TCF transforming lives through education

DUBAI: The Citizens Foundation (TCF), a Pakistani non-profit organisation educating the less-privileged, held its Annual Supporters Conference and Dinner to thank its well-wishers in the UAE and to update them on the Foundation’s progress.

The Conference took place at the Swissotel Al Murooj Dubai Hotel and brought together over 600 guests from the UAE community. The attendees

comprised a diverse group of individuals, including education advocates and supporters from the UAE community, and were welcomed by TCF’s founding directors.

TCF established its first international chapter in UAE in 2004 and is registered with the International Humanitarian City in Dubai. In UAE, TCF has a vibrant community of supporters and donors who have built more than 80 schools and are currently supporting more than 130 TCF school units.

Pakistan is the world’s sixth largest populous country and has the second-highest number of out-of-school children in the world. Out-of-school-children in Pakistan often face deep-rooted structural inequalities that are most often linked to gender biases, poverty and lack of access to quality schools.

Founded almost three decades ago, The Citizens Foundation remains steadfast in its mission to address education crisis in Pakistan.

As the organisation commemorates 29 years of impact, TCF Founder and Chairman Ahsan Saleem expresses his unwavering commitment to this cause: “To truly tackle a problem, you have to address it right at the source. At TCF, we’re firm believers that the first step towards making a real difference starts with education. Throughout our journey, we’ve seen firsthand how our alumni are leading the way in bringing positive change to their communities. It’s a testament to the incredible impact of education.”

Today TCF is operating 1,921 school units in over 750 locations in Pakistan where children were previously out-of-school. The Economist has called TCF “perhaps the largest network of independently run schools in the world.” The Foundation is the largest private employer of women in Pakistan with 14,000 female teachers and principals. The Citizens Foundation has an enrolment of 286,000 deserving students.

Riaz Kamlani, an Executive Vice President at TCF, emphasises the organisation’s holistic approach to education: “Schools should be vibrant spaces where children not only learn but also find joy in their education. At TCF, we’ve crafted an educational model that prioritises this joy of learning. Rooted in best practices, TCF’s education model enhances enrollment, removes obstacles to education, empowers school leaders, and equips students with essential 21st-century skills.”

With 174,000 learners enrolled in its Aagahi adult literacy programme, TCF continues to expand its reach and impact, empowering women in the community by providing functional literacy, so that they can comprehend receipts, bills, bus travel schedules etc. Topics on health, hygiene and

sanitation are included to increase awareness among the learners. Financial literacy modules encourage financial inclusion. As of this year, TCF has successfully reached 174,000 learners through the programme.

The conference featured TCF Alumni who exemplify the transformative power of education. Areej Sultana, a TCF alumna, is a graduate of Foundation for Advancement of Science and Technology (FAST) University in Pakistan with a degree in Computer Science. She defied gender stereotypes and familial expectations to become the breadwinner of her family. Growing up with four sisters and one brother, Areej’s dedication to her studies paved the way for her success, inspiring her siblings and challenging societal norms. Today, she is supporting her family and championing the importance of education.

Another alumnus, Usama Khan, embodies resilience and determination in the face of adversity. He talked about how his family struggled when his father was ill. “My mother began making samosas (fried savoury) which I used to sell to make ends meet. Those were some tough times when we struggled to pay our bills. Yet, I was able to continue my education because of TCF. And that’s what made all the difference. Today, I have graduated, and I am giving my family a quality life. Education has completely changed my life.”

Raised in a family where formal education was a luxury, Usama’s journey with TCF began in Grade 7. Despite financial hardships, he excelled academically with the support of dedicated teachers and the nurturing environment of TCF schools. Usama went on to pursue a degree in Computer Sciences, also from FAST, and is now a Management Trainee Officer at Karachi Electric Company, demonstrating the transformative impact of education on individual lives and communities.

TCF is constantly evolving its education programmes to provide children a 21^st century learning. To this purpose, TCF is introducing a new cutting-edge Computer Science curriculum, replacing computers with tablets in the labs, and implementing blended learning in the classrooms to develop digital literacy skills that are essential for today’s job market.

Through new initiatives like these and the strengthening of its core programme, TCF is aiming to reach 2 million Agents of Positive Change by the year 2030.