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In 2009, my mother, Zeba Husain, started a school in the urban slum area of Bari Imam, in Islamabad, Pakistan. She started with 5 students and a small room. Since then, Mashal Model School has grown into a haven for the community, with 700 students.
These children are among the most vulnerable in our community — the children of laborers, domestic workers, and refugees who cannot afford school fees or even daily meals. At Mashal, they find not only free education, books, and meals, but also a place where they are seen, nurtured, and given tools to break cycles of poverty.
Mashal is more than a school. It is:
- Multi-age classrooms where children who missed early schooling learn side-by-side, catching up and supporting one another.
- Access to education for girls, in a community where many would otherwise be kept home. At Mashal, girls learn, lead, and imagine futures their mothers were denied.
- Vocational training programs in tailoring, IT, and other trades — giving older students and parents practical skills to earn a livelihood.
- Holistic education that teaches the community about women's health, protecting from sexual and drug abuse on the streets, and taking care of emotional well-being.
- A space where kids can be kids. Where they can grow in their confidence and self-esteem, and learn to respect one another and themselves.
A track record of success: Mashal students have gone on to pass national exams, win scholarships, and pursue higher education. Graduates return as mentors, showing current students what’s possible.
But today, Mashal School is at risk of shutting down.
Without emergency funding, the school will be forced to close our doors by the end of this year. That would mean 700 children — including hundreds of girls — losing their chance at education, safety, and hope.
Why We Need Your Help
Running Mashal costs money: teachers’ salaries, books, uniforms, daily meals, and the training programs that prepare students for life beyond school. For years, my mother and her small team have stretched every rupee, relying on donations and volunteers to keep going. But rising costs and reduced funding mean we’re at a breaking point.
I am trying to raise $10,000 to cover Mashal’s basic operating costs and keep doors open through this critical year, while they try and acquire sustainable funding.
How Your Gift Helps
$25 → Provides books and supplies for 5 children.
$50 → Covers a month of meals for a classroom.
$100 → Supports a teacher’s salary for a week.
$500 → Sponsors a whole classroom for a month, including meals and materials.
Every dollar goes directly to keeping Mashal’s doors open and supporting our students.
Why Mashal Matters
Here are just a few stories of impact:
A teenage girl who once worked as a domestic helper is now preparing for college entrance exams, thanks to Mashal’s flexible multi-age classrooms.
A boy who had never been to school is now the first in his family to read and write, proudly teaching his younger siblings at home.
Through Mashal’s vocational training, mothers have learned tailoring skills and now earn income to support their families.
As one Mashal student put it:
“This school gave me more than an education. It gave me the belief that my life could be different.”