A 17-year-old amateur astronomer in Quetta, Pakista, using the Internet as a springboard, is pressing the boundaries set for girls in her conservative Balochistan, attracting the attention of the Secretary of the United Nations.

Norina Shah’s interest in astronomy has gained her in-depth knowledge, which she shared on social media especially the microblogging website Twitter. Her posts attracted the attention of the international media, leading to appreciation from UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

Soon enough, the young girl was interviewed by the UK-based Eduzine Global magazine, which is run by a company dedicated to “empowering, promoting, showcasing and celebrating young people, according to its website. What is truly different about this company is that it is run by disadvantaged and disabled teenagers and young adults across the globe.

Shah is Eduzine’s Global Young Ambassador for South Asia and is mentioned on its webpage as the “brightest star”. “Norina’s passion for astronomy and her incredible desire to support and promote other young people is admirable, especially when you realize that her hometown is a place where women and girls are regularly targeted by extremists, simply for wanting to learn,” her Eduzine profile reads.

 “I was so happy and realised that I have got something bigger to do and tell the world that girls only need an opportunity and a platform to excel. [Eduzine] gave me the telescope for my research and have been supporting me to come forward.”

She was also the first runner-up in the inaugural Eduzine Global ACE Young Achiever Awards in 2014. Eduzine also invited her to go to the US for attending a conference on astronomical studies. She had to turn down the offer back then because of her studies. She has again been invited to a week-long conference in the US in 2017 which she is likely to attend.

In recognition of her talent, Norina was awarded a certificate and a telescope apart from a feature article published in the magazine.

After the publication of the Eduzine article, Norina says the UN social media team wrote her an email, saying the agency’s head had appreciated her talent and interests. “On October 18 last year, UN chief Ban Ki-moon appreciated my efforts,” she says with a gleaming smile

Her Twitter handle is @aneyeofsky.

Read more: tribune.com.pk