern education and technology. Through his vision, he hopes to break the cycle of poverty that forces children to leave school. His efforts have not gone unnoticed. Kifayatullah has received several prestigious awards, including the President’s Award for National Social Service (2021-22) — the first-ever recipient from the University of Kashmir. He has also earned recognition for his work in environmental conservation and humanitarian initiatives, such as the Best Forest Friend Award for his large-scale tree planting efforts.But for Kifayatullah, the awards were never the end goal. He strongly believed that changing even one life could make a big difference, and his focus remained on the larger mission, not the recognition. His initiative, which operates through crowdfunding, is sustained by people who believe in the cause, contributing small amounts of money each month to help pay for students' education.A Vision for the FutureKifayatullah’s efforts have expanded to initiatives like REACHA (Research and Extension Association for Conservation of Horticulture and Agroforestry), where he serves as a district coordinator. This project aims to bridge the digital divide in remote areas, providing education and IT literacy to those who need it most.Through his tireless work, Kifayatullah is proving that small efforts, when fueled by big hearts, can change the world. His journey is a powerful reminder that the future is shaped by those who dare to believe in it and by those who give everything they have to make that future a reality for others.
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