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In progress
Helping Children Learn, Grow and Thrive
Children’s education support in Pakistan for families facing poverty, including children in brick kiln communities.
Why It Matters
Every Child Deserves the Opportunity to Learn
Education opens doors that poverty can otherwise close. It helps a child read, ask questions, build confidence and imagine a different future.
Barriers differ from one family to another. Cost, daily pressures, distance and limited resources can all stand in the way, so we want to begin by listening rather than assuming every child has the same experience.
Where This Began
Children in Brick Kiln Communities
While preaching and serving in different cities, our founder, Alyas Rafiq, became especially concerned for children in brick kiln worker communities. He began work toward free educational opportunities for them.
We write about these communities with respect. The children we hope to serve are individuals with gifts and futures, not objects of pity.
Our Commitment
More Than Lessons
Encouragement
Helping children believe that learning is for them, and that their effort matters.
Learning Materials
Books and school supplies where resources allow, so that small costs do not become large barriers.
Character
Nurturing honesty, kindness and responsibility alongside knowledge and skills.
Families
Building respectful relationships with parents and guardians, who know their children best.
Questions
Questions About Learning Support
Does ZAWF run a registered school?
This page does not make that claim. Our founder describes beginning work toward free educational opportunities, and we will share more detail here once it is confirmed.
Can I sponsor an individual child?
Yes. Please see how to sponsor a child’s education. To protect children, we don’t publish individual profiles.
How can churches help?
Churches can pray, ask about support for learning materials, and start a conversation about a carefully planned partnership through our ministry partnerships page.
What Stands Between Children and School
If you’ve never lived near a brick kiln, it’s hard to picture how many things can keep a child from learning. It’s rarely just one thing. Reported barriers across Pakistan include school fees, transport and inadequate facilities, and working families can depend on every pair of hands.
The U.S. Department of Labor’s 2022 findings on child labor in Pakistan report that children make up about a third of the roughly four million people working in brick kilns. You can read more in our article on why brick kiln children miss school.
How We Hope to Help
- Listening to parents and guardians about what stops their children learning
- Providing books and supplies where resources allow
- Encouraging children to keep going, especially when it’s hard
- Working with families, because a child’s progress depends on them
Keeping Children Safe
Every activity with children should follow our child protection and safeguarding policy, including how photographs and stories are used.
Stand with children who want to learn
Talk with us about how your church or organization could help.