Afshan Mehmood & The Rising World
Afshan Mehmood, an Electrical Engineer and Computer Scientist from Pakistan, is a climate activist, worked with Women in Renewable Energy Pakistan, led public awareness campaigns on climate change, and developed innovative solutions to the energy crisis locally and internationally. Afshan is the founder of The Rising World, a platform promoting sustainability, community development, and climate awareness.
With support from our Giving Joy grant, a dynamic new initiative, the Solar Energy Awareness and Training Project, was launched to educate and empower young girls in Pakistan about renewable energy. The project brought hands-on solar workshops to two secondary schools and one girls’ college, reaching over 120 girls in just a few months.
Through engaging, interactive sessions, participants learned the fundamentals of solar energy, experimented with DIY solar kits, and even built model windmills as symbols of alternative energy. These workshops didn’t just spark curiosity, they fostered confidence, leadership, and real interest in STEM careers. Many girls expressed a desire to pursue studies in renewable energy, and discussions sparked at home began influencing family energy practices.
The grant enabled the purchase of solar kits and learning materials, transforming theory into practice and promoting broader Sustainable Development Goals: Quality Education (SDG 4), Clean Energy (SDG 7), and Climate Action (SDG 13). The grant also strengthened the organization’s reputation in sustainability and STEM education and forged strong partnerships with local schools.
Beyond technical training, this project ignited a sense of agency and community impact, encouraging young women to see themselves as leaders in sustainable development.
With lasting ripple effects projected to reach over 480 people through peer and family learning, this initiative is a model of how grassroots education can fuel global change.
