DG Usman Masud Khan made an official visit to RC Rawalpindi Central on 06/07/09. He refused to be picked up from his place. Asked for directions and drove straight to Rah e Amal School, the school adopted by RC Rawalpindi Central.

He was received at the school by Mrs. Zehra Syed, principal and administrator of the school alongwith AG Zahiruddin Khan, Pres. Arshad Sheikh, Secy. Kabir Shah and IPP Arshad Khan. 180 students attend the school up to class VIII. It specially caters to the children of housemaids, servants, guards etc. who cannot afford to send their kids to school. It stays open all summer and kids are given vocational training during the summer holidays. The main reason for keeping the school open during summer holidays is for the fact that the parents do not send their kids back to school after summer vacations and get them to take up menial or odd jobs to supplement their income. The school provides free tuition, text books, notebooks, two uniforms a year and one new dress to all at the time of Eid or Xmas including 2-3 field trips a year including meals and refreshments to different out stations as a form of recreation and education. It arranges an Eid Milan party and or Xmas party with an open house where the kids parents are invited to a lunch.

It has a full fledged computer lab with 9 Pentium 4s along with a multimedia projector if the class gets bigger. Otherwise all the students get a “ hands “ on training in learning and basic software packages are taught to all the classes. This school is the brain child of Mrs. Zehra Syed and her husband Comdr. Fasahat Syed and is ably assisted by a team of volunteers including a doctor who looks after the health of all the students and provides medical services free of charge including medicines. The club members also pitch in whatever way possible to help run the school. RC Rawalpindi has provided complete computer lab. with 9 Pentium IV’s, including a brand new laser printer and a brand new ALL in ONE Laser printer, 3000 lumens multimedia projector, furniture, water coolers, ceiling fans, water geysers, room heaters, salaries for11 teachers, and a 3 zone public address system with cordless mikes. This 3 zone system helps keep the volume low so the neighborhood is not disturbed.

Two sewing machines, an embroidery machine (to be provided), and an elaborate tool box has been furnished for the vocational training. One of the ex students, who is now an accomplished tailor imparts training to the interested students. Volunteers from NCA and Fatimah Jinnah Women University, Rawalpindi have really done a fantastic job by painting murals and hamds (poems) on the school walls in a very tasteful manner. Rah e Amal has been featured on BBC, CNN and Spanish TV. The club also donated 100 notebooks for the school of its sponsor club RC Rawalpindi.

After taking a round of the school the DG talked to the students and volunteer teachers to acquaint himself of the details of the school. After having a cup of tea at the school, the DG attended a BOD of the club. After appreciating all the good work being done by the club at school and other club business, he threw a bombshell and took the club to task for such a low membership. Pres. Arshad Sheikh assured DG that the club is fully aware of this. The good news is that two prospective members have agreed to visit the club and attend a few meetings. The DG is rest assured that the membership of the club will experience an increase of at 25-50% by the end of the year.

There being no further business the meeting was adjourned followed by a lunch and the DG was sent off by the BOD and other members in attendance. The club looks forward to the continued guidance and support of the DG and THANK YOU DG for the bombshell. Maybe next time, after seeing the progress, it will be a bouquet of roses amalgamated with accolades for Pres. Arshad Sheikh and Secy. Kabir Ali Shah.

Coverage and photos courtest of Rtn. Zahiruddin Khan, Rotary Club of Rawalpindi Central.

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