I Can't Read --- So They Can

Please spare two mins to read this. It might help change someone’s life.

Did you know that worldwide there are 775 million people who can’t read - primarily because of the millions of children who do not get to attend school? Pakistan is home to the second largest population of school-going children (22 million) who aren’t at school.

The cause of education has been close to my heart for many years. I have written about how education has transformed my life. But my perspective has been that of an outside looking in. To fix that, even if for a day, I have accepted the challenge to walk in the shoes of an uneducated person.

On Saturday, June 9th, in pursuit of bringing literacy to the underprivileged children of Pakistan, I have pledged to spend the day without the ability to read or write (no texts, books, email, WhatsApp, Facebook/Twitter, Google Maps). I know it will be hard enough for one day but it will give me, and my other volunteers, a taste of what a blessing the ability to read is, and how difficult life can be without that ability.

I have accepted this challenge in a bid to raise funds, with the support of friends like you, to dedicate a school (thru The Citizen’s Foundation: more below) in the memory of my elder sister who had passed away a few years back. My personal target for this year is a minimum of 15,000 CAD.

Here's where you come in. I am asking you to (1) sponsor me, i.e., donate (details below) preferably for a minimum of CAD200, the cost of educating a child for a year, and (2) if you are up to it, accept the challenge and join us (click the join team link on the right). Please click here to visit my personal page where you can sponsor (the donate button on the right) or join me in this challenge (join team button on the right). NB: Please see the note below if you are donating from outside North America.

So how will the money be used? I am glad you asked.

The money we raise goes directly to The Citizen's Foundation (TCF). Established in 1995, TCF is a globally recognized leader in formal education having established +1,482 purpose-built school units with a current enrolment over ~220,000 students. Graduates from these schools study at some of the best universities in Pakistan and abroad. The organization has consistently managed overhead expenses to a mere 9.8% and has received numerous international awards including the Schwab Foundation’s Social Entrepreneurship Award, the Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship, the International WISE Award, and the Ramon Magsaysay Award (Asia’s Nobel Prize).

Interested in learning more? Click here to watch a short video titled The Citizens Foundation: Quality Education for Pakistan's Less Privileged, or click here to see a presentation on TCF.

Finally, please help by sharing this message with your friends and colleagues. Every dollar of support counts.

Educating a child for one year - 200 CAD;

Saving someone from a life of hopelessness - priceless!

Rizwan

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Donating from outside North America? Please donate at https://www.tcfcanada.org/donate/ and send me the receipt. TCF will help ensure the donation counts towards this school campaign.