Our Story

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CALPAK's CEO, Anila Ali, visited a government school in a slum in Karachi’s posh area of Clifton. 

When I entered the colony, I saw filth- heaps and mounds of filth everywhere. The streets had pools of stagnating water in which little children were splashing and playing when they should have been in school.  Upon entering Qurtaba public school with my team of educators, we saw an empty building with a few boys serving biryani to the teachers, and a few girls sweeping the school floors. Desks, chairs, windows were all broken. Just then, the little girl who was sweeping, ran up to me and asked me if I was a teacher.

“Are you going to teach us, Aunty?” 

I told her I was a teacher but I teach in America.

“Aunty,” she grabbed my arm, “please, please don’t go. The headmaster beats us and watches us in the bathrooms. He even beats the boys.” 

That was the moment, I made a promise to the little girl.

Qurtaba Government School is the school we put our heart and soul into reforming. It was an impossible task; to get rid of the drug mafia, the corrupt and abusive administration, and turn the building into a school. This has been a journey of love- love for my birth country and for the little girls who secretly wish and pray people like us to make their dreams come true. 

Children who live in underserved communities such as Shireen Jinnah Colony, face even more barriers in education. The poor, impoverished, families do not have money for copies, uniforms and supplies. Sindh government schools are free, but the children have to pay for copies, supplies and uniforms. Families are responsible for paying for books, paper and clothing. With a monthly income of $100 dollars, how can a parent pay $30-40 for school supplies?! 

We believe that by educating girls and boys, we are investing in their future. Educating girls helps to stimulate the economic growth in these underserved communities and empowers an entire community and the generations to come.