Biographie Arfa Karim (enfant prodige)

Arfa Karim Randhawa : The young IT prodigy who wanted to change the world

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The world’s youngest Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) was born 2 February 1995 into a Jat family in a small village called Chak No. 4JB Ram Dewali, in Faislabad, Punjab, Pakistan.

She came to public attention in 2004 when she was declared the youngest Microsft certified Professionals (MCPs) at the shocking age of 9, a title that she kept for 4 years (now the record is heldby a 5 years old Pakistani boy named Ayan Qureshi). Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) helps validate IT professional and developer technical expertise through rigorous, industry-proven, and industry-recognized exams. These exams cover a huge variety of Microsoft products and services. [pic 2]

The founder of Microsoft was so impressed by the young girl that she invited her to visit Microsft’s US headquarter, a privilege granted to very few people. During her visit, she met company’s CEO and other important people. After her memorable visit, she gave a multitude of conferences and represented Pakistan at many international forums, including the TED-ED Conferernce directed by Micrsoft Barcelona and was interviewed by both local and international media. She was also invited by the IT professionals of Dubai and a dinner was held for her, she participated with Pakistan’s ambassador to UAE.

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She received a number of national awards including Fatimah Jinnah Gold Medal in the field of Science and Technology, presented by the Prime Minister of Pakistan at that time. She also received the Salaam Pakistan Youth Award again in August 2005 by the President of Pakistan.Arfa Karim is also the recipient of the President’s Award for Pride of Performance. This is a very high level civil award granted to people who have shown excellence in their respective fields over a long period of time. Arfa is till now the youngest recipient of that award ever.

In addition to her computer skills, she was also remarkable in poetry. During her visit at Microsoft headquarters, she wrote an entire poem for Bill Gates.

Despite a short life, Arfa did everything in her possible to fight for opportunities for the young generation of her country. One ce she said « People say i am a genius. I might be one but i am not the only one. There are many other Pakistani girls and boys like me. All those gems need, is a little bit of polishing. And I will do it. That's my aim ». Her short life tells us about the endless talent available in the country.

On 22 December 2011, she left her family and millions of people under shock when she was admitted to CMH hospital in Lahore city of Pakistan due to a damage in her brain. On 9 January 2012, Bill Gates, contacted Arfa's parents and directed his doctors to adopt "every kind of measure" for her treatment. Gates immediatley ordered to set up a special panel of international doctors who remained in contact with her local doctors through teleconference. But she passed away Arfa 14 January 2012, aged 16 and was buried into her ancestral village.

A software technology park in Lahore was named after her.

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