Written by: Haroon Shuaib
Posted on: April 19, 2024 | 
| 中文
Dr. Quratulain Bakhteari receiving an award from the former President of Pakistan, Dr. Arif Alvi
According to a Chinese proverb 学如登山, ‘learning is like climbing a mountain’. A closest example of that can be found in a small stretch of land nestled between the rolling mountains of Quetta. Behind the garrison settlement of the city, one has to get off the road and go through a rocky terrain to discover the Institute for Development Studies and Practices (IDSP): an environmental, academic and social experiment founded in 1998. Built on principles of harmony with nature and indigenous wisdom, sustainability and making the most of the century’s old civilizational experiences, are central to the IDSP’s spirit. Breaking the western model of brick-and-mortar university structures, the earliest founded as recently as 1088 in Bologna Italy, IDSP traces its roots back to the more fluid and inclusive concept and time-tested models of experiential learning and scholastic traditions such as were practiced at Taxila, Nalanda, Plato’s Akadēmeia, the Jixia Academy of China, and the Prophet Mohammad PBUH’s congregations in Madina. In these models there was a deeper spiritual connection between the teacher and the pupil, and led to both achieving a higher purpose in life.
Classes at IDSP
IDSP challenges the prevailing exploitative power structures by demystifying education and development. It has, through its alternative model of teaching and learning, generated value-based partnerships and practices at all levels. Currently, more than 60pc of Pakistan’s population is between the ages of 15 and 35, and almost 80pc of the youth remains excluded from meaningful education and livelihood opportunities, particularly in less developed areas, such as Balochistan. With interventions meticulously designed to end exclusion of a vast majority of youth from pursuing mainstream education, IDSP empowers young men and women, mostly left out of conventional academic system, to tackle challenges of life, livelihood, peace, and pluralism through courses in critical thinking, developmental science, technology, early childhood development, health, education, vocational training and sustainable agriculture in an environment based on the same ideals.
Digital Photography students from Jaffarabad proudly hold their course completion certificate
Story of IDSP begins with the vision of Dr. Quratulain Bakhteari, its Founding Director, who worked all her life on spaces and systems that create leaders who bring lasting improvements in communities. Dr. Bakhteari’s first 12 years were spent in a refugee settlement in Karachi. Married at 16, and a mother of three at 21, she continued her education earning a Doctorate from University of Technology Loughborough, United Kingdom. Focusing her energy on creating a people-centric policy, she helped the Water and Sanitation Authority in Quetta and communities of Baldia Town, Karachi, to construct 8000 pit toilets. She was instrumental in establishing 2200 rural primary schools across the province, enrolling 200,000 girls and appointing 3000 community based female teachers. Creation of IDSP is her life-long quest to empower youth through critical learning and practices of community development, community midwifery, management, Information Technology, Climate Change and leadership. So far, over 8000 young women and men have graduated from IDSP, and during the recent floods, IDSP helped more than 3000 families in the Balochistan province. A recipient of several awards for her outstanding work, she was nominated for Nobel Peace Prize in 2014. Speaking about her vision for IDSP, Dr. Bakhteari said, ‘Throughout all these years, what has not changed is the lack of infrastructure in Balochistan or access to basic necessities and healthcare in the rural communities. Many women with their unborn babies, would die on their way to the city hospitals. One of our own girls, Rubina, whose own mother died during labor, collaborated with IDSP to create our midwifery program. Today, hundreds of girls have graduated as community midwives. Many of these girls not only run their own maternal clinics in remote areas, but are also looking after their own communities. We aspire to make IDSP a center of excellence for community development, and a space to rethink and remodel social paradigms, influencing youth, and in particular women, all over Pakistan.’
Dr. Bakhtiari believes that a lot of wisdom exists within communities and learning should be a two-way process.
Sprawled over four acres of land that has been leased from the Government of Balochistan, IDSP is housed in an eco-friendly campus. It has adopted indigenous methods of construction, using mud instead of cement, rain water harvesting, a rechargeable well, a bio-gas plant, a wind turbine, a traditional stove for the neatly designed cooking area, solar technology to meet all its energy requirements, and maximum use of natural light to reduce dependence on electricity. Every corner of the campus has been made eco-friendly in an innovative manner. Every door and window are dissimilar, as all of them have been bought from scrap dealers and repurposed. Students sit on the floor to study.
IDSP campus is an ecological wonder that you come across on your way from Quetta to Hanna Urrak
Safdar Hussain, who is the Co-Director of IDSP, the campus has been a labor of love. He says, “Whenever you begin a construction project, it is best to look at the construction tradition of the locals that they have practiced for generations and adopt the same methods. Use of mud has meant that our rooms stay warm during winter and cool during summer. We rely on our own water source that stores rain water. We have our own herd of sheep and flock of chicken who provide us dairy and eggs and manure for our garden.” On the adjacent rock-strewn mountain Safdar has planted a grapevine, where gravity-fed drip irrigation system is used. For Safdar, this campus is like a laboratory of a sustainable life style.
A student enrolled in Digital Photography course taking a photo
The alternative pedagogical methodology of IDSP, critical thinking and social responsibility that it inculcates in every young graduate, is helping resolve conflicts. Youngsters are able to shape their future, develop people-centric infrastructure, advance technologies, promote the concepts of green energy, protect children from child labor and adopt sustainable agriculture techniques. All these skills help build more harmonious and prosperous communities and economies. Many of IDSP students have gone on to form community-based groups, entered government service, won seats in elections and formed village-level community boards. 12 of IDSP senior fellows, six of whom are women, who had no prior education or experience in development, went on to design, implement and manage successful development projects, ranging in size from $50,000 to $1.50 million.
Nargis was born 13 years ago in Hazara Town Quetta, and lived the life of a refugee. Her family had moved to Pakistan after their hometown in Afghanistan was devastated by war. She has three brothers and a sister, all of whom are younger than her. None of the siblings attend school. A learner at IDSP’s Center of Nonformal Education in Hazara Town, Nargis had never been to school before IDSP provided her with the opportunity to study. “I cannot express my happiness when I received free books, notebooks and pencils. I also received a monthly stipend of 1000 rupees while studying there, which I gave to my mother who spent the money on providing food for us. Whereas, my father worked in a coal mine and earned 4000 rupees a month, which he spent on paying house rent and bills. At the center, I learnt that a girl has as many rights as a boy, and like a boy, a girl could also become a doctor, engineer, teacher and other professions were also open to her,” Nargis declared.
Folk music session at IDPS
IDSP is a living example of eco-friendly and sustainable living, and learning how to bring about social change. Students not only learn skills, but also music, photography and filmmaking as creative pursuits. Currently, IDSP, through its satellite campuses, runs courses across Balochistan. Many students like Nargis, are getting an opportunity for education, and are also developing a positive view of the world and what the future holds for them.
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