Sister Zeph is an internationally recognized educator, women’s rights advocate, peacebuilder, and social entrepreneur from Pakistan. She began her mission for education and social justice at the age of 13 after leaving school due to discrimination and humiliation. Determined that no child should suffer the pain she experienced, she founded a free school in the courtyard of her home while working as a child laborer to support its expenses.

For more than two decades, Sister Zeph has dedicated her life to empowering marginalized women, youth, and children through free education, vocational skills training, leadership development, and awareness of human and legal rights. Through the Zephaniah Women’s Education and Empowerment Foundation (ZWEE), she has educated over 3,000 children and empowered more than 6,000 women, helping them gain confidence, financial independence, and a voice in society.

She is also a strong advocate for interfaith harmony and peacebuilding and has over 20 years of experience promoting dialogue and understanding among Christian and Muslim communities in Pakistan. Her work has helped protect and support vulnerable girls facing child marriage, forced labor, illiteracy, and gender-based discrimination.

Sister Zeph became the first Pakistani and the eighth person in the world to receive the prestigious Global Teacher Prize 2023 by the Varkey Foundation and UNESCO. She is also the recipient of the Lynn Syms Global Prize, Bioneers Changemaker Award, Khatoon-e-Pakistan Award, Women Changing the World Awards, and several national and international honors for her humanitarian leadership and educational impact.

Her life story was featured in the documentary “Flight of the Falcons” by CNA Asia, which won a Gold Medal at the New York Film Festival in 2016.

Today, Sister Zeph is a global speaker and advocate who has represented Pakistan at international forums including UNESCO, COP28, and global education and peace conferences across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Her vision is to build a safe residential school and home for 2,000 abandoned and vulnerable children, where they can receive education, dignity, protection, and the opportunity to become future leaders and global citizens.

Website: sisterzeph.com