SPREADING THE LIGHT

It is not easy to summarise the wonderful and holistic work being done by Kiran Foundation. There is so much to talk about and space constraints do not do justice to the achievements meted. From a paradigm shift in Lyari that was always in the headlines for not so right reasons, to making breakthrough in the once equally volatile area of Kati Pahari, Sabina Khatri, the founder and chairperson of Kiran, has made inroads like no other. “The key to the success of Kiran lies in a few deeply rooted principles. We don’t just run schools - we build nurturing environments rooted in love, empathy, and emotional healing. Every programme, whether educational or welfare-based, is centred on restoring dignity and self-worth, especially for mothers and children. The pioneering trauma-informed, mother-and-child schooling system is a game changer. It recognises that to heal and educate a child, the mother must be healed and empowered too,” elucidates Sabina.

“Kiran’s work is based on deep relationships, not transactions. Whether with communities, teachers, students, or donors - trust, respect, and emotional connection are at the heart of everything. From day one, the work has remained mission-driven, not image-driven. The focus is not on appearances, but on meaningful transformation in lives that have been marginalised or silenced. Our growth has always been organic,” adds Sabina.

“Each new programme at the organisation emerged in response to a real need, not an ambition for expansion. That keeps the model authentic and deeply connected to the communities it serves. The leadership is heart-led and vision-driven, but also willing to sit with sorrow, listen to pain, and stay humble. That integrity has been the invisible spine of Kiran’s journey,” continues Sabina who is also the recipient of Sitara-e-Imtiaz, Pakistan’s highest civilian award, for her magnanimous work.

The mother and child programme is no doubt the essence of its building block. Students whose families, especially mothers commit to schooling are formally inducted. Classes for fathers are also held fortnightly. And it is not just a school system that makes Kiran a reputed institution.

After school there are programmes and extra-curricular activities for kids like Hadia Clubs Beyond the School (HBTS). “Previously named as BTS clubs we renamed it to our little angel ‘Hadia’ who we lost to cancer in April 2019, she loved football and gymnastic,” explains Sabina. HBTS initiative gives children the opportunity to unlock their potential, explore their talents, and cultivate their strengths through a range of after-school clubs. Children are seen engaged in sports, expressing themselves through various forms of arts, learning new languages and skills, away from the toxic influences of the society and the unforgiving streets.

Two community centres in Lyari: Salma Ghar for women and Kiran Ghar for children also fall under Kiran Foundation. Kiran Ghar is a community centre for children where they come after school and spend few good hours. The Centre provides them nutritious meals, electricity, internet facilities and a safe space to function. Similarly, Salma Ghar for mothers serves the same purpose. It gives them space for productive socialising, vocational training and informal learning. From computer classes to language skills, mental health and well-being to physical exercise programmes, Salma Ghar for women of Lyari is like any other elitist club in a major Pakistani city: just not restricted by membership. In an average day a hundred and fifty women from Lyari visit the premises and benefit from its various resources like the exercise room, the computer lab, library the psycho social support system and more.

Kiran started off with its flagship programme of inducting students from its preschool to mainstream private schools in Karachi. Partners include top notch schools like Haque Academy, Veritas, Aster, St. Michael’s Convent, Dawood Public School, Habib Public School, Habib Girls, Reflections, Happy Home, Aga Khan School, Origins, Nixor College, Cedar College, and DHA Degree College. A government school DCTO was adopted in Lyari in 2014 and now accommodates over 800 students. A second is in the pipeline and a satellite school partnered with the HOL foundation in Lyari, joined the ranks after campuses Kati Pahari in Karachi, Swabi, Almabad and in Gizer in Gilgit.

Amongst the manifold programmes, run very successfully by Kiran, is the University/College scholarship programme by the name of Uraan. While initiated for Kiran students to facilitate higher education, the programme is now open to students from all over Pakistan to help with seed funding and scholarship revenue for University going students under which college students have gotten into and completed degrees from leading universities of Pakistan including Indus Valley School or Art and Architecture, LUMS, IBA, Habib University, Ziauddin, Szabist, Baharia, NED, IoBM, Iqra, NCA, AKU, Hamdard, Durbeen Teacher training programme and more. “Uraan has received tremendous community support like our flagship programme. While infrastructural needs are equally important, people want to invest in people and funding is directed to both the flagship and Uraan programmes with great zeal. Our corporate partners facilitate infrastructure so that creates a perfect balance,” shares Khatri. Two dream projects include a mother child healing sanctuary in the northern areas of Pakistan and a not-for-profit school with a 50/50 ratio of self-funded and need based students with an aim to bridge social gaps.

With its success and continuous shattering of glass ceilings, the sky seems to be the limit for this wonderful purpose driven organisation.

SPREADING ITS WINGS

The various school campuses under Kiran

1. Kiran School Kati Pahari (KSKP)

Kiran School Kati Pahari (KSKP) is one of Kiran Foundation’s first steps toward expanding the unique Kiran school model beyond Lyari. Made possible by the generous donation of Ms Ambreen Khanani and her family, the pre-school is now expanding and catering to pre-school classes as well as partnering with local schools in the area for main stream schooling.

2. Kiran School, Gizer, Gilgit

The Kurambar Valley School situated three hours from Gilgit City in a beautiful and serene village, untouched by commercialism, called Bar Jungle catered to children from Nursery to middle school. The school sought help from Kiran to complete its set up which was initiated through the efforts of the community in 2022. Right now, there are 120 students enrolled there and Kiran is constructing an adjacent campus to expand the school to higher levels. The School is now called Kiran School Barjangal Campus.

3. Kiran School Alamabad, Nabi Village, Swabi, KP

Launched at the Alamabad educational complex Swabi from May 2024 with 30 toddlers and their mothers with the preschool programme, the third campus of the Kiran School System has expanded the outreach of the Kiran Foundation to KP and making significant strides there in partnership with Rashid Memorial Welfare Organisation.

4. Kiran Satellite School - Hol Foundation

Kiran Satellite School, a satellite model of the Kiran Preschool, is a project of HOL Foundation Pakistan. It embodies the Kiran ideology and values in a new space, extending the reach of the original Kiran Preschool. The partnership between Kiran Foundation and HOL Foundation Pakistan has resulted in the establishment of Kiran Satellite Preschool at Kara Bhai Karim Jee School. Under the Satellite model as specified by UNESCO, schools are organised into clusters, usually consisting of a central, relatively well-resourced school and several smaller satellites. Kiran is one, if not the only, to be working on these lines locally and sponsors all the children there, where its system is replicated but it runs independently as an institution.

COMMUNITY BUILDING

A holistic paradigm. Kiran Foundation also spear heads two community centres under its umbrella in Lyari with various functioning.

1. Kiran Ghar

The Kiran Ghar is home away for home for the Ambassador kids of Kiran where they come for evening classes and are given consistent academic, social, and emotional support through tuitions, enrichment programmes that are in-house as well as out-sourced as well as mental emotional health support if needed. It is their place to study, relax, unwind, chill and just be with its energetic cafeteria run by an ex-student, cosy libraries, AV room and all major state of the art facilities for youngsters with a stand by generator and internet as well as a carpeted and covered roof top for sports and other activities, where children often indulge in friendly games and have regular meet ups and get-togethers.

2. Salma Ghar

Salma Ghar is a safe space for women where females of all ages from the community convene to learn, unwind or seek counselling and mental health support. It is completely holistic with a café, lounge, computer lab, exercise and a therapy room where women have the freedom to be whoever they choose to be. It offers daily classes for mothers through which they are encouraged to discover new talents, skills, and hobbies. Currently, courses like basic computers, Adobe Illustrator, Canva, Photoshop etc. to enable women to enhance their IT skills are offered. The aim is to initialise freelancing in various fields and help them become financially stable and independent.

Sohema Rehan has a degree in Clinical Psychology and works as a counsellor. She can be reached at sohema@hotmail.com