Born in Karachi, actress Somy Ali, who runs a US-based NGO called No More Tears as well as other organisations such as So-Me Designs, and Somy Ali Productions, says that education, especially for girls, is the only solution to issues in Pakistan. Somy, who now stays in the US, says that her life story is a testimony to what education can do.

“I was born in Karachi, raised across borders, and shaped by storms. I’ve survived sexual abuse, domestic violence, and smear campaigns. I’ve stood face-to-face with trauma—mine and that of 50,000 others rescued through my nonprofit, No More Tears, where I’ve paid for survivors getting PhD’s, to cosmetology diplomas!”

She adds, “But this is not a story about suffering. It’s a manifesto of hope. I didn’t have any formal education while in Bollywood with a 9th grade education at the time but after I left Bollywood I forced myself to get degrees in psychotherapy, broadcast journalism and film studies.”

She says that there were many people who guided her as she continued to educate herself along the way. “I built myself and others from the ashes of despair! With help from mentors, access to centers of learning, reading voluminous books, reading newspapers daily, and a fire to give back,” she says

Somy launched No More Tears, which helps survivors of human trafficking and domestic violence reclaim their lives. She also started So-Me Designs, a fashion brand that uses wearable art to tell untold stories of trauma and healing, and Somy Ali Productions, a media house for social justice storytelling.

“All this was possible because I learned. I was empowered. And I believed, deeply, that education is the only revolution that works,” she says.

Somy adds that the youth of Pakistan is keen to learn. “Right now in villages and cities across Pakistan, millions of girls sit at home, told to wait for marriage instead of miracles.But here’s what they’re not told – They can learn Math, AI and coding from free sites like Khan Academy, Google AI, or Microsoft Learn—for free. They can study business, psychology, math and science through Coursera, Udemy or other online sites. They can master music and film from YouTube channels, or enroll in free music and art classes. They can explore fashion design, starting a business from their study room. All they need is a smartphone. And someone who tells them they matter,” she says.

The actress adds that in today’s age, this development seems possible. “We talk about remittances and laws. But the world now runs on digital talent and emotional intelligence. Let’s make Pakistan a GCC—not just a “Global Capability Center,” but a global compassionate catalyst for change for the better!” She says.

She adds, “Imagine girls from Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Hyderabad becoming AI analysts, UX designers, and film editors, working remotely for companies in London, Dubai, and San Francisco. Artisans and survivors launching AI art and fashion collectives, with global buyers. Women building ethical AI platforms and creative incubators, generating revenue, while transforming their communities. This is not a dream. It’s already happening in Bangladesh, Kenya, and Vietnam. Why not Pakistan?”

Talking about an innovative movement called ‘Somyism’, she calls it a new path forward. “Somyism isn’t a religion or a brand. It’s a way of seeing people as more than their pain. It’s about training survivors to become coders and artisans. Turning trauma into tech and business. Giving women a voice in courtrooms, in codebases, and on canvases.It’s about healing a broken system with fierce love and intelligent design,” she says.