The Biden administration is making strides to ensure that marginalized communities in Pakistan, such as transgender youth, are given the opportunity to succeed. As part of this effort, the State Department recently announced a $500,000 grant to teach English language skills to Pakistani youth.
The grant focuses on providing professional development courses for Pakistani transgender youth, novice English language teachers, and Afghan teachers, students, and young professionals residing in Pakistan. The goal of the program is to give these marginalized communities the tools they need to better participate in the global community and prepare them for success in the workplace.
The grant specifically aims to provide intensive professional development courses for Pakistani transgender youth between the ages of 13 and 25. The grant also includes a component for Afghan teachers, students, and young professionals residing in Pakistan. Each component is eligible for between $25,000 and $75,000.
“In this specific grant, the Department provides funding for English–language learning, an integral skill that helps unlock educational and employability opportunities, for marginalized communities, in this case transgender youth,” said a State Department spokesperson.
The State Department’s human rights report for Pakistan praises the country’s 2018 Transgender Persons Protection of Rights Act. The report suggests that police should prioritize ways to prevent increased levels of violence against transgender people. It also noted that public venues in Pakistan were less likely to host “transgender events” than “religiously based anti–LGBTQI+ protests.”
The Biden administration’s grant is a step in the right direction for transgender rights in Pakistan. By providing educational opportunities and the necessary tools to succeed, the Biden administration is giving transgender youth a chance to participate in the global community and to build successful careers.
The Biden administration is showing that it is serious about protecting the rights of marginalized communities in Pakistan, and the $500,000 grant is a clear sign of that commitment. The grant will provide transgender youth with the opportunity to gain English language skills, which will open doors to better educational and employment opportunities.
