Daily Times

Ralph Waldo Emerson said: “Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail”

Our generation grew up listening to famous, heart warming national songs and heroic stories of the inspiring leaders of Pakistan’s freedom movement. The vigour and determination of the first generation Pakistanis still shine through our history. Having such motivating stories about our past, we tend to ponder in despair about our third and fourth generation Pakistanis. Being an optimist, I have strong faith that there are countless gems of hope and positivity spread around us, and we need to share these rays of hope more in media. Due to increased pessimism and negativity, our young generation is increasingly falling victim to frustration, anxiety and depression. We, as a society, need to spread positivity, and discover the optimistic side of Pakistan. In the coming days, I plan to share a few inspiring stories of the real Pakistan.

Education is among the most important factors contributing to a country’sdevelopment. Nelson Mandela rightly said that education is the most powerful weapon that can change the world. Today, I will share an inspiring story of an NGO illuminatingthe rural areas of Pakistan with the light of education. It is the Ghazali Education Trust.

Almost a decade ago, I remember meeting a group of gentlemen from the Ghazali Education Trust; they had come to discuss the importance and possibilities of teacher training in inclusive education. It was a pleasant surprise to see a mainstream education organisation stepping up to open their doors for diversity. It proved to be a series of pleasant and heart warming surprises, which gradually unfolded in the subsequent years.

With the help of philanthropists, GET has developed a low cost, diversity friendly and culture sensitive schooling network

The Ghazali Education Trust (GET) is doing the amazing work of educating a new generation of rural Pakistan. Having 670 schools across Pakistan, they are educating nearly one hundred thousand students from underprivileged areas. They are also providing education to orphans, minorities and students with special needs. Having started with one-teacher one-school model, they have upscaled their school network across Pakistan. With the help of philanthropists, GET has developed a low cost, diversity friendly and culture sensitive schooling network, which facilitates all underprivileged segments of society.

For almost one decade, I have been able to interact with, train and visit hundreds of teachers of GET. I must acknowledge that apart from extending quality education to deprived areas of Pakistan, GET schools have also played an important role in women empowerment. I remember teachers from different schools sorting permission to be accompanied by males from their family during teacher training because they could not travel without a ‘mahram’. As a female I was more than inspired to know that an organisation had given confidence and employment to these female teachers, coming from such conservative areas.

A GET school is not only a hub for education; it is also a source of guidance, medical assistance and motivation. I remember setting up a camp in a GET school in a village of Faisalabad. People from four surrounding villages had gathered there for free checkup of their children with special needs by a team of experts. Most of the parents were illiterate and poverty stricken. For them, a headmaster was a wise man who always guided and supported them. I still remember a mother with her two young sons who had cataract in their eyes. The poor woman had no idea that the government hospital in the nearby city could provide free medical services, and her sons could possibly be able to see again. Thanks to GET school, she got access to a team of experts and received required help.

Another aspiring feature of GET is its rural inclusive education programme. Many models of inclusion have been developed in different parts of the world. I can confidently say that considering the socio-cultural and economic realities of Pakistan, GET is evolving a genuine indigenous model suitable for rural Pakistan. We do not have special schools in every village or town, so an inclusive school of GET serves both as a special education provider through a separate class in a mainstream school and as an inclusive school by welcoming and facilitating diversity in their classrooms.

Ralph Waldo Emerson said: “Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” Leaders are the one who envision, aspire and take the lead. Today’s story will be incomplete without acknowledging the dedicated, hard work of Syed Aamir Mahmood Jaffery, Executive Director, GET. Having met him almost a decade ago, I have always been amazed by his enthusiasm and commitment to the cause. This amazement turned into inspiration when after his angioplasty we met in a meeting and I asked about his health, He replied, “This episode of a health issue has reminded me that life is too short, and we have to work more extensively to extend educational services to as much children of Pakistan as possible”. Best of luck Amir bhai, and the entire team of GET, keep going and keep making Pakistan proud.

The writer is a Director Programs & Projects at Rising Sun Education & Welfare Society