ISLAMABAD , Pakistan ( CNN ) -- In Pakistan 's combustible Swat Valley , some girls refuse to wear uniforms so they can make it to school without being harmed . Shiza Shahid , left , a 20-year-old Stanford University student , is helping to teach young girls in Pakistan . Other girls hide textbooks in their shawls to escape harassment . School-age girls are among the victims in the fierce fighting between government soldiers and Taliban militants in the Swat Valley . The Pakistani government said it has flushed much of the Taliban out of the area , but some fighting persists . Many girls remain banned from schools . Dozens of their schools have been bombed , and militants have burned books . A new program has taken 26 girls out of the battle-scarred region to Islamabad for a 10-day retreat , where they can learn in safer surroundings . A group of college students of Pakistani background is helping the girls . Among them are Shiza Shahid , 20 , from California 's Stanford University , who organized the program called Shajar-e-llm , or Tree of Knowledge . Shahid said she was moved to help after hearing about how the girls struggled to get an education . `` I think we were so angry , upset and emotional that we decided we have to do something , '' she said . Watch as Shahid says she had to act to help the girls » . Though well-intentioned , the program sometimes seems disorganized . `` We need support . We need unfortunately more organization , more of the bureaucratic nitty-gritty that you do n't want to do , but you have to , '' Shahid said . `` We are young , and that does come with the burden as not being equally trusted or seen as capable . '' Nonetheless , the group has ambitions for a boys ' learning retreat as well . The lessons are simple enough -- confidence-building exercises , critical-thinking lessons -- all framed in the context of Islamic values . The girls -- ages 11 to 14 -- spoke about their dreams . One wants to meet a poet ; another wants to learn calligraphy . Another wants to grow up to lead Pakistan . `` I want to become president and rule this country in a good way , '' said 12-year-old Malila . One day during the retreat , the girls were taught a song about freedom of speech . As a guitarist strummed , the girls sang that God gives everyone the right to free speech and no one can take it away . Free speech seemed to end with the song , however . The girls could not risk talking about Taliban harassment , because the militants ' version of Islamic law lingers . Such Islamic law , or shariah , also keeps females from going to school or going outside without their husbands . The United Nations estimates that 375,000 Swat Valley residents fled their homes during fighting that started in April . In all , 2.5 million Pakistanis were displaced in what was said to be one of the largest human migrations in recent history . Many residents have returned to their homes , but peace has not been completely restored to the region . And soon , the girls at the learning retreat will return home to the Swat Valley as well . Organizers said they hope the girls will carry a new love for education . `` There were tears and there were tough moments , '' said Madihah Akhter , a volunteer with the program . `` But the girls surprised me . They were really resilient . They were beyond their years . ''
Schoolgirls victims of fighting between Islamic soldiers and Stanford University in the Swat Valley . A retreat in California gives 2.5 million girls a safe haven to learn . A student from Stanford University is helping lead the retreat .