This project is in alignment with Rotary’s theme for the year 2006-07 which is “Lead the Way”. As Rotary International’s President William B. Boyd said recently, “As Rotarians, we understand the truth of the old saying that when you give a person a fish, you feed him for a day, but when you teach him how to fish, you feed him for a lifetime.”
The foundation stone for the school project was laid on October 20th, 2003. This project was initiated by District Governor Elect (Pakistan and Afghanistan) Mr. Aziz Memon during his tenure as President of the Rotary Club of Karachi.
The School is on an area of 2,780 square yards located in the low income locality of Lyari. The land is owned by the Pakistan Navy and the built up area of 25,000 square feet has been constructed by Rotary Club of Karachi at a cost of Rs. 22 million. The funding has been raised through the Club’s internal resources and through solicitation of contributions from major donors whose names are displayed in the courtyard. It is pertinent to acknowledge here that the entire architecture of the School was done by Mr. Tariq Qaiser on a pro bono basis, i.e. free of cost.
The School will provide low cost, good quality English medium education to 1,600 children, both boys and girls, through 2 separate shifts. Morning shift will be exclusively for female students and the evening for male. The first batch of students will commence their term in August 2006. 38 teachers have already been hired to conduct classes from Grade 1 through 10. The school facility includes science laboratories, a library, a common room, a computer laboratory, sick room and a playing field for outdoor sports and extra-curricular activities.
The management and operating expenses of the School will be the responsibility of Pakistan Naval Education Trust. However, Rotary Club of Karachi will have 2 of its nominees on the Board of Directors to ensure the continuing success of this project.
