IFTAR PARTY IN HOPE SCHOOL MUZAFFARGARH

HOPE- an NGO in Pakistan has been a forerunner when it comes to lighting up a child’s face by gifting them eid clothes, holding multiple iftar parties and helping their families by distributing ration. Like every year, HOPE held an iftar party in Muzaffargarh, Punjab for the students of HOPE’s Formal School.

Muzaffargarh is 40 km away from Multan City but Muzaffargarh School is located in Baseera which is 22 Km away from Muzaffargarh. There are in total about 320 children studying in Muzaffargarh School under the supervision of Ms. Syed Erum who is in charge there. HOPE, in collaboration with (HCI) Human Concern International and Dubai Ladies organized the iftar party in the last Ashra of Ramzan.

The iftar party was held for the impoverished who were extremely happy to open their fast together. Their happiness and level of excitement escalated further when they were given Eid clothes. The Iftar was then followed by dinner. Students enjoyed a wholesome meal and went home with a smile on their face.

Ramzan has always brought joy to the Muslims, but unfortunately the case is not always true for people who are deprived of basic needs. HOPE-a Health NGO in Pakistan has always been a deliverer of happiness and joy to thousands of poverty-stricken Pakistanis.

With each passing year HOPE welcomes more and more volunteers and of donations especially in the holy month of Ramzan when people want to donate whole heartedly. Under the Leadership of Dr. Mubina Agboatwalla- a child specialist in Karachi, HOPE strives to achieve great heights of success by eradicating illiteracy, poverty and hunger in the near future.

HOPE’s Grand Iftar 2018

During the fast, many of us take time to reflect on the reality of life for people who do not know from where, or even when their next meal is coming. During the holy month of Ramadan, HOPE –a health NGO in Pakistan arranges a number of diverse charity projects every day. For many years HOPE has been arranging an annual Grand Iftar for its schools. Continuing the tradition, on June 6, 2018, this year’s grand iftar was arranged by HOPE, in collaboration with its long time partner Standard Chartered, at Korangi PNT ground. Students from all the formal and informal schools of HOPE- an NGO in Pakistan were warmly welcomed by the team of Standard Chartered and Dr Mubina Agboatwalla- a child specialist in Karachi.

Tremendous progress has been made by HOPE and Standard Chartered. The  Standard Chartered team, dressed in coordinating blue T-shirts, sat amongst and conversed with the children. The students, who attend HOPE’s schools in Bhittaiabad, Zia Colony, and interior Sindh, were treated to a sumptuous iftari followed by dinner. There was a variety of food for iftar like samosas, brownies, bananas, puff pastries, cutlets, spring rolls and of course sherbat and dates too; dinner was the popular dish biryani.

After iftar, Dr Mubina’s older son Sulaiman played patriotic songs on piano to which the children sang along jubilantly. Then, the generosity of our donors was evident as HOPE was able to give Eid gifts of clothes to all the children, as well as rations to those who most needed it. The joy of the children was evident through their raised voices, smiles, and laughter. The children displayed an unrivaled depth of joy, which HOPE managed to capture for eternity in the many photographs taken.

HOPE- a educational NGO in Pakistan always stands at the front row when it comes to helping others. They have always stood with those who are less fortunate and have done so much to reduce the intensity of the struggles of countless communities with both kindness and resources. Much of this is also thanks to the numerous benevolent individuals and organizations worldwide whose donations make HOPE’s accomplishments possible.

ANNUAL BHITTIABAD IFTAR

The blessed month of Ramadan is always the busiest time of the year for HOPE-an educational NGO in Pakistan. This year was no exception, with multiple iftaars - one of which was the annual Bhittaiabad iftaar held last Saturday, on the 2nd of June, for the students of HOPE’s informal schools. These students come from Sachal Goth, Bhittiabad and Mujahid. This year’s Bhittaiabad iftaar was sponsored by HCI, Sami Ahmed and organized by HOPE under the leadership of Dr. Mubina Agboatwalla - a child specialist in Karachi.

The venue was alive with anticipation from both excited students and busy staff member of HOPE Team Pakistan. Teachers attempted to calm the happy children long enough to seat them - that is, until the dastarkhans were spread. As the time for iftaar approached, the socialization died down as the plates of a date, pattie, samosa, chicken cutlet, banana, spring roll, and brownie were distributed, accompanied by sharbat and water to wash it all down.

As the sated students finished their iftaari, the volume steadily increased again as they resumed their delighted chatter. Sulaiman, the son of Dr. Mubina Agboatwalla - then played the piano as the cheerful children gathered around and sang along to the upbeat Dil Dil Pakistan.

The laughter and harmonic voices faded away as the children lined up in anticipation for their Eid gifts. One by one, each child was gifted a new, brightly colored, festive traditional outfit, something their families would not have been able to afford otherwise. Each child received an outfit of their exact size that was individually chosen by HOPE staff. Many also received food rations if their families were especially in need of it.

Later, the elated kids rushed around, joyously showing each other their new outfits and posing for pictures with their gifts, friends, and classmates. Teachers once again struggled to seat their students, this time for dinner, an affair with the popular favorite meal of Haleem and naan.

Exhausted but sated and delighted, the young children left with their classmates and teachers on buses late at night. But inside the venue, the work never stopped. The remarkable staff of HOPE- an NGO in Pakistan was seated in a circle around Dr. Mubina Agboatwalla, tirelessly and diligently planning the several upcoming events of the following week - including the daily distribution of biryani or iftaar boxes at HOPE schools, and of course, the noteworthy Grand Iftaar for all 1500 HOPE school students.

All the time and effort is worth it though, just to see the ecstatic smiles on the children’s faces.