Why Kirthar?

Young people across Sindh and Balochistan face significant barriers to accessing national fellowship and leadership development opportunities.

Existing models often remain concentrated in major urban centers, engage relatively small cohorts, and require participants from marginalized regions to travel north to access opportunity.

The Kirthar Model reverses this: Instead of taking young people away from their communities, it brings learning, mentorship, and networks closer to them.

The model is designed specifically for the scale, geography, and needs of marginalized communities in Sindh and Balochistan.

A Three-Stage Model of Development

The Kirthar Model is designed as a long-term development pathway rather than a stand-alone fellowship.

Each stage serves a distinct purpose while preparing participants for the next, creating a continuous pipeline for leadership development in Sindh and Balochistan.

Stage 1 — The Online Bootcamp: Young people from across Sindh and Balochistan participate in an intensive online bootcamp introducing the foundations of policy, systems thinking, and leadership.

Stage 2 — The Regional Fellowship: Participants who demonstrate the greatest potential during the online bootcamp are invited to the second stage: an intensive, in-person regional fellowship.

Stage 3 — Long-Term Community Support: Fellows from second stage who demonstrate interest in long-term commitment receive ongoing mentorship and strategic support to establish or strengthen locally rooted organizations, engage constructively with public institutions and policymakers, and build partnerships across civil society, academia, government, and the private sector.

Who is the Kirthar School for?

The Kirthar School is designed for young people from all over Pakistan, but specially Sindh and Balochistan, who want to understand and contribute to the policies, governance structures, and systems shaping their communities.

KPS is specially meant for those who:

● Learn quickly and are early adopters
● Question existing assumptions with curiosity
● Are able to work collaboratively
● Recognize connections between complex and interdisciplinary issues
● Demonstrate motivation and a strong desire to contribute to their communities

The Kirthar Model gives participants an opportunity to demonstrate their capacity and commitment through sustained learning, discussion, collaboration, and engagement.

Four Seasons, Four Cohorts

Inspired by the interconnectedness of human life, the biological ecosystem, and the cosmic universe, Kirthar follows the rhythm of the four seasons, bringing together a new community of learners with each cycle.

Applications for the Kirthar School Bootcamp are announced four times a year, with one cohort each season.

Three Critical Sectors

The Kirthar Model initially focuses on three fundamental sectors: energy, health, and education. These sectors form the basis of development in any country, and are fundamentally connected with broader systems of governance, economic development, environmental sustainability, and social wellbeing.

Alumni Reflections

KPS Alumni