My name is Rizwan Us Salam, and I’m asking for help for my son, Saad. This is not something I ever imagined doing, but as a father, you reach a point where your child’s dreams matter more than your pride.

Saad came into this world different. He didn’t speak until he was 4. He struggled to fit in, struggled to understand the world, and the world struggled to understand him. When other children were making friends and playing, he was fighting battles inside his own mind: Autism, ADHD, sensory issues, endless therapy sessions.

But even in those early years, there was something remarkable about him. Numbers made sense to him when almost nothing else did. At 7 years old, when most children are learning their times table, Saad was solving Grade 10 and 11 math. His talent earned him a full scholarship to Karachi American School, something almost unheard of for a child from a middle-class family like ours. You can even see some of his early math videos on his YouTube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/@SaadusSalamKhan

In 2020, during COVID-19, Saad and I started Parhokhelo Pakistan to support children with special needs and those living in extreme hardship. He was only 13 at the time, yet he stepped forward with remarkable dedication. Over time, he became a strong part of Parhokhelo Pakistan and helped me a lot, giving me the strength to keep moving forward whenever I felt overwhelmed. I watched my son, who once struggled to speak, stand in front of children with cancer, orphans, kids in prisons, Afghan refugee children, and children with Down syndrome, offering them gifts, kindness, and dignity. He didn’t do it for praise. He did it because he knows what it feels like to be overlooked.

His education journey has been just as heavy. He was accepted to the University of Toronto, but after waiting five months for a study permit with no answer, he had to defer to next year. It broke him, though he tried to hide it.

He refused to quit. He asked for a refund of the University of Toronto fees. He applied again, this time to the UK, and by Allah’s mercy, he was accepted to Aston University for January 2026, along with a £5,000 bursary. I have already paid £15,250 for his tuition.

Now, only one thing stands between Saad and the future he has worked so hard for: 10,000 CAD for his living expenses, which includes accommodation, food, travel, and basic necessities.

I am trying everything, but I cannot manage this last part alone. Asking for help is difficult, but watching Saad lose another year would be far more painful.

Once he begins his studies at 18, he plans to work part-time to support himself, but this initial support is crucial for him to take the first step.

GoFundMe does not support direct withdrawals in Pakistan. For this reason, a trusted family friend abroad has been added as the beneficiary. All funds received will be securely transferred to my bank account to cover Saad's living and education expenses.

If you choose to help, please know you are not just supporting a student. You are supporting a young man who has spent years helping children who had no one. A boy who turned his struggles into compassion. A boy who wants to build a better life not only for himself, but for the hundreds of children he has served.

Thank you for reading our story, for caring, and for giving a father strength when he needs it the most.

From a father who just wants to see his son stand on his own,

Rizwan Us Salam