Help improve the quality of life
In collaboration with Khuwaja Welfare Association, Rifa Badarpura from Houston, Texas, USA, is launching “Taleem,” a book drive project. In the Urdu language, “Taleem,” means awareness. Taleem aims to assist rural villages in the Sindh province of Pakistan to gain access to quality learning.
These books will be distributed in rural villages and will be housed in a school’s mobile library. Khuwaja Welfare association hopes to open the school in Jungshahi, Thatta District, Sindh, Pakistan, in 2022-2023.
Importance of Education
According to UNICEF, Pakistan has the world’s second-highest population of children who are not enrolled in school. Approximately 22.8 million children between the ages of five and sixteen currently do not attend school, representing 47% of the country’s children in this age group. An estimated 5 million children between the ages of five and nine do not attend primary school, and the number of out-of-school children nearly doubles among older children, with 11.4 million adolescents between the ages of ten and fourteen not receiving a formal education. Significant disparities exist based on gender, socioeconomic status, and geography. In Sindh, 52% of the poorest children, including 58% of girls, do not attend school.
This lack of access to formal education places nearly half of the future generation at a significant disadvantage, limiting their ability to improve their own quality of life and that of their families and communities.
According to the 18th Amendment to the Constitution of Pakistan, education is a fundamental right for all children, regardless of their financial circumstances. However, despite this constitutional right, lower- and middle-income families continue to face significant barriers to accessing quality education, while children in rural areas face even greater challenges.
Houston Student Launches “Taleem” Book Drive for Rural Pakistan
Through the “Taleem” Book Drive, Rifa hopes to empower young minds and provide children with greater opportunities to learn and succeed. Limited access to quality education can significantly restrict opportunities for economic advancement and future careers, perpetuating cycles of poverty. By providing books and educational resources to children in rural Pakistan, the initiative aims to help bridge this gap and inspire a lifelong love of learning.
“We want to offer a helping hand to those who need it. Through your support, we can make an impact on the lives of children in rural areas” – Rifa Badarpura.
To contribute, please visit www.kwapakistan.com. Email info@kwapakistan.com for more information.