Students not Scavengers; Education not Garbage
Donation protected
The Fazal Foundation provides free education to children belonging to the lowest socio-economic class of Dhok Shera, Rawalpindi, Pakistan. The Fazal Foundation’s students are children born into the circle of poverty. The majority of them, like their parents, are expected to earn money from as young as 2-years-old to help feed their families (which, due to lack of family planning, often comprises of 4 – 6 children alone).
Like their parents, the main employment opportunity for most of these children will be as ‘garbage scavengers’. They will sift through wet and dry open-air garbage and dump sites to collect recyclable material to sell. Although they will do this almost every day, they will barely make enough money for one meal consisting of bread and lentils.
The Fazal Foundation is working to act as the outside intervention needed to break this cycle of poverty. Without this intervention, here is what is expected:
- Males will continue earning money as garbage scavengers their entire life.
- Females will be forced to marry at very young ages (often between 12 and 16 years) and expected to give birth to many children
- Most children will develop various diseases due to poor sanitization, and a general sense of poor hygiene
Currently, the Fazal Foundation has 100 enrolled students between the ages of 2-14. Its staff consists of 7, very underpaid teachers. The foundation provides students transportation to and from their houses to school facilities, education in accordance with the provincial government's approved curriculum (including English) and lunch (consisting of a pack of cookies and milk). There is no playground or space for organized sporting activities. Once a week, female students are provided stitching and sewing classes to improve their employment opportunities. The foundation is currently considering partnerships with local car and bike mechanics to teach the male students basic mechanical skills as well.
All costs are borne solely by the Fazal Foundation (funded by private donations).
The foundation is currently at capacity and is in desperate need of expansion so it can enrol more students, as well as hire and train more teachers.
Crucially, the foundation needs space to hold organized sports to help boost children’s self-esteem, develop teamwork and leadership skills, and to provide them with a natural stress reliever.
To do this, the foundation aims to convert an abandoned neighbouring house into school classrooms. It also aims to level an un-used neighbouring field to organize sporting activities for the children, and eventually also build a playground. The total estimated cost of this expansion is $2,000.
It is the humble goal of this Go Fund Me Page’s organizers to raise enough funds to cover the costs of this expansion.
And so, we humbly ask for you to donate as little as you wish, or as much as your heart desires to support the efforts of the Fazal Foundation in breaking this cycle of poverty.
If you are unable to make a monetary donation, we urge you to consider showing your support by sharing this Go Fund Me page with your network.
If funds are raised in excess of what is required for the expansion, they will be allocated towards the school’s day-to-day activities. Please see a breakdown of the foundation’s current expenditures. There are no typos in these numbers, the foundation operates on an extremely low budget.
- Salaries for 7 teachers: $3,500/year
- Transportation costs (private shuttle pick-and-drop for students): $1,500/year
- Stationery and uniforms: $500/year
- Rent for school premises: $1,900/year
- Food for 100 students (biscuits, milk): $1,500/year
Current yearly expenditure: $8,900. (Please note these costs assume a conversion rate of 1 CAD: 100 PKR).
Closing note: The survived daughters of Nausheen Masud: Maryam, Fatima, and Amna are organizing this fundraiser in honour of their late mother's 47th birthday for the Fazal Foundation – an organization for a cause very close to Nausheen’s heart; education for all. She has left an empty void in the lives (and livelihoods) of many. Although that void is difficult to fill, this fundraiser is the first step.
Like their parents, the main employment opportunity for most of these children will be as ‘garbage scavengers’. They will sift through wet and dry open-air garbage and dump sites to collect recyclable material to sell. Although they will do this almost every day, they will barely make enough money for one meal consisting of bread and lentils.
The Fazal Foundation is working to act as the outside intervention needed to break this cycle of poverty. Without this intervention, here is what is expected:
- Males will continue earning money as garbage scavengers their entire life.
- Females will be forced to marry at very young ages (often between 12 and 16 years) and expected to give birth to many children
- Most children will develop various diseases due to poor sanitization, and a general sense of poor hygiene
Currently, the Fazal Foundation has 100 enrolled students between the ages of 2-14. Its staff consists of 7, very underpaid teachers. The foundation provides students transportation to and from their houses to school facilities, education in accordance with the provincial government's approved curriculum (including English) and lunch (consisting of a pack of cookies and milk). There is no playground or space for organized sporting activities. Once a week, female students are provided stitching and sewing classes to improve their employment opportunities. The foundation is currently considering partnerships with local car and bike mechanics to teach the male students basic mechanical skills as well.
All costs are borne solely by the Fazal Foundation (funded by private donations).
The foundation is currently at capacity and is in desperate need of expansion so it can enrol more students, as well as hire and train more teachers.
Crucially, the foundation needs space to hold organized sports to help boost children’s self-esteem, develop teamwork and leadership skills, and to provide them with a natural stress reliever.
To do this, the foundation aims to convert an abandoned neighbouring house into school classrooms. It also aims to level an un-used neighbouring field to organize sporting activities for the children, and eventually also build a playground. The total estimated cost of this expansion is $2,000.
It is the humble goal of this Go Fund Me Page’s organizers to raise enough funds to cover the costs of this expansion.
And so, we humbly ask for you to donate as little as you wish, or as much as your heart desires to support the efforts of the Fazal Foundation in breaking this cycle of poverty.
If you are unable to make a monetary donation, we urge you to consider showing your support by sharing this Go Fund Me page with your network.
If funds are raised in excess of what is required for the expansion, they will be allocated towards the school’s day-to-day activities. Please see a breakdown of the foundation’s current expenditures. There are no typos in these numbers, the foundation operates on an extremely low budget.
- Salaries for 7 teachers: $3,500/year
- Transportation costs (private shuttle pick-and-drop for students): $1,500/year
- Stationery and uniforms: $500/year
- Rent for school premises: $1,900/year
- Food for 100 students (biscuits, milk): $1,500/year
Current yearly expenditure: $8,900. (Please note these costs assume a conversion rate of 1 CAD: 100 PKR).
Closing note: The survived daughters of Nausheen Masud: Maryam, Fatima, and Amna are organizing this fundraiser in honour of their late mother's 47th birthday for the Fazal Foundation – an organization for a cause very close to Nausheen’s heart; education for all. She has left an empty void in the lives (and livelihoods) of many. Although that void is difficult to fill, this fundraiser is the first step.
Fundraising team (2)
Maryam Masud
Organizer
Toronto, ON
Rahim Khanani
Team member
