Umar's Once-In-A-Lifetime Educational Opportunity
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Hello! My name is Khadija Rizwan, and I'm a senior in college majoring in biomedical sciences and chemistry. I'm raising funds for my friend and mentee, Umar Habib. Since GoFundMe isn't available in Pakistan, I've created this account to support Umar. Below, you'll find Umar’s story in his own words:
Hello everyone!
My name is Umar Habib and I am a Computer Engineering student from Habib University, Pakistan who has earned a prestigious opportunity to study at University of California at Berkeley, (UC Berkeley) in the summer study abroad program. Habib University has partnered with UC Berkeley to provide deserving students with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to study a semester at America’s top ranked public university, renowned for its cutting edge research and academics.
As the youngest child in my family, I've watched my father work tirelessly at a local private firm to support our family. Now approaching retirement, he earns just enough to keep our household running. Understanding our financial situation from an early age, I've always tried to pursue education through scholarships and financial aid, refusing to let economic constraints limit my dreams. My journey has been marked by consistent academic excellence despite financial challenges - securing 92% in my secondary education through inexpensive schooling, I earned admission to Karachi's top-ranked government institution, Adamjee Science College, where only extraordinary students secure a position. Maintaining my academic trajectory, I achieved 90% in my intermediate studies.
This drive for excellence, coupled with a rigorous selection process, led me to secure admission with a 100% merit scholarship at Habib University, Pakistan's leading liberal arts institution, through their highly competitive HUTOPS program.
Now, I stand at another pivotal moment in my life. I am the ONLY ONE this year to receive 100% SCHOLARSHIP for this summer abroad in Berkeley. However I still need to raise money for my personal expenses over there. The Berkeley opportunity isn't just another academic program - it's a chance that could fundamentally alter the trajectory of not just my life, but also the lives of those around me. While I've secured complete scholarship, I still need to raise another $1500 for my personal expenses to make this dream a reality. Given my family's modest means, this amount, though small by US standards, represents an insurmountable barrier for us without support.
This opportunity at Berkeley isn't just about personal growth - it's about bringing knowledge back to Pakistan. The opportunity to study in the Deep Tech Innovations Lab, would be invaluable for my entrepreneurial goals in Pakistan's IoT sector. Silicon Valley's startup culture and innovation ecosystem will provide invaluable insights that I plan to implement in my country. My goal is to build a wide network and using that network and knowledge, I want to contribute to the IoT industry in Pakistan, which is still in very early stages as compared to the USA. I want to help bridge this technological gap between the developing and developed nations.
Any contribution, big or small, will help turn this educational dream into reality. Your support means the world to me. If you are unable to contribute personally, please consider forwarding this message to individuals who may be able to assist and share it within your network. Your support won't just be helping one student - it will be investing in a chain of positive change that I hope to bring back to my community in Pakistan. Your generosity will help create ripples of change that extend far beyond my time at Berkeley.
Thank you for reading this far!
Sincerely,
Umar Habib
Program Dates:
June 23rd, 2025 – August 15th, 2025
Note: If you are donating in Rupees, you can donate in my Pakistani account:
Pakistani Bank Account Info:
Account Title: Umar Habib
Account Number: 6010220311714160969
IBAN: PK96MPBL0102027140160969
Bank: Habib Metropolitan Bank Limited
Branch: Stargate Branch Karachi
Sadapay account:
Account Title: Umar Habib
Account Number: 03142004895
Organizer
Khadija Rizwan
Organizer
Myers Corner, NY