Sabeer Ahmed

Activist, Artist, Educator/Teacher, Social entrepreneur

Sabeer Ahmed is a social entrepreneur and community development practitioner from Lyari, Karachi, devoted to education, youth empowerment, and cultural revival. As the Founder of the Dreams of Youth Welfare Society (D.O.Y.W.S.), established in 2013, he has created safe and creative spaces that nurture learning, art, and social change within underserved communities. Beyond his organization, Sabeer has collaborated with several national and international NGOs — including GoRead.pk, Family Educational Services Foundation (FESF), and Kiran Foundation — serving in diverse roles such as Community Liaison Officer, Operations Manager, and Soft Skills Trainer. His work bridges education, social inclusion, and creative expression to strengthen community resilience. A passionate theatre artist associated with the Arts Council of Pakistan and Karachi Theatre Production, Sabeer uses performance art as a tool for storytelling, awareness, and transformation. His journey reflects an enduring belief that empowering people through knowledge, empathy, and art can spark lasting change in society.

Dreaming in the Heart of Lyari – A TED Story by Sabeer Ahmed I was born and raised in Lyari — a place often known for its chaos, but rarely celebrated for its courage. To many, Lyari is just another neighborhood on the map of Karachi. To me, it has always been home — a place filled with stories, struggles, and silent dreams waiting to be heard. Growing up, I saw talent buried under poverty, and potential lost in the absence of opportunity. But I also saw resilience — in the eyes of children who came to school barefoot yet carried ambition bigger than their shoes, in the mothers who worked tirelessly to feed their families, and in the young people who refused to give up on their identity. There came a time when I realized: if we wait for someone else to bring change, we’ll wait forever. So instead of leaving Lyari, I decided to stay — and build something here, something that could turn despair into hope. In 2013, I founded the Dreams of Youth Welfare Society — not with money, but with belief. We started with a small space, a few friends, and a single mission: to create opportunities where there were none. Over the years, that small space became Dream House Lyari — a community home where learning, art, and compassion live together. Today, Dream House is more than just a building. It is a safe space where children learn freely, where women rediscover confidence through skills, where art and storytelling heal wounds that words often cannot. We expanded our vision with Dream House Moach Goth and Dream Learning Center, reaching hundreds of children, youth, and families through education, art, and welfare programs. Through initiatives like Ujala for out-of-school children, Kahaani Sawari to ignite imagination through stories, and mental health awareness campaigns to break silence around emotional well-being — our journey has always been about one thing: reviving hope. But the journey was never easy. There were days when funding ran out, when people doubted our vision, and when I questioned myself too. Yet, every time I walked into a classroom and saw a child smile — I knew this dream was worth every struggle. I’ve learned that true change doesn’t begin with policies or power — it begins with people. It begins with a single decision to care, to act, and to keep believing even when the odds are against you. Lyari taught me that dreams don’t need perfect conditions — they just need someone to protect them. And that’s what we’ve tried to do — build a space where every child, every woman, every young person feels seen, heard, and empowered. My message to everyone listening is simple: Don’t wait for miracles — become one. Start small. Start where you are. Because sometimes, the most powerful revolutions begin not with noise, but with a single act of hope. Thank you.