Educating the Marginalized Child “Changing Lives” Through Education The Cecil and Iris Chaudhry Foundation (CICF) embodies the legacy of a patriot who devoted his life to protecting the geographical and ideological boundaries of Pakistan. Group Captain Cecil Chaudhry, supported by his wife, Iris Chaudhry, envisioned a Pakistan beyond social discrimination, religious extremism and rights violating human dignity. Cecil Chaudhry wanted to return the laurels his country had conferred upon him by empowering the under privileged specifically through education. Worth mentioning is Group Captain Cecil Chaudhry’s wife, Iris Chaudhry, whose perseverance and support encouraged him to continue the rather tedious struggle for a just and equitable Pakistan where the minority was as much visible as the majority. Upholding their cause, their daughter Michelle Chaudhry launched The Cecil and Iris Chaudhry Foundation (CICF), a non-profit, non-government organization primarily established to empower the underprivileged and the religious minority in the country; the religious minorities, Christians in particular being the most marginalized and downtrodden community in Pakistan. The Cecil & Iris Chaudhry Foundation (CICF) strongly believes in the power of Education; thus “Empowerment through Education” is one of the objectives of the Foundation. The only way to bring about a positive change in the plight of the oppressed is to empower and strengthen them through education. The CICF has initiated an ambitious educational program “Educating the Marginalized Child” the program involves setting up tuition centers providing quality coaching to Christian children whose families are barely able to survive on a daily basis. Owing to the flawed education system private coaching, unfortunately, has become a necessity for large number of students in Pakistan. Majority of the parents of these children are not literate to help them with studies at home which, most often than not, results in children either dropping out of school or taking up menial jobs. Providing alternate private tuition classes can be seen as a supplementary solution to normal schooling. After talking to parents (lower income segments) of school going children in various Christian localities, it was observed that a large number of students dropped out of school after reaching grade five, the reason being that the parents, majority of whom belong to extremely low income segments, are unable to afford the costs of private coaching in addition to the school fee. The CICF’s coaching centers will be set up at different Christian populated areas around Lahore; in order to provide private coaching to underprivileged children. These coaching centers will provide private tuitions at extremely nominal rates. The CICF intends to set up a chain of such centers across Punjab. The first Center has been set up at in the Christian dominated impoverished area of Yohanabad Lahore. The Center will ensure that underprivileged children get a good foundation in their studies hence enabling them to excel in their academic careers. In order to reach out to a larger number of students The CICF also intends to select children from poor Christian settlements around Lahore, a selection criterion has been developed to provide schooling to those children whose families cannot afford to send them to school. The Foundation will bear the complete cost of their education till they graduate from school. The education centre is a token of appreciation by Michelle Chaudhry to parents who bestowed her with the power to “change lives”. Those of you who share and support The CICF’s vision of “Educating the Marginalized Child” and wish to contribute towards “Changing Lives” are requested to please contact us at the Foundation to find out how you can play your role in Empowering through Education!! The Cecil & Iris Chaudhry Foundation Lahore Tel: + 92 (0) 42-35031627 Email: [email protected]
Posted on: Sat, 23 Nov 2013 20:52:52 +0000
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