Being caught in a time warp is not mere science fiction. For many communities time warps are a reality. Whereas in science fiction complicated machines that bend space and time are required to entertain the possibility of time warps, communities have practiced a far simpler way to keep themselves thus imprisoned. They do so through tradition and ideas of what is and what is not acceptable or even possible. They do so thru social norms. In science fiction, people are unable to escape the prison of a time warp and, therefore, unable to join the regular (linear) flow of time. In societies, communities are unable to join the flow of progress. They are unable to have women as equal partners, enjoy good health outcomes, and they lack educated men, women and children empowered to realize the God-given potential with which they, like all of us, are blessed.

Residents of Arab Goth, a small town near Karachi, were mostly illiterate. Custom and traditions handed down through the ages contributed to their ignorance. As is usual in such situations, those suffering the worst of it were the women, who were not allowed even religious education. Only a handful of them were allowed to get a primary school education.

The status of women in this small village was dismal. Totally dependent upon the men, they had trouble making even insignificant decisions. Unaware of their own inherent potential, they lacked appreciation of their value within their community. Self-confidence was in short supply.

It was to this situation that the Human Development Foundation (HDF) arrived. In order to prepare the groundwork for progress, HDF’s social mobilization team started with softening the attitudes of the local population. While working on changing attitudes to progress in Arab Goth the team lay the foundation for the implementation of programs to address health, education, economic development and sustainable environment.

The success of the Social Mobilization team became evident a year later when the women of Arab Goth participated wholeheartedly in an adult literacy program. But this was just the start. Community-wide transformation was to follow. In short order, the women arranged for a female teacher to instruct them in the recitation of the Holy Quran, complete with Tajweed.

One may wonder, how did these women go from not being able to make the most insignificant decisions to engaging in educational pursuits? Thankfully, it did not require a complicated machine to bend space and time. Through the support of HDF’s social mobilization team the women of Arab Goth took prudent steps to facilitate their education – they started by getting a buy-in from, and an agreement with, the male members of their families. Then, they arranged for a central location to gather for their learning.

With unrelenting support from HDF’s Social Mobilization team the women of Arab Goth are on the path to realize their potential. That they were able to acquire the consent of the male members illustrates a shift in mental outlook that has already occurred and that over time this community will be transformed.