A story of a young boy whose life miraculously took a turn.
Having completed one batch of student our Street-Kids Education Project, we are expanding. We have taken on 90 students from 3 different communities. Here is a success of one student Adeel, Age 15, from Korangi, who completed his study with us and is now part of mainstream education:
Adeel says: Before coming to this school I hated studies. I disliked the idea of going to school. It seemed like a prison to me. I feel I disliked school because I was beaten there, talked down to and never given a chance to speak. I also felt I was passing time, being miserable and did not feel I was learning anything. One day my brother told me about Greenhouse Education Centre and told me to join. I became angry at him. I thought how dare he suggest I go to such a place where I become miserable. I remember shouting back at him and using abusive language.
Today I thank him. Why do I thank him? Because my life was purposeless before. I was going nowhere. There was no future. I had many bad friends and they encouraged me to eat Supari, Gutka and smoke cigarettes. I developed bad habits. I used bad language and bullying others was my favourite pastime. I stayed out into the early hours of the morning and slept through the day. I was aimlessly passing my time.
My parents were very upset but I seemed to care for nobody. I even took to shouting at my mother and behaved aggressively towards anyone who opposed me.
After joining this school, my life changed. Teachers listened to me. They spoke respectfully to me. They believed in me and expected more from me than I expected from myself. Here I was helped by teachers to handle my personal problems. My personal tutor treated me as a friend would. I could share my feelings and my mistakes. When the first time I shared my mistake of eating Gutka with a teacher, she listened and made me understand politely the consequences and gave me a choice.
Unlike before, I had no fear with these teachers. I asked help from them on personal and school matters. I started believing in myself. I realised I was going to make something out of my life.
“When I joined this centre, I could not read or write in Urdu. Learning the English language seemed like an impossible target. I worked through the 2 years, attended school regularly and did my homework.
Today I am happy to tell you I can read lengthy stories in both English and Urdu. I am good in Mathematics and can confidently solve questions in long multiplication, long division, draw and interpret graphs, work with fractions and decimals and convert measurements of length, volume and weight. Now I help my elder brother in his shop to manage his shop accounts.”
Education should enable a person to reach their full potential in life, doing the things that benefit them and society at large. Education should produce an individual who can think for themselves and have basic skills. An educated person should be able to judge consequences and assess situations in life and see their effects on self and others.
Is every child important?
Adeel’s achievement is not only his achievement but the achievement of all those who support us in getting the work done. I would like you to become part of our team in bringing colour and hope to the lives of these teenagers.
Sponsor the education of these kids and let us walk responsibly with them into a bright future.
Thank you for your interest, prayers, good wishes and support. Please do contact us to sponsor the education of a child.
We also need support to buy a school building so we can educate many more street-kids who deserve a quality education.
Will you help? With Ramadan coming, open your heart and let us together bring light where nothing but darkness exists.
May Allah bless all your intentions and efforts in ways you dream about. A life well-lived is a life that helped those most in need.
Thank you for your interest, prayers, good wishes and support.