KARACHI: Asad Raza, a resident of Khuda ki Basti in Karachi’s Lyari, is all set to begin his first job at a software company.

Raza recently graduated as an electrical Engineer from the renowned Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering and Technology (GIKI).

But it is the story of how he made it to elite engingeering college that bears telling.

The son of a fruit seller, he had the good fortune of attending a school run by The Citizens Foundation (TCF), a not-for-profit entity that has provided quality education to tens of thousands of youngsters at minimal or no cost.

“With my earnings, I would not have been able to send Asad to a prestigious school, college, or university,” Raza’s father Muhammad Ahmed told Aaj Digital. He said he had to leave school at a young age to help his family - a fate that could have befallen his talented son if it were not for the charitable organisation.

Ahmad’s cheerful disposition belies the challenges he has faced in life as he continues to dream of educating all his children.

Asad’s two younger siblings, Saad and Sadia, are currently first-year students at TCF College, while his two other sisters, Hadiya and Touba, are studying in class 9th and 7th respectively at TCF School.

All of Ahmed’s children are keen to achieve their goals and fulfilling their father’s dream. With their brother’s success, they have a template to follow.

Role model

A hard-worker from the very start, Asad received the GIKI Dean’s Honor Roll award in four semesters. He also was also given the A.L.I.P.H. Award (Ardour, Leadership, Integrity, Perseverance, and Humility) by TCF College in recognition of his accomplishments.

“In our community, boys are expected to get full-time jobs at a young age, but baba (father) encouraged me to focus on my studies,” Asad said, adding that his father had been giving him money for his living expenses which he had saved to repair their house.

Raza said that his father used to tell him that the house could be repaired later but they might not get the opportunity of educating him again.

The Citizens Foundation (TCF)?

TCF is a professionally managed, nonprofit organization set up in 1995 by a group of citizens seeking to bring about positive social change through education.

It is now one of Pakistan’s leading organizations in the field of education for the less privileged and operates a network of 1,833 school units.