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FLAME NEWSLETTER - APRIL- JULY 2006
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Dear Friends, Firstly, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your crucial support and secondly, to inform you of our latest news. Throughout the summer months there were some thrilling developments here at FLAME. This update provides a few details, coupled with a smaller, more personal story, to remind us of the impact FLAME has had on individual’s lives in the communities it works in.
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Final Examinations… Success!
Final exams were held in 60 FLAME schools across Landhi and Baldia. Nearly all the 2500 children passed the exams and moved on to the next class. This generated demand for thousands of new books, our pupils now have them and continue to progress. |
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Shala, having fun with some glitter, FLAME art workshop, May 2006, Baldia |
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Baldia pupils, about to set off home after an afternoon with the doctor, Baldia town. |
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The opening of new schools
As is so often the case, our classrooms soon become filled with children, as news spreads through the slum areas of free, local, schooling.
Two annual day functions held by our schools in Landhi and Baldia Town led to a sudden increase in demand for admission in schools by hundreds of new children. FLAME opened twenty new schools since April. We continue to have over 65% of FLAME students to be girls, most of who had never been to school before or were forced to drop-out due to financial, childcare and travel issues, but always cherished the dream of becoming educated. The current status is 180 schools and approximately 6500 students, as we continue to expand. |
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English and computer lessons for teachers
Lessons for the teachers in Baldia were requested and have been followed up and we are advertising and interviewing teachers in response to this request, we hope to soon provide as many of our teachers as possible with computer and English lessons, so that they can then transfer them to the wider community and the FLAME pupils.
We currently need any unused/old computers to donate to our teachers in order to support their further learning.
Annual Teacher Training
Training of 30 teachers of FLAME schools of Baldia town was conducted by the Behbood resource Centre from the 1 st to the 7 th of June 2006 . 10 teachers in Tando Mohammed Khan received their annual training from the 5 th to the 15 th of June. This was kindly provided by Executive District Officer of Education. Such trainings are essential and provided to teachers annually to maintain high quality teaching. |
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New Website
Plans for a new website are now in their final stages, to promote international awareness and share our news on a wider scale. Work on Flame's website is progressing well and we hope to launch it within the next two weeks. |
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Fundraising: targets and achievements
In Islamabad , Mrs Fatemi has also raised some funds and may soon get a breakthrough with the Belgium embassy, where the Ambassador is very excited to hear that we are running two schools where boys and girls from Madaras are studying.
During the last three months some 20 FLAME schools have been adopted at the rate of £250 per year, by a number of people who had them dedicated to their parents. Plans to link UK schools with FLAME schools and aid the understanding of pupils outside Pakistan with the plight of FLAME are underway. |
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Art Workshops
The children have also been provided with an opportunity to relax and enjoy some creative, art activities as the doctors treat them. This has been a roaring success and plans for further art equipment and art competitions are being developed. |
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Launch of New Mobile Health Unit
As many of our supporters are aware, in addition to free education, FLAME also provides basic healthcare, through its ‘Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds' rural healthcare project, providing free medicines and healthcare to the children of its schools through a ‘Mobile Heath Unit' (MHU). FLAME officially launched the Mobile Health Unit for its 78 schools in Landhi and Baldia Town . Mrs Nasreen Jalil, The Deputy Nazim of Karachi was the chief guest on the occasion.
For just 45 pence per month, or 50 rupees per child, free medical care, every twelve weeks is provided to over 3500 children in 76 flame schools in Karachi and 50 in Islamabad .
Alia, Landhi FLAME pupil, having just seen a doctor coming to check her, she was treated for a cold she has suffered from for over five weeks. |
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Where your donations could take us…
£2.40/RS240 provides one child with free healthcare and medicine for one year.
• Less than £1.00/RS100 will educate a child for a month.
• Adopt a school for £250/RS 25000 per year and dedicate it to your loved ones.
• £20/RS2000 will pay for uniforms for 30 children. (Giving them a feeling of belonging, pride and self-worth.)
• £12.00/RS1200 rupees will pay a local teachers salary for a year.
• £4200/RS420000 rupees will allow us to buy a van and run a third mobile health unit for one year. |
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FLAME Islamabad awarded prizes for best performance of teachers and pupils in the region.
Education for all (EFA) celebrated literacy week from 24 th to 30 th April 06. FLAME participated in the walk which started from China Chowk to the Parliament House where the Minister for Education and the Senior Education Ministry officials were present: at the end of the walk there was a speech given by the Minister who also gave the awards to the teachers. The best teacher award was given to Ms. Nazima Bibi who has been teaching in a FLAME school since 1996. The best student award was given to our FLAME student from the Same School, named Nimra.
FLAME teacher, Asia Bibi, was selected by the EFA as the representative of all the non – formal teachers, the criteria of selection was the best teacher performance, the Qirat was also performed by the one of our FLAME student. 6 teachers from FLAME schools were awarded for the best performance they are:
Ms. Farhat Shsheen-Ms. Farmeeda Bibi-Ms. Fehmida Qureshi-Ms. Sadaf Naz-Ms. Maqsom Bibi-Ms. Rashida Naz |
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British Doctor Marcus Fedder recently made several generous donations to FLAME, and decided to visit some schools on a trip to Karachi . He was taken to see three schools in Landhi, on his return, Dr Fedder was so moved, and he e-mailed us with his impression.
"Most amazing was the enthusiasm of these kids, their open smiles, and their eagerness to answer questions. For them learning is a privilege of which they are astutely aware. They want to become teachers, doctors, cricketers, soldiers themselves and are determined to move on in life. Every development economist stresses the importance of education for boys and girls. Flame is setting a positive example, where the government is leaving a vacuum, actively going into the most impoverished neighbourhoods to teach the poorest children and improve the lives of coming generations. I certainly can and do support the great work of FLAME."
Here at FLAME we would like to thank him for showing such enthusiasm for our work and for his continued support.
It may be noted that neither the chairman, nor any member of the governing council of FLAME are paid any salary or enrolments and that over 81% of all donations go directly to healthcare and education, the remaining 19% to paying local wages and administrative costs. Apart from a one time grant provided by the Japanese Embassy in Islamabad for the purchase of vehicles and office equipment, FLAME has received very little funding and no other financial assistance from any local or foreign government or donor agency. |
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The children no longer afraid to dream
Often the smaller, more personal stories, telling of FLAMES impact on lives get lost in all the hard work as the demand for more schools, vocational training centers and more funds grows each day, it is difficult to record the details.
Mr Alam, FLAME's chairman, has a habit of accosting children in the least likely of places and responding to demands as best he can, whether it be a child selling flowers on the street or a child sweeping the floor. Grandmother Kundan Karam Ilahi and her granddaughter Afsana Nazir Ahmad, were busy sweeping the steps outside his Karachi home. ‘Do you go to school?' ‘No' Afsana replied. ‘We are too poor to afford the fees.' ‘Would you join a school if I opened one?' Mr Alam asked, ‘yes' came the prompt reply. The grandmother added with equal interest ‘I want to send my child to a school, please open one.' Presented with such keenness Mr Alam replied ‘bring me twenty children and I will open a free school.' The next day, the pair had bought together thirty children to the gate of the house. Within days a school was opened in the premises of an existing ‘Defense Housing Authority' school, in the afternoons, in the school playground, when the school lies unused each afternoon. It now has forty five children. All given a fresh start in life and a new identity, sense of self worth and pride. Afsana wants to become a doctor and is finishing three years study in just one year, despite minding her younger siblings when not attending the school; she wants to fill the five year gap. Another child attending the school brings her three year old brother with her when no one can look after him; she is so intent on not missing out.
Afsana studies with dedication to attempt to cover the years of education lost due to poverty, so that she can catch up and achieve her dream of becoming a doctor. She is now sure she will become a doctor, her fate and her hard work will enable her to realize her dream, she told me with a smile. She is elated to be back at school and hates the idea of ever having to sweep steps again, her brother and cousin also study at the FLAME school and another brother is shortly to follow.
Kundan: ‘My fortune has blossomed since this school was opened. I love to see them smile.'
Each child that walks with a little more pride in their steps tells the story of FLAME's success.
On this note, everyone here at FLAME, would like to take this opportunity to thank you once more for your valuable contributions and the interest, without which none of our work would be possible. |
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Proud Grandmother Kundan Karamilahi and her Granddaughters, Samreen Iman Bux and Nazir Ahmad Afsana, both attending FLAME school each day, Neelum Colony, Karachi. |
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We appreciate your generous support and of course cannot thank you enough, yet we need further commitments to maintain and expand our work. To maintain our current level of education and basic healthcare activities and to further expand FLAME urgently needs financial support from all those who believe that providing education and basic healthcare to the underprivileged, vulnerable and deprived children of our country is indispensable for Pakistan's stability, progress and prosperity.
To donate you can mail your cheques to FLAME offices or directly donate to our
Bank accounts: Friends of Literacy and Mass Education, Pak Rupee A/c #000-9962-0300
US$ A/c #000-9962-0351
Pound Sterling ₤ A/c# 000-9962-0352
PICIC Commercial Bank, Zamzama Branch, Karachi . Karachi Office: C-9, Mezzanine Floor, Street 24, Tauheed Commercial Area, Phase V, DHA, Karachi . |
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FLAME pupils attending Neelum colony school, Karachi , raising their hands when asked what they wish to become. The most common response is either ‘Doctor' or Teacher'. |
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FLAME UK News ‘Art Across Waters' Exhibition
FLAME was pleased to see so many of it's supporters attending ‘Art Across Waters', displaying some exquisite pieces of art at the Artisan Gallery in the heart of the City of London. The event attracted loyal friends of FLAME and was a great introduction for those who were less familiar with FLAME's work. It was our pleasure to welcome Dr Khalid Hameed, the High Sheriff of London, as our guest speaker. The High Sheriff was the first Asian to be appointed as Chief Executive of a leading hospital in Europe . Not only has he held many significant roles within the medical world, but he is also Chairman of the Commonwealth Youth Exchange Council and is a trustee of many charities. He carries out a great deal of public speaking on behalf of interfaith harmony. His speech was highly emotive and focused on the importance of education and touched many of the people that were present.
The collection included paintings and sketches by Pakistani masters including Riaz Raffi, Abrar Ahmed, Mashkoor Raza, Mohammed Kazim, Dilawer Mirza, Mansur Aye, Naveed Wazir Ali and Jamshed.
The proceeds raised through the sale of these paintings will go towards the set-up of new schools, Mobile Health Units and community learning projects in Pakistan . |
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To help, please call 0215833948/5361019 or email on:
rosiepannell@allforflame.org
website: www.allforflame.org
With best wishes from everyone here at FLAME Karachi , we look forward to updating you with more news.
Photography and articles: Rosie Pannell, Resource manager, FLAME Karachi, rosie@allforflame.org |
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