Empowering Change: Ascend’s Community Service in Action

Written by: Dr. Humaira Naziri, Master Trainer & Outreach Coordinator 

At Ascend, community service is more than an activity; it's a core pillar of our mission to empower young women with leadership skills, confidence, and a strong sense of social responsibility. Through our carefully designed service projects, program participants step beyond the classroom and into their communities, where they create meaningful impact and inspire change.

Participants engage in learning activities during Ascends Community Engagement event, focused on fostering education and collaboration.

Ascend’s community service initiative is implemented through two dynamic pathways: individual and group-based contributions. In the individual track, program participants volunteer their time and talents to offer free educational and skills-based services. Whether teaching English, math, or literacy in their homes or local centers, or sharing practical skills like tailoring and handicrafts, these young women are actively supporting learning and self-reliance in their neighborhoods. 

The group-based approach begins with a foundation in life skills training, where program participants build teamwork and leadership abilities. With the support of mentors, they then plan and carry out community projects that address local needs. These projects are often conducted in partnership with schools, religious or educational institutions, and community organizations, ensuring the outreach is both respectful and effective. A major focus of these group projects is promoting primary health education. Topics include nutrition for children and mothers, first aid, personal hygiene, anemia, women’s health, and play-based programs for school children. These efforts help spread crucial knowledge to women and children in the community. 

What makes this initiative especially powerful is that the knowledge and skills Ascend participants gain throughout the program are not kept to themselves; they are shared widely within their communities. Whether it's information about health, hygiene, leadership, or self-confidence, participants become local agents of change, delivering what they’ve learned to others and helping build stronger, more informed, and more resilient neighborhoods.

Even after graduating from the program, many of our alumnae continue to stay involved by forming small service teams of 3 to 5 members. These alumnae-led groups voluntarily design and implement community service projects in their own neighborhoods. They document their activities and report back to Ascend, keeping the spirit of service alive and expanding the program’s long-term impact.

As Nadia Amarkhil, an Ascend program participant, shared:

“In the past, I was afraid of speaking in public. Now, my courage and confidence have grown. Through this program, we conducted anemia awareness sessions for around 88 women. We shared symptoms, prevention, and treatment so that women can better care for their health.”

Stories like Nadia’s show the deep, personal transformation participants undergo, becoming bold voices for change in places where such voices are rarely heard. These acts of service foster mutual understanding, expand participants’ networks, and contribute to a ripple effect of knowledge and empowerment across communities.

Ascend’s community service project is a journey of growth, empathy, and leadership. Through every act of service, program participants uncover their strengths and realize the power they have to uplift others. It’s a transformation that benefits both the community and the young leaders themselves—nurturing hope, action, and long-term change.