1) The children no longer afraid to dream
2) Looking into the eyes of a better Pakistan
3) Fouzia's story

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.

Proud Grandmother Kundan Karamilahi and her Granddaughters, Samreen Iman Bux and Nazir Ahmad Afsana, both attending FLAME school each day, Neelum Colony, Karachi .

Pictured above: Afsana and Samreen have graduated from FLAME school and
continue to have their further studies supported by FLAME.

The cousins above
are dancing at FLAME's annual function, January 2007, Landhi

Photography and articles: Rosie Pannell, Resource manager, FLAME Karachi,
rosie@allforflame.org