HISTORY OF THE ACADEMY
Founding of the Academy
should simply be “Shadow Girls Academy was inspired by the vision of two people, born thousands of miles apart from each other but both holding dear the idea of female education.
During one of her many journeys from France to northern Pakistan, Jacqueline Lissogoroff met the young Karim Khan. The latter expressed a strong desire to obtain a university degree, which prompted Mrs. Lissogoroff to arrange his attendance at the Catholic University of Paris.
While in France, Karim Khan noticed the negative projections of Pakistani females in the western media and began confronting the reality of the situation of women in his own country. He decided then to return to Hunza Valley and establish a secondary school where young women from far-flung mountain villages could continue their education in a peaceful environment conducive to learning.
Together with Mrs. Lissogoroff, Karim Khan returned to his homeland, and in January 2008 the first piece of land forming the future foundation of Shadow Girls Academy was purchased. Construction of the school and dorms began in March 2008 and were completed in January 2009 with the first students entering in March 2009. At present 45 students are living at Shadow Girls Academy and dedicate their time studying on its peaceful campus.
OTHER INFORMATION
HISTORY OF THE REGIONHistory and Overview of Hunza—“The Land of Legends”
Hunza Valley, adorned with such nicknames as “The Land of Legends” and “The Valley of Peace,” is a mountainous valley located in Pakistan’s autonomous northern region. Not far from the Chinese-Afghan border, the valley is bedecked with the virgin, snow-capped mountains of the Karakoram mountain range and the bold, rushing torrents of Hunza River.
Eternal snow, silent steams, rapid rivers and the emerald green meadows are some of the charms that have made Hunza famous among tourists from all over the world. The entire valley is dominated by the famous Rakaposhi Peak (7788 m.) and several sister peaks over 6000m tall.
Historically Hunza Valley was an independent state, maintaining self-rule for nine centuries before the British took control of the area in the late 19th century. Nevertheless, local governance remained in the hands of the ruling family and its leader—known as the mir—until 1974. The power of the mir was at last abolished by then Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, and Hunza Valley was incorporated into Pakistan’s Northern Areas (Gilgit-Baltistan).
Despite its limited space, the valley is home to four diverse languages: Shina, Brushaski, Hgomki, and Wakhi. This linguistic diversity reflects an even more diverse history, one that has seen the comings and goings of empires and the heights of such religions as Buddhism and Islam.
