TCF’s community-based initiatives are breaking barriers and uplifting communities
With over 26 million children in Pakistan out of school, the country is facing a pressing educational crisis. While challenges preventing education persist, The Citizens Foundation (TCF) is paving the way for the country’s youth to receive a quality education.
The non-profit organization, TCF-USA has played a pivotal role in supporting TCF’s mission to provide education in Pakistan by mobilizing funds and raising awareness of its work.
How TCF Began
TCF originated in 1995 in Pakistan. What was once simply a passion project amongst friends who wanted to promote positive social change through education has become a massively recognized project. Thirty years later, with over 2,000 schools, it is now one of the world’s largest networks of independently run schools.
TCF Holistic Approach to Education
TCF-USA employs a holistic approach to education, integrating global best practices with local community needs. Its programs extend beyond traditional education, incorporating adult literacy classes, vocational training, and essential infrastructure projects such as solar and water access initiatives.
Some of the obstacles that TCF encounters are poverty, gender bias, lack of parental approval, and poor infrastructure. Systemic issues, including lack of water access and electricity, severely impact children’s learning ability. In addition, about 40% of the Pakistani population is experiencing extreme poverty, which is an additional barrier to education.
Salman Hasan, the CEO of TCF-USA, says, “Education is the cornerstone of progress, and by investing in the youth, we are investing in the future of Pakistan.” The goals of TCF-USA go beyond education, transforming communities and individuals’ lives.
TCF follows a specific curriculum to ensure every child has access to high-quality education. TCF sees education as a fundamental right rather than a privilege. “Our purpose-built, state-of-the-art schools make education accessible to all, regardless of socio-economic background or gender. We are breaking down barriers and creating a more equitable society,” he says.
Uplifting Communities Through Accessibility
By maintaining a 50% female enrollment in its schools, TCF focuses on gender equality, one of the main issues barring children, particularly girls, in Pakistan from obtaining an education. “In many communities, cultural norms and economic pressures often impede girls’ access to education. TCF has an all-female faculty to offset common cultural objections and create an environment where every girl can get an education.” Hasan emphasizes.
The program also focuses on community-specific needs by involving local families and leaders. Community engagement drives buy-ins so that the innovations are sustainable and suitable for each community’s needs.
In addition to providing education to children, programs like adult literacy and vocational skills have increased financial literacy and knowledge among adults in the area. TCF aims to uplift the entire community, no matter the age.
Schools focus on the formative years for children, emphasizing the native language of the area in the early years followed by multilingual instruction to promote better learning outcomes. Additionally, TCF uses technology to increase educational impact and equip students with technological knowledge for the future. “By embracing digital tools and platforms, we teach children how to compete in the global tech world,” Hasan remarks.
The Impact of TCF
Kainat Ansari, a former student of the TCF program, grew up in a low-income community in Orangi Town in Karachi. She has since studied at Whitman College in Washington State and Oxford University in the UK – exemplifying the transformative power of TCF’s programs.
TCF-USA is committed to empowering the next generation of leaders and changemakers like Kainat, and hopes to uplift entire communities through its programs in Pakistan.
Hasan concludes, “With every child we educate, we are one step closer to realizing our vision of a better tomorrow.”
To learn more about TCF-USA’s work in educating Pakistani youth, please visit:https://bit.ly/tcfusahomepage
