<div>Hello! My name is Aamir Iqbal. I am raising funds for my beloved niece in Pakistan, Sarah Khalid as a GoFundMe cannot be started in Pakistan. Below is Sarah's story in her own words:
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<div>Hello everyone!
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<div>My name is Sarah Khalid. I am currently finishing up my sophomore year at <strong>Habib University, Karachi</strong>. I am nervous and excited to share that I have got into <strong>Stanford University's International Honors Program</strong>. Believing in my potential, my university has placed its trust in me by funding<strong> 75% of my summer study at Stanford</strong>. Now, I need your belief and support to help me fund the rest.
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<div>I come from a <strong>very humble background.</strong> I lost my father on the 4th day of Eid-ul-Adha in the year 2023, which was a month after I was awarded a <strong>100% merit scholarship</strong> to the <strong>top Liberal Arts university</strong> in Pakistan, Habib University. This was a devastating shock to me and my family—one that we are still recovering from today. My mother and my two sisters are still navigating this emotionally and financially after <strong>the loss of the sole breadwinner of our family</strong>.
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<div>Although, from a <strong>conservative Pathan household,</strong> My <strong>father always believed in empowering women </strong>and <strong>the importance of education </strong>for girls<strong>.</strong> I vividly remember being in 8th grade when my father was about to undergo open-heart surgery, he told my mother to make sure I didn’t miss my final exam the next morning.
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<div>After his surgery, my family’s financial conditions worsened. In 2018, my father lost all his savings to a stock market fraud. Having no other direct income then, my parents had to make the difficult decision to transfer me to a government school when they could<strong> no longer afford private schooling</strong>. This was especially hard for my family since government schools in Pakistan often lack resources and quality education.
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<div>Though it was heartbreaking, I accepted the decision knowing that education was still a privilege I couldn’t take for granted. I told myself that as long as I could keep learning, <strong>no setback could truly take my future away from me</strong>. Thankfully, my school administration and teachers saw my potential and offered me a scholarship so I could continue my studies. Later, in college, I was granted a full scholarship as well. I worked hard to prove their faith in me right, and I achieved <strong>92%</strong> in my Intermediate exams—<strong>the highest score any student had achieved in the past decade</strong> in my college.
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<div>Now, in university, I was selected as one of the <strong>top 60 students</strong> in a pool of <strong>4500 students</strong> to be offered a <strong>100% merit scholarship</strong>.
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<div>My father never got to see me step into university, but his <strong><em>advice lives with me</em></strong> every day as I pursue the<strong> Computer Science minor </strong>he once encouraged me to do. By going to Stanford and taking more Computer Science courses, I want to bring his advice to<strong><em> </em>life</strong><em> </em>and come back to bring actual<strong> change</strong> for my people in Pakistan.
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<div>Losing my father not only shaped my academic journey but also gave me <strong>a sense of purpose</strong> to <strong>blend technology with social impact</strong>, and my own experiences showed me where to start. After his passing, I had to rely on <strong>public transport </strong>to travel to university due to my family’s financial conditions. I saw many young girls waiting at bus stops, unsure if the bus would even arrive, and I found myself struggling to understand the routes. It became clear to me that something had to change. So, For my first CS course, I built a <strong>Karachi Bus Route Navigator</strong>, a Python-based tool providing real-time bus schedules to <strong>make commuting easier</strong>. More than a project, it was my first step in using technology for real-world impact.
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<div>Now, as I prepare to attend Stanford University’s Summer Session, I want to <strong>expand my skills</strong> and continue developing tech-driven solutions that can make life better for <strong>my people in Pakistan</strong>.
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<div><strong>Financial Situation:</strong>
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<div>Having grown up in a family with limited resources, I understand the true value of money and how <strong><em>rare</em></strong> opportunities like this are for people from backgrounds like mine. My education has only been made possible through scholarships, and though Habib University has recognized my potential with a <strong>75% scholarship</strong> for the Stanford International Honors Program, I still need to raise <strong>$4,900</strong> to cover the remaining costs, including travel, accommodation, and program-related fees.
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<div>This is an amount my family cannot afford, and without external support, this <strong>once-in-a-lifetime </strong>opportunity would remain <strong>out of reach</strong>.
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<div>Link to my <strong>funding/sponsorship proposal </strong>here: <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rAK7dhAUwTBY3tv2P7mLsdUB6NS0HiB8/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rAK7dhAUwTBY3tv2P7mLsdUB6NS0HiB8/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rAK7dhAUwTBY3tv2P7mLsdUB6NS0HiB8/view?usp=sharing</a></a>
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<div>My Journey of becoming an HU Tops Scholar: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwoxqXrU064&amp;t=1s" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwoxqXrU064&amp;t=1s" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwoxqXrU064&amp;t=1s</a></a>
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<div><strong>How to support</strong>:
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<div>So now, I come to you with a hopeful heart to turn this dream into a reality. Every contribution, no matter how small, brings me one step closer to attending Stanford—a dream that, coming from a middle-class family, I once thought was out of reach.
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<li><strong>Donate</strong>: Every dollar helps. Whether it’s a small contribution or a larger one, it will directly go toward covering my program costs, travel, and accommodation.
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<li><strong>Share</strong>: Spread the word. Sharing this opportunity with your network could help me reach those who are able to support or offer resources.
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<li><strong>Corporate Sponsorship</strong>: If you’re connected to organisations that could offer sponsorships or partnerships, connecting me with them would be invaluable (You can contact me by sending a message in the organizer tab).
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<div>I will forever be indebted to you for any generosity you show towards my journey!
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<div>Yours sincerely,
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<div><strong>Sarah Khalid</strong>
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<div><strong>Below is the price breakdown</strong>:
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<div><strong><em>Program Dates: June 21st – August 17th, 2025</em></strong>
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<div><strong><em>Total Estimated Cost: $19,793.00</em></strong>
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<div><strong>Fee Breakdown</strong>:
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<li>I-20 fee: $160.00
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<li>Technology fees: $94.00
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<li>Document fees: $125.00
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<li>Subsidised tuition fee (8 units max): $9,261.00
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<li>Housing fees: $3,272.00
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<li>House dues: $97.00
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<li>Dining (15 meals/week): $1,953.00
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<li>Campus health service fee: $261.00
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<li>Health insurance: $1,905.00
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<li>Mail service fee: $30.00
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<li>Roundtrip airfare (Karachi–US): $1,700.00
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<li>Visa fee: $185.00
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<li>SEVIS fee: $350.00
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<li>Books and supplies: $300.00
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<li>Airport transfer: $100.00
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<li>Personal Expenses: $1000 (As advised by office of global engagement by my University)
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<div><em>Note: Go fund me also charges a transaction fee of 320$ so we need to take that into account as well.</em>
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<div><strong>Pakistan Bank Account Information:</strong>
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<div>MCB Bank Account
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<div>Owner: SARAH KHALID
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<div>Account number: 1505017711009593
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<div>IBAN Number: PK78MUCB1505017711009593
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<div>Sadapay Account:
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<div>Title: Sarah Khalid
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<div>Account number: 03332979458
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Anonymous

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Ghufran Ahmed

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Aneeqa Abid

Shrenik Devasani

Anusha Merchant

Javid Calcatti

Ajmal Niaz

Help Sarah's Stanford Dream come to life!

Help Sarah's Stanford Dream come to life!

Still €2,100 to go. Help us build momentum.