Today we’d like to introduce you to Rizwana.
Hi Rizwana, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I didn’t set out to start an organization. I started by asking one question: What happens to a child, especially a girl child when she’s denied the chance to learn?
Early in my career, I saw firsthand how lack of education impacts not just one life, but entire families and communities. The girls I met were brilliant, determined, and full of potential — but systems weren’t built for them. That gap between potential and opportunity is what drove me to act.
That’s how The SOL Foundation began. We started small, working with a handful of communities to remove the barriers that kept girls out of school. We listened first, then built programs around safety, mentorship, and access.
Where we are today is because of that foundation: community trust, a committed team, and the courage of the girls themselves. My role now is to steward that work — to scale it responsibly, protect its integrity, and make sure every decision puts girls first.
I’m still learning every day. But the ‘why’ hasn’t changed: education changes everything, and every girl deserves that chance.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
No, it hasn’t been a smooth road.
Like many organizations working in education and gender equity, we’ve faced challenges with sustainable funding, shifting local contexts, and the deep-rooted barriers that keep especially girls out of school. In the beginning, one of the hardest parts was earning community trust and ensuring our work didn’t create unintended harm.
Each of those struggles forced us to get better — to design with communities, not for them; to measure impact, not just activity; and to stay focused on long-term change over quick wins.
The challenges continue, but so does the progress. That’s what keeps us moving forward.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My role at The SOL Foundation is to ensure we do one thing well: create real, lasting pathways for girls and women from all walks of life, to learn and lead.
What we do: We work with communities globally to identify why girls are out of school — whether it’s safety, cost, distance, or cultural norms — and we build solutions to remove those specific barriers, through awareness, education and inclusion.
What we specialize in: Community-led design. We don’t run a one-size-fits-all program. Each community faces different challenges, so our model is built on listening and adapting. We’re known for being deeply embedded in the places we work, and for prioritizing depth over scale.
What sets us apart: Two things. First, we play the long game. We’re not interested in quick numbers — we track results through education, into higher education or work, because true change takes years. Second, accountability. The families we serve help shape and evaluate our programs. If it’s not working for them, we change it.
What I’m most proud of: It’s not a statistic. It’s the moment a girl tells us she now sees herself differently — that she has choices. We’ve had students become the first in their family to finish school, go to university, and return to advocate for others. That ripple effect is everything.
Our work isn’t about charity. It’s about justice, and about recognizing the power that already exists in e
What’s next?
The future of The SOL Foundation is about sustainability and leadership.
Right now, I’m most looking forward to seeing our students become the leaders of this work. The biggest change we’re planning isn’t a new program — it’s a shift in who holds power. Over the next few years, we’re investing in alumni networks, Global Scholarship Scholastic – Seed of Education, Empowering Educators and community ownership so that SOL’s role becomes one of support, not direction.
Practically, that means:
Expanding pathways beyond school enrollment to include access to higher education, training, and empowerment.
Building partnerships that let us share our model while staying rooted in community trust
There will be growth, but it will be intentional. The goal isn’t to be the biggest. It’s to be the most accountable and transparent — to the families, students, and donors we serve, and to the future they deserve.
Pricing:
- All donations are accepted online through Paypal, Zelle, and Donorbox at Donation Link https://linktr.ee/
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.the-sol-foundation.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesol_foundation/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesolfoundationorg
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thesolfoundation/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/the_solf_org
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thesolfoundationorg
- Other: PayPal Fund – https://www.paypal.com/fundraiser/charity/4331227
