Anum Essa

Anum, from Pakistan, began her professional career as a teacher, and later self-financed postgraduate education in mass communication. She worked as a teacher for almost six years, gaining experience at some of the best schools in Pakistan and establishing her passion and interest in early childhood education and teacher training. Recognizing the need to revolutionize education in Pakistan’s low-income schools, Anum joined Orenda, a social startup founded by two Learners’ Voice alumni. The organization aspires to significantly improve early years’ education by incorporating interactive video lessons and play-based activities in the curriculum. She worked with Orenda’s mathematics content and developed a digital curriculum in the form of an engaging cartoon series called Taleemabad. So far, more than one thousand children have viewed her video lessons across the country. Anum is currently working as a communication and knowledge management officer at an international development consultancy in Pakistan. She has also volunteered with various organizations including Muslim Aid and LettuceBee Kids. Anum is a feminist at heart with a strong belief that education empowers women to be autonomous and take informed decisions for themselves.