About us
Our Vision
We work in the following fields
We celebrate diversity, inclusion, respect and social emotional growth. Our approach is a student centric one, pacing learning to follow each students’ needs and abilities. Our students come from diverse backgrounds, ethnicities, traditions, religions and abilities. We celebrate diversity, inclusion, respect and social emotional growth. Our approach is a student centric one, pacing learning to follow each students’ needs and abilities. Our vision is to transform what is possible for students and communities who otherwise do not have access to education or the freedom to grow as children.
Holistic Education
Health, WASH hygiene
Social Mobilization
Job Opportunities
Dignity and Confidence
Vocational Training
Importance of sports, Art & Crafts
Awareness about Clean & Save environment
Awareness on Sexual Abuse, Drugs
Skill Development
Awareness On Sexual Abuse, Drugs
Social Mobilization
Health, Wash Hygiene
Clean & Save Environment
Fundraising
Holistic Education
Sports, Art & Crafts
Swing Classes
Vocational Training
OUR APPROACH
Who We Impact:
• Child laborers (washing cars, collecting garbage etc.)
• Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)
• IDP’s Children
• Refugees
OUR MISSION
Founded in 2009, Mashal Model School is a nonprofit organization under section 45-C of Charities Act. Mashal is a Registered Trust with the Government of Pakistan. Currently Mashal has two school branches with 870 enrolled students, and two vocational training centers. Too many children in Pakistan do not have access to education and too many children are forced to labor on the streets from a young age to put food on the table. In the urban slum area of Bari Imam, thousands of children are Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) with no state ID living below the poverty line. Circumstantially, they wash cars and pick garbage from the street. Mashal was first founded in Bari Imam with the aim of providing holistic education and vocational skills to children and teenagers, helping them gain access to mainstream schooling and building a better life for themselves and their communities.
Our Impact
870 students are presently enrolled with 3870 students have been mainstreamed since 2009 to date. 860 children have passed the matriculation exam from Mashal to date. 2,923 community members, mostly disadvantaged women, have received skills-based training in the domains/professions above. Most of these trainees are now economically self-reliant. 97% passing result for Annual Result 2017-18. (Behavioral change in the community inclination towards early childhood education.352 women from the community were trained and employed. COVID 19 relief assistance has been provided to 800 households in the community and SOP’S trainings Masks, soaps and sanitizers have been provided to the all students and their families.Food packages during 2019 to 2021 have been distributed among 1200 families during these hard times.
Impact on children
Mashal school inaugurated with mere 20 students, but within a year the number swelled to over 90. Mothers brought their children and would not leave until their child was enrolled. As early as 2012 enrollment stands at over 400, with 70% of children being first-timers. The school has been able to build a community of those children, who would otherwise be left without education. Initially, they showed disorderly conduct and would resort to violence to solve any problems without any consideration for one another – based on street ethic “every man for himself”. Time and guidance at school has made them obedient, and willing to share. They have become attentive, with their learning and social skills advancing by the day. They have learned the basic principle of hygiene; they are more aware than ever of their surroundings, and of matters such as sexual abuse, as well as substance abuse.
Approach to Education
Impact on the community
The children enrolled in Mashal Model School belong to different ethnic backgrounds, including local Pathans, Pujabi, Kashmiris, Baltis, and those from Afghani origins the school has involved a variety of cultural backgrounds. An atmosphere of community integration is being instilled among the people of Bari Imam, as the school has given them a platform for unity and cooperation. There is a general awareness among the entire community of the idea of revolution being brought about by the school, and more and more people are giving in to a positive change. Those who previously used to snub these children as they washed cars or picked garbage, now treat them as citizens. The school has also created job opportunities for girls with in the community. We have female teachers they are ambassadors of goodwill for the school, and a stable support for the children they deal with.
Message from Zeba Husain - Founder & Director
We have a holistic view to educating the out-of-school-children, children of refugees and internally displaced persons (IDP’s) and street children in urban slum areas.Respect and dignity are the core values of our work. This is achieved by respecting the present developmental stage of each child and planning activities to ensure the child’s successful experience. The ability to individualize involves knowledge about the health, physical and emotional growth, social interactions, cognition, strength and weaknesses. This in return gives rise to competence and self-esteem which enables them to face challenges of life at every stage of their lives and become responsible human beings and democratic citizens of Pakistan.
- First generation to get education, parents laborers, fruit sellers, garbage collectors.
- Celebrating diversity, school landscape comprising of students from varying background; ethnicities, experiences, skill levels, languages, faiths
- IDPs, Khyber Pakhtun Khua, Sindh, Swat, Gilgit/ Baltistan Afghan, Pathan, Punjabi, Christian