The Citizen's Foundation

Posted by Denis Stephenson

Najma Shamsi was our speaker today. Her husband was the president of the Rotary of Karachi and a founding member of the Islamabad club. She outlined the activities of THE CITIZENS' FOUNDATION or TCF in Pakistan in setting up schools in poor areas in Pakistan.

Pakistan education is both private and public. The private schools are good but expensive, while public schools are free but with poor standards and inadequate funding. Women's education suffers even more, particularly in the more rural conservative areas.

In 1995 a group of business people decided to provide some quality schools for the poor and set up three schools in slum areas, completely with labs, common rooms, sports facilities. The schools were so successful that much more support was generated and the program now has 445 schools with a goal of 1000 by 2010.

This is no longer just a project but is now a "movement"! All of the schools are Co-Ed and 50 per cent of the enrolment must be female, even in the most conservative areas of Pakistan. 100 per cent of the Principals and teachers are women, which gives more security to the girls. Each school has a specialist in the English language.

It takes $16,000 Canadian a year to support one school and fund raising activities in Canada are now underway - with support now being obtained from International Companies. Magna In't'l was the first.

Only 9 per cent of the funds raised is spent on administration and TCF controls how the money is spent and where, how and the type of structure is built No government input is involved.

PETER WARD thanked our speaker and pointed out that this program shows how a relatively small amount of money spent wisely in a developing country can accomplish so much.