From Karachi’s Slums to the U.S. - Help Arham Graduate

My name is Muhammad Arham, and I’m a alumnus of The Citizens Foundation . I come from Malir, one of the many underserved neighborhoods on the outskirts of Karachi. Today, I’m pursuing a Master’s in Computer Science at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) - a dream that once felt far beyond reach.

Raised in the dusty alleys of Malir Colony and taught in overcrowded classrooms with more dreams than desks, I became the first boy from my town to make it to the United States for higher education, this journey has been nothing short of resilience, faith, and hard work.

After graduating from TCF, I ranked 5th in the Karachi Intermediate Board exams among 18,000 students. That achievement earned me a 100% scholarship to study Computer Science at the Institute of Business Administration (IBA) Karachi, one of Pakistan’s top universities. I remained focused on academic excellence and scored 336 out of 340 on the GRE -placing me in the top 5% of test takers globally.

In 2024, I finally realized my long-held dream of coming to the U.S. for graduate school. I raised funds for my first-year tuition, enrolled at UIC, and completed my first year with a 4.0 GPA. Alongside my studies, I worked on campus and launched a Sandbox Lab funded by Apple, where I teach programming to students from diverse disciplines.

But now, I’m facing my biggest hurdle.

To finish my degree, I urgently need to raise $25,000 - the total tuition fee for my final two semesters.

Due to recent funding challenges, I will not be receiving any support from the university for the coming year. I’ve tried every possible avenue, but without external support, I will not be able to continue.

This journey has never been just about me. I’ve been actively supporting TCF’s efforts to build more schools across Pakistan and mentoring students from my community - helping them believe that they, too, deserve a seat at the table.

Helping me isn’t just helping one student. It’s investing in a ripple effect - a future where more students from places like Malir Colony can rise, thrive, and pay it forward.

Any support, even sharing the fundraiser would mean a lot. Thank you again for believing in me.

I will keep you all posted!