Dear Friends, 

• Through this letter we would like to update you about the activities of FLAME since our last newsletter.
• We would like to thank for your generous and continuous support to FLAME. FLAME continuous to promote literacy among some 6500 poorest of poor children studying in over 180 FLAME schools in different parts of Pakistan.
• FLAME is continuously providing literacy through its 90 schools in Karachi and 35 schools in Islamabad.

Ambassador Mansoor Alam, Chairman, FLAME visited Islamabad from 03 to 10 April 2008 to personally examine the smooth functioning of FLAME’s schools in Islamabad. He made a presentation to the Joint Committee of EAD and Italian Embassy officials. During his stay in Islamabad he also met Secretary EAD, Director General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Italian Ambassador and briefed them about FLAME as they were not present during the presentation.

FLAME's team consisting of Sikandar Ali Talpur, Manager Projects, Office Assistant Zohaib Khan visited Khuzdar and visited five FLAME Schools in Khuzdar. The areas of deficiencies were identified. Arrangements are underway to open 10 more schools.

As you know FLAME also provides basic healthcare to over 2500 children of its 90 schools in Karachi.  For this purpose, ten lady doctors are sent to 10 different schools every week in a  Suzuki van which has become old and rather uncomfortable for long journeys to Bhains Colony, Landhi and Baldia Town.  Therefore, we urgently need a new 8-10 seater van to be used as Mobile Health Unit preferably a Suzuki SUV or a Toyota to take these doctors to these schools every week.  (Estimated cost of a SUV Suzuki van is one million).

FLAME needs text books for approximately 4500 children of its Karachi schools alone.  Every child requires a set of five text books  which costs about Rs. 200 per set.  We need over Rs. 900,000 every year to provide them these text books.  Any help in cash or kind will greatly assist FLAME in achieving its aim of educating the poorest of poor girls and boys.

Donation of a sum of Rs. 10,000 to arrange a picnic of about 80 students, teachers and other staff of two FLAME schools.  This will meet the cost of hiring a bus  for one day and provision of some snacks to the children. Any other expenditure over and above Rs. 10,000 will be met by FLAME from its own resources. FLAME has 90 schools in Karachi,  and would require Rs. 4,50,000 to arrange picnics of children of various schools on different days/weekends.

FLAME schools can also be adopted at a cost of Rs. 35000 per year.   The school can be dedicated to the memory of a family member of the donor and a suitable plaque  fixed on a visible place of the school.

Yours sincerely,

Amb (R)  Mansoor Alam
Chairman, FLAME