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Education Support to Zeinab Hijazi, Lebanon
2010-02-06
Project Achievements and Realized Progress. Like thousands of employees all over the world, 53-year-old Afif Hijazi returns home from work every night to have dinner with his family. A typical family dinner contains of some lentil soup – the lentils having been given to the family by a friend - , some boiled eggs and baked potatoes. Meat is a rare delicacy on the family table.
500 GBP ~ Enabled Eighteen Orphaned Students to Continue Their Studies. LFT Donors, More orphaned students will need your help in 2010.
2010-01-17
IRAC strongly encourages school attendance of the orphans sponsored and supported by LFT and IRAC’s joint orphan sponsorship program. In some cases, families are too poor to afford even minor educational expenses. Older orphans, who pursue higher degrees, have to pay tuition fees that many fathers would find hard to afford. To enable these orphans to continue their education, LFT and IRAC set up a small educational fund. In 2009, eighteen students benefited.
Construction of an Additional Floor Comprising Six Classrooms Imam Mehdi (as) School for Iraqi Refugee Students Fourth Progress Report
2010-01-09
On 2 September 2009, IRAC appealed to LFT and its generous donors to fund the construction of a second floor, comprising six additional classrooms, for Imam Mehdi (as) School for Iraqi refugee students in Jamkaran, near Qum, Iran. Construction work began on 24 August 2009. Accomplishments until 6 January 2010 are as follows: • Construction of six classrooms (skeleton, walls and roof) • Tiling of floors • Plaster work on walls • Tiling a 25 cm high strip around the bottom of all walls with ceramic tiles according to Iranian standard requirements for schools. • Installation of electric cables • Installation of window panes • Construction of three roof windows to improve lighting of the building. Initially, only one roof window was planned. • Tiling and equipment of an upstairs bathroom for the teaching staff
Education Support to Rayan Ammar, Lebanon Dear LFT donors: Please, assist Rayan Ammar, his family and his community to build a better future for themselves.
2010-01-03
Project Achievements and Realized Progress. Mohammad Ammar was not only a capable and successful chemical engineer; he also was a man who had big dreams and a big heart. When he married 16-year-old Kifah in 1980, he encouraged his young bride to continue her education and obtain a university degree, something very unusual for a married woman, however young, at the time. For most of his married life, he worked abroad. During this time, he had three sons, Ali, Ahmed and Rayan. In 2000, he returned home. Together with his brothers, he established a factory that produced medical and commercial mattresses, an innovative and hence very promising business in Lebanon at the time.
Education Support to Sayed Hussein F Hashem, Lebanon
2010-01-01
Lebanese society has developed significantly in less than 30 years. Many middle-aged people have not received the education that would enable them to cope in the fiercely competitive Lebanon of today. Most of them realize that it is too late to change things for themselves, and that they have just to carry on with their lives and try to manage best as they can. However, all of them also realize that they have to struggle to provide their children with the only tool that will offer them a fair chance in life: A decent education. One of them is Seyyed Fawzi Hassan Hashem, of Kfar Joz, Nabatiyeh, South Lebanon. Seyyed Fawzi is 40 years old and a baker, providing fresh tasty bread to the families of his village every day. While owning a bakery provided a fairly secure existence in the past, and Fawzi’s father probably imagined that he provided well for his son, due to the rising cost of living and especially of education, Fawzi’s bakery no longer provides the income he needs to cover the essential needs of his family of five.
Education Support Success story – Giving a Future to Fatimah Abd El Hadi Chouman - Nabatieh, South Lebanon
2009-12-31
Project Achievements and Realized Progress. Fatimah Chouman lost her father when she was four years old. She was the youngest child of a family of four that was left behind after the death of Abd al-Hadi Chouman: Abd al-Hadi’s wife Khadijah, then 30, and her three daughters: Nadine (then 10), Hamda (then 5) and Fatimah. Despite the anguish, poverty and sense of loss she endured during her childhood, Fatimah has come a long way: Today, she is studying to become a computer technician and working part-time in order to pay for her tuition. Until recently, she was looking forward to her graduation that is only a year away. However, it seemed that the disaster of her childhood has finally caught up with her: Fatimah’s mother Khadijah, who had worked as an agricultural labourer for many years to provide for her girls and put them through school to honour the wish of her late husband and realize her own hopes for a better future for her girls, has recently been diagnosed with a severe chronic disease.
GBP 5.85 per month (average) will meet Education fee, Travelling, Uniform, and Stationery for 68 students wishing to complete and or start education at University, Secondary or Primary School
2009-12-20
Dera Ismail Khan or DI Khan (as very commonly referred to) was founded towards the end of the fifteenth century by Ismail Khan, a son of the Baloch adventurer Malik Sohrab. The original town was swept away by a flood in 1823, and the present town stands four ... Tank was the oldest tehsil of Dera Ismail Khan district and it was given district status on July 1, 1992, with a view to develop it. Two major tribes – Bhittani and Mehsud – live in Tank district, along with the Kundi, Gandapur and Jaat tribes. The city has telephone, telegraph, and internet facilities- although telegraph has recently been abandoned in line with the government policy of transitioning away from telegraph communications throughout the country
Education Support to Brother Hassan Saleh, Lebanon
2009-12-18
Hassan Saleh wants to be a mechanical engineer since he received an engineering toy for his fifth birthday from his father. He is the eldest son of 57- year-old Abdul Mounem Saleh, who runs a grocery shop in one of the poor villages in South Lebanon. Three younger siblings are still at school.
Educational Support for Iraqi Refugee Students Studying in Iran-Zamin School for Iraqi Refugee Children
2009-11-29
In October 2009, IRAC appealed for support with school fees for 71 Iraqi refugee students who study in Iran-Zamin School in Dowlat-Abad – Tehran. After LFT’s positive reply, IRAC called on the students’ parents to apply for registering in the program and submit related documentation. To date, a total of 65 students have registered in the program. The table below shows the number of students from each phase of schooling who registered in the program:
Construction of an Additional Floor Comprising Six Classrooms for Imam Mehdi (as) School for Iraqi Refugee Students
2009-11-18
On 2 September 2009, IRAC appealed to LFT and its generous donors to fund the construction of a second floor, comprising six additional classrooms, for Imam Mehdi (as) School for Iraqi refugee students in Jamkaran, near Qum, Iran. The school’s students, all Iraqi refugees and most of them refugees who arrived after 2003, are until now studying in cramped quarters. Half the classrooms are located in the basement and are dark and airless. All students come from very poor families and their home situation is frequently depressing. Spacey, well-aired and well-lit classrooms will elevate their morals. Children who are comfortable, happy and hopeful for the future study with greater concentration and achieve better grades.
Fourth Phase of supporting 12 students complete their higher education. (Total students supported so far 32)
2009-10-26
Lady Fatemah Trust (LFT) is seeking financial support for a batch of nine students across Pakistan, identified by us as offering the promise of future success. According to MICT, our partner in Pakistan, seven of these students include those already enrolled in different tiers of higher education institutions while the remaining two students are in high school prepping for college education. Our latest appeal follows our previous requests in the past year as we have sought to build up support for students in distress across Pakistan. Just as for our previous appeals, MICT has carried out a detailed scrutiny on the ground, confirming the circumstances surrounding each students mentioned in this appeal.
Educational Support for 71 Iraqi Refugee Students Studying in Iran-Zamin School for Iraqi Refugee Children ~ LFT Donors It costs only 15 GBP per month
2009-10-19
In the 2008-2009 academic year, LFT and IRAC jointly supported 79 newly arrived Iraqi refugee students with part of their school fee at Iran-Zamin school in Dowlat-Abad, Tehran. In many parts of Iran, security has still not returned and families do not feel that it is safe enough to return to their former place of residence. Families who have lost their fathers to terrorist attacks and are now headed by the mother have especially grave security concerns. The same is the case for families whose male breadwinners are disabled or chronically ill. Women-headed families who have close relatives in Iran prefer to remain close to them. Some of the families are so traumatized that they cannot imagine that they will live in their homeland again. Ali, Ameneh, Mohammad and Robab Ibrahim Razzouqi, 7 to 15 years old, for example witnessed how terrorists shot into their house and then received death threats from the terrorists over the phone.
LFT-IRAC Joint Project: Skills Training Centre for Refugees in Qum LFT Donors ONLY GBP 52.00 per person per annum
2009-10-18
In April and May 2009, IRAC received funding from LFT to establish a skills training centre for refugees residing in the holy city of Qum, 150 kilometres south of Tehran. The beginning of implementation was rough. IRAC’s staff members spent countless tiring hours trying to find a suitable building. At least two floors with ideally 150 square meters or more per floor, situated in a region of the town that was easily accessible by public transportation and not too far away from the regions where most refugees reside needed to be found. When IRAC had finally found almost ideal premises in mid-August, shortly before the holy month of Ramadhan, the project suffered a major setback: On the day the rent contract was to be signed, the owner of the property suddenly withdrew. After a frantic search, IRAC found another, if a little less ideal building that was rented during the holy month.
Construction of an Additional Floor Comprising Six Classrooms for Imam Mehdi (as) School for Iraqi Refugee Students
2009-10-03
On 2 September 2009, IRAC appealed to LFT and its generous donors to fund the construction of a second floor, comprising six additional classrooms, for Imam Mehdi (as) School for Iraqi refugee students in Jamkaran, near Qum, Iran. Over 600 refugee students, who are still studying in the old, cramped teaching space, impatiently wait for the day when they can occupy their new, spacey, well-aired classrooms.
Educational Assistance to War victims in Lebanon
2009-10-01
21-year-old Ali Chouman was one of the first university students who received support under LFT Lebanon’s Educational Project. He has received support since ***. Ali has two older brothers and a younger sister. His father, who worked as a sales representative for many years, was forced to give up his work due to health problems and the economic downturn, which eroded his base of customers.
Students’ Progress Report from May - Aug, 2009 Atfaluna Society for Deaf Children, Gaza
2009-09-17
Atfaluna (“Our Children”) School for the Deaf was established in May 1992 in Gaza City, the largest city in the Gaza strip, a piece of land sandwiched between Israel and the Mediterranean and bordering on Egypt. Today, 250 deaf children from Kindergarten through to 9th grade study in the school. Atfaluna also offers other services for the deaf, notably vocational training, income-generating activities, a range of training courses for the parents and relatives of deaf children and specialized medical and technical services.
Appeal to Construct an Additional Floor for Imam Mehdi (as) School for Iraqi Refugee Students
2009-09-04
Imam Mehdi (as) School for Iraqi refugee children was established in October 2002 by a number of Iraqi refugees residing in Qum. The school aims at providing schooling to Iraqi refugee children who were not able to obtain valid refugee documents and are therefore unable to sign up in Iranian public schools. The school is located in the Jamkaran region near Qum. Accommodation is for free in a building that was consigned as Waqf by its former owner, the deceased Seyyed Hussein al-Moussawi. While the basement is used as a Husseiniyeh, the first floor is occupied by Imam Mehdi (as) School. There are six classrooms on the first floor. Due to lack of space, some classes have to be taught in the basement. Temporary partitions have been put up to divide part of the basement into several classrooms:
Third Phase of supporting nine students complete their higher education. (Total students supported so far 20)
2009-09-04
Lady Fatemah Trust (LFT) is seeking financial support for a batch of nine students across Pakistan, identified by us as offering the promise of future success. According to MICT, our partner in Pakistan, seven of these students include those already enrolled in different tiers of higher education institutions while the remaining two students are in high school prepping for college education.
Educational Support for 79 Iraqi Refugee Students Studying in Iran-Zamin School for Iraqi Refugee Children
2009-08-18
Despite improvements, the security situation remains precarious in Iraq and many families cannot live in their home towns. While the majority of these families seek shelter in other Iraqi provinces, some decide to leave Iraq altogether and seek refuge in Iran. Exact statistics about the number of such families do not exist, as they enter Iran with a valid passport and tourist visa. Although these families are now safe, their life is anything but easy in Iran. In addition to coping with a strange language and culture, finding and paying for accommodation, the issue of medical treatment and the education of their children are all issues newly arrived Iraqi refugee families have to tackle without any assistance from the host government.
Education Support to Hassan Mohi ed-, Lebanon
2009-08-16
Hassan Mohi ed-Din applied to LFT in 2008 for assistance with completing his Master’s degree in social sciences. He already had a bachelor’s degree in that major, but was unable to find suitable employment due to fierce competition. As employers were able to find higher qualified individuals to fill their vacancies they would pass by persons like Hassan with moderate, if sufficient qualifications.
Educational Support for 79 Iraqi Refugee Students Studying in Iran-Zamin School for Iraqi Refugee Children
2009-07-04
Dear LFT donors: Research has shown that attending school has a therapeutic effect on children who have gone through traumatizing experiences. School focuses their thoughts on their future, gives them a sense of empowerment and offers a safe environment. Iran-Zamin school is like home away from home for these uprooted children. The teachers speak Arabic and are themselves Iraqi, and the lessons continue where they were interrupted in Iraq. The families of most students intend to return to Iraq as soon as it is safe to do so. In the meantime, their children can continue their education without disruption. As you can see from the table, many families have three and even four school-age children. Even with a good income, paying school fees for so many students would be difficult, let alone with the meagre incomes these families are able to eek out on the edges of the Iranian economy. Give these children a chance to continue their education until they can return to their country. On average, it costs a mere 12 GBP to send a child to school for a month. With 100 GBP, you can pay for a student’s school fees for a whole year.
21st Education Project completed for 2006 War victim in Lebanon
2009-05-25
Rola Faqih is 29 years old and divorced. She holds a BT (e.g. two-year university course) in Special Education and works as a special education teacher with a charitable institution teaching handicapped children. After her divorce, Rola lives with her parents. Her father, aged 65 and suffering from heart disease, still runs a wholesale business selling paper bags and paper. Due to his age and health situation, he can no longer work hard and his income is insufficient to provide for household expenses, medications for himself and his wife, who suffers from diabetes and hypertension, and university fees for his youngest son, Tawfeeq, who studies hotel management. His three married children try to help out as much as they can, but the family can barely make ends meet.
Education Appeal from Pakistan to assist ELEVEN deserving bright students
2009-03-28
Trust has received an appeal from the our Partners in Pakistan to assist the following 11 bright students to complete their education. Two of the eleven students are orphans whereas others are from troubled area of Parachinar and Kurram Valley.
500 GBP from LFT enabled 15 students to continue their studies
2009-02-17
Islam makes it compulsory for every Muslim, man or woman, young or old, to continue to acquire knowledge and skills. Of course, studying is especially important early in life, when a young person acquires an education that will provide the basis for his or her gainful activities throughout a whole life. IRAC received a donation of 500 GBP from Lady Fatemah Charitable Trust, which was earmarked for educational expenses for orphans. Over a period of ten months, fifteen students received varying amounts of assistance that would enable them to continue with their studies
Skills Training Centre for Iraqi and Afghan Refugees in Qum, Iran
2009-01-25
Hassan studies in 3rd grade high school in Imam Mehdi (as) School for Iraqi refugee children. He is a good student and looks forward to graduating in fall. However, the future is not as bright as it should be for a new high school graduate. Hassan will not be able to attend university as long as he has to live in Iran, and employment opportunities for refugees are severely restricted due to Iran’s labour laws. He dreams of becoming self-employed, of running his own small business and earning enough money to decently support his mother and younger siblings. However, like most refugees, Hassan does not have the necessary skills to become self-employed and does not have the funds to attend a commercial skills training centre.
Children in the Gaza Strip Overcome the Limitations of Deafness with the Joint Assistance of Atfaluna Institution and LFT
2008-12-16
Working in Gaza is especially challenging. Gaza is only 360 square kilometres large, but has a population of 1.3 Million, two thirds of them refugees originating from areas that today belong to Israel. These ca 870,000 persons live in eight refugee camps; the largest are Jabalia and Rafah, with 103,000 and 91,000 residents respectively. The degree of overcrowding is unimaginable. With about 60 percent of the population living on less than a Dollar per person per day, Gaza has one of the highest poverty rates in the world. In 2003, UNRWA reported that half of Gazan residents lived on one meal per day and 35 per cent of Gazans suffered from malnutrition. Political tensions mounted considerably since 2003, and both numbers are bound to be much higher now.
Appeal for Education Sponsorship of Orphan children, Shuhada Dera Ismail Khan
2008-12-14
Dera Ismail Khan is one of the 24th districts in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) of Pakistan. Headquarter of the district is the town of Dera Ismail Khan. The district has an area of 7,326 km and a population of about 853,000 out of which the Muslims are about 200,000 (0.2 million). The district of Dera Ismail Khan is bounded on the east by Punjab province, to the southwest by South Waziristan district, and to the northwest by Tank and Lakki Marwat districts. District Dera Ismail Khan is backward area with most of the population lives below poverty line. Despite being situated on the bank of Indus River, the area is dry and very hot. The city lacks basic urban infrastructure. There is very little agriculture and virtually no industries.
When a small step draws a smile on a child face… Educational Support to Kinder Garden Children in South Lebanon - Project implemented by LFT Lebanon
2008-12-02
“There is nothing more rewarding than seeing the smile on the face of a young kid so enthusiastic to go to class, not afraid of the cold inside the room and not feeling ashamed or a difference between him and his friends because his parents couldn’t buy that great new school uniform that everyone else got.” These were the words of Haji Ahlam, LFT representative in Lebanon after several days and nights of continuous hard work to achieve the results presented in this project with a big smile on her face that mirrored the young children playing happy with their new clean costumes.
Appeal from Elite Educational Trust, Bangalore to sponsor 104 destitute children for year 2008 ~ 2009. {USD 62.50 or GB£ 35.00 per annum will educate a child}
2008-09-20
Bright School in Bangalore was founded in 1987 with the aim of offering an education to children from poor families and prevent that they engage in child labour. In the year 1987, it had 22 students and 2 teachers. Since then it has grown to 1,140 students and has 41 teachers. Despite the very modest annual fee of 35 GBP, many families still have difficulties to pay it. When families cannot pay, children are at risk of interrupting their education and entering the labour market at a much too early age.
Children in the Gaza Strip Overcome the Limitations of Deafness with the Joint Assistance of Atfaluna Institution and LFT
2008-09-15
Atfaluna (“Our Children”) School for the Deaf was established in May 1992 in Gaza City, the largest city in the Gaza strip, a piece of land sandwiched between Israel and the Mediterranean and bordering on Egypt. Today, 250 deaf children from Kindergarten through to 9th grade study in the school. Atfaluna also offers other services for the deaf, notably vocational training, income-generating activities, a range of training courses for the parents and relatives of deaf children and specialized medical and technical services.
Appeal from Bright High School, Bangalore, to Provide Full Scholarships for Fifty-Six Students for 2008 ~ 2009 Academic Year
2008-06-03
Bright High School in Bangalore, India, was founded in 1987 with the aim of providing an affordable education to children from poor families and prevent that they engage in child labor. It began its activities with a mere twenty-two students and two teachers in a small rented building. Due to the untiring efforts of the school management, the school grew in the past twenty-one years and now accommodates 1,140 students who are taught by forty-one teachers. All students come from poor backgrounds and many families go through great hardship to pay the moderate fee of ca 60 GBP per annum, while some cannot afford to pay at all and cannot register their children if scholarships are not available.
Help us give the Gaza Kids a future they deserve
2008-04-15
According to a study conducted by the Gaza Community Mental Health Program, every Palestinian child has been exposed to over nine shocking events. The study added that 95.6% of children have seen images of the wounded and dead, and 95% have been affected by the sounds of explosions.
Appeal for Assistance for Two Schools for 557 Refugee Children in Qum – Iran
2008-01-31
Psychological research shows that regular school attendance helps refugee children to adjust to the harsh reality of refugee life. Attending school provides the children with a structured day and prevents idleness or their absorption into the labour market at a much too early age. Moreover, it gives them a sense of empowerment and control of their future.
Appeal from Khaza’eli School for the Blind, Tehran
2008-01-09
IRAC again received an appeal for assistance from Khaza’eli School for the Blind. The school is located in downtown Tehran and teaches 101 boys from 1st primary to 3rd high school. Almost all students are from needy families and cannot afford special audio-devices that allow blind students to study independently and without the assistance from a person with normal vision.
Education Appeal from Kosaybah in South of Lebanon
2007-11-29
Basila Mansour is from the village Kosaybah in Southern Lebanon. In 2006, directly before the July war, Basila finished her diploma in Social Sciences. Basila’s father is an agricultural labourer who also cultivates tobacco on his own land. Due to the war, his whole harvest was lost in 2006 and he was not able to continue supporting his daughter’s education. On the contrary, Basila had to find employment as a social worker, gaining a monthly salary of 300 USD in order to help supporting the family.
Appeal from Bright High School, Bangalore to sponsor 25 destitute children for year 2007 ~ 2008.
2007-08-03
Bright School in Bangalore was founded in 1987 with the aim of offering an education to children from poor families and prevent that they engage in child labour. In the year 1987, it had 22 students and 2 teachers. Since then it has grown to 1,140 students and has 41 teachers. Despite the very modest annual fee of 35 GBP, many families still have difficulties to pay it. When families cannot pay, children are at risk of interrupting their education and entering the labour market at a much too early age.
Appeal from Elite Education Trust, Bangalore to sponsor 79 destitute children for year 2007 ~ 2008.
2007-07-27
Elite School in Bangalore was founded in 2000 with the aim of offering an education to children from poor families and prevent that they engage in child labour. Despite the very modest annual fee of 35 GBP, many families still have difficulties to pay it. When families cannot pay, children are at risk of interrupting their education and entering the labour market at a much too early age.
Education Appeal from Al-Kalaam Trust, Rajivnagr, Mysore, India - For assisting additional 20 students
2007-07-11
St Paul’s School was founded is 2000, at Rajivnagar, Mysore. Currently there are 800 students at this school, and the subjects taught include Kannada, English, Hindi, Maths, Science and Social Studies. The institution is engaged in bringing up poor students, giving them the opportunity to obtain professional degrees, settling in both India and aboard. The appeal received by The Trust was to support additional 20 destitute students attend St Paul’s Nursery, Primary and High School. Without assistance, these children will not be able to attend school and would almost certainly end up in workshops or handicraft shops doing child labour.
Education Appeal from Al-Kalaam Trust, Rajivnagr, Mysore, India - For assisting 44 students
2007-04-02
St Paul’s School was founded is 2000, at Rajivnagar, Mysore. Currently there are 800 students at this school, and the subjects taught include Kannada, English, Hindi, Maths, Science and Social Studies. The institution is engaged in bringing up poor students, giving them the opportunity to obtain professional degrees, settling in both India and aboard.
Appeal from Education funding from Lebanon
2007-04-02
The Lady Fatemah Trust has received an appeal from our partner organisation PADC in Lebanon, from a young lady studying pharmacy at the Lebanese University. Despite the volatile situation and ongoing conflict, she has managed to continue her studies, and is now in her fourth year with another two years left. Her father used to support the family with his income from being a taxi driver, as she also has brothers and sisters at school. She writes of her father:
Progress Report on Khaz’ali School for the Blind in Down Town Tehran
2007-02-21
After receiving an appeal to assist Khaz’ali school for the blind in downtown Tehran in December 2006, IRAC’s senior staff members visited the school and assessed the needs of its students. LFT then launched an appeal for funding on its website.
Imam Mehdi School for Iraqi Refugee Children
2007-02-13
Imam Mehdi (as) School for Iraqi refugee children was established in October 2002 by a number of Iraqi refugees residing in Qum. The school aims at providing schooling to Iraqi refugee children who were not able to obtain valid refugee documents and are therefore unable to sign up in Iranian public schools. At present, the school has 772 students and offers a full primary and junior high course for boys and girls. Details can be seen in the table below:
Elite Educational Trust, Bangalore
2006-10-25
The value of education can never be underestimated for it tackles the root causes of poverty, opening up vast opportunities for economic improvement. The Lady Fatemah Trust has recently received an appeal from Elite School in Bangalore, for assistance with paying school fees. The school was founded in 2000, and currently has 388 children registered (218 boys, and 170 girls). There are 12 teachers, 10 classrooms and subjects taught range from English and Maths, to Environmental Studies and Science. The total cost of educating a child per annum is only £35.00. Below is a table detailing the new admissions for this academic year, 2006-2007. Please give generously and allow these children some kind of hope for their future.
Assistance for Azadi Teaching Assembly
2006-06-02
Azadi Teaching Assembly was founded by Mr. Husseini, a blind Afghan man who is very active in spite of his handicap. After working for several years with the “Cultural Center for Blind Afghans” in Meshhed, he came to live in Qum and founded Azadi Teaching Assembly (ATA), which comprises two informal schools that provide 169 children of both genders with an education. There are two schools in this assembly because some of the children who wanted to study live far from the original location of the school and had thus problems to attend school regularly.
Assistance to Informal Schools for Afghan Refugee Children
2006-02-06
Background: A succession of oppressive regimes and times of political upheaval and internal warfare forced many Afghans to flee their country. The majority went either to Iran or to Pakistan. The number of Afghan refugees in Iran reached 2.5 million prior to 11 September 2001, the American invasion of Afghanistan and the toppling of the Taliban regime. Since then, about 1 million Afghans have returned to Afghanistan from Iran, but about 1.5 million still remain. Due to the bad economic situation in Afghanistan, lack of basic services, unavailability of medical treatment and scarcity of schooling, many Afghans do not yet feel that they can return to their country.
Assistance for Imam Mehdi (as) School for Iraqi Refugee Children
2006-01-27
Imam Mehdi (as) School for Iraqi refugee children was established in October 2002 by a number of Iraqi refugees residing in Qum. The school aims at providing schooling to Iraqi refugee children who were not able to obtain valid refugee documents and are therefore unable to sign up in Iranian public schools. Since another informal school for Iraqi children closed in 2005, Imam Mehdi (as) School was suddenly faced with increased demand. Background: The school is located in Jamkaran region. Accommodation is for free in a building, which was made waqf by its former owner, the deceased Seyyed Hussein al-Moussawi. While the first floor is used as a Husseiniyeh, the second floor is occupied by Imam Mehdi (as) School. There are six classrooms on the first floor. Due to lack of space, junior high school for girls is taught in the basement. Part of the basement was segregated by curtains to form two classrooms where the girls study. The school is equipped with school benches and blackboards. More sophisticated equipment is lacking.
Assistance for a one class Village Primary School for Afghan Refugee students in Alborz Region, Iran
2005-11-14
Background Alborz region is located 15 kilometers north-east of the Iranian city of Qum. The region is an agricultural region with large pistachio and olive plantations. The majority of agricultural workers tending to the plantations are Afghan refugees. Their families live with them on the plantations. As no Iranian families live in the region, there are no public schools at an accessible distance. The closest Iranian village is situated at a distance of about 20 kilometers, and its small public school would not be able to cope with additional students. Although – or perhaps because – illiteracy is widespread among Afghans, most Afghan families are extremely concerned about their children’s education and are ready to make financial sacrifices to ensure that they learn to read and write. The families living in Alborz region are no exception to this rule, and they were worried that their children would not receive even the most basic education. One of the fathers was acquainted with a young Afghan man trained as a teacher. The families asked him to teach their children in exchange for a fee for every child covering his expenses and providing a modest salary for him.
