Sitara's Tenth Anniversary
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Sitara's Tenth Anniversary
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Impact: Islamabad, Islamabad Capital Territory
Registered 501(c)(3)
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Ensuring the Right to Education for more than 300 students in Pakistan and making the future brighter for everyone.
Despite the Challenges of COVID-19, Sitara continues to to expand its programming for students and teachers. Join us this Ramadan as we celebrate 10 years of service and look ahead towards a brighter future.
A Huge Milestone
February 11, 2021 marked the tenth anniversary of Sitara School! We came together as staff and students with speeches, songs and skits. A big cake with sparklers and candles was the hit of the show as we sang happy birthday to our dear school. We invited our earliest students as alumni. One boy has graduated from university with a degree in design. Another girl is working on a business degree. They are living proof of the doors that open when educational rights are upheld. In a country where 25 million children are out of school, Sitara works hard to make a difference! Alhamdulilah.
A Year Like No Other
As COVID-19 lockdowns gripped the planet, crippling schools everywhere, Sitara families soldiered on. Smart phones became necessities for those who could barely afford them. Those who couldn't buy one, made weekly trips to school for paper packets. We lost students along the way, as families facing unemployment and inflation fled to their villages. Now that we’re back in session, we see some silver linings in the COVID cloud. Older students gained independence while working from home. Parents of primary students learned to support the learning process at home using simple resources. Inshallah, these new found skills will carry on now that we are back in the classroom. And boy, are we glad to be back!
Sitara’s curriculum is thematic , based on the seven Powerful Themes of the Tarbiyah Project, created by Br. Dawud Tauhidi, a pioneer Muslim educator from the USA. Islamic themes integrate all subjects around qualities we wish to develop in our children, such as Noble Character, Useful Knowledge and Healthy Living. The last theme of the school year is Public Service. This year and last we decided to tackle a big problem in our town: TRASH.
In Pakistan, trash is poorly managed. Each household and business must pay on their own. People unable or unwilling to pay just dump their trash in a vacant lot. What cannot be salvaged and recycled is eventually burned, releasing toxic fumes into the air. In a study conducted by the students themselves, some children walk by as many as twenty smoldering trash piles on their way to and from school every day.
The trash problem directly affects our children, especially the students at SMCC- Sitara Mother Child Center. They are the ones who wade barefoot in those trash piles day after day collecting recyclables to sell for less than fifty cents a bag. We'd like to keep them in school just a little bit longer, so we've organized recycling at school. Through education, we hope to convince our fellow schools and neighbors to do the same. More time in school, less time in the trash. Your contributions help make this possible.
Video: Imran's Story
Think Global, Act Local
We also wanted to teach the children how they, as Allah's vicegerents, can help to beautify the earth. Our students recently planted trees on some vacant land near their homes. Imagine the difference in outlook for a young child whose life is lived on a trash heap, doing something as beautiful and life-affirming as planting a tree. Such experiences can transform lives.
Expanding Again: Funds Needed!
Alhamdulilah, Sitara continues to grow. Between our two campuses we have more than 300 children! The girls' high school is flourishing and the boys’ high school is completing its first year, with six boys in our premier class and six more to join them in the new term. We’re hoping to rent five more rooms, under construction, next to our campus. Of course, our rent will increase so funding is needed and we’re counting on you! We also have plans to build a small auditorium that will function as a multi-purpose room for performances, media presentations and maybe even a teachers’ lounge, something our staff has patiently done without, for years.
STI: The Heartbeat of Sitara
Sitara is a professional development school. That means our teachers are learning on the job! Another silver lining of COVID has been the expansion of our professional development team. Through the efforts of an extraordinary volunteer, we now offer free online English conversation sessions to our teachers and to the teachers of other deserving schools in Islamabad. These one to one weekly sessions have given our staff encouragement in improving their English through speaking practice with an online volunteer. Not only that, but we also have biweekly online and in person teacher education sessions and plenty of access for teachers to great online resources. Our plan is to expand both the virtual and in person classes for aspiring teachers from other deserving schools. Funding this project will extend our outreach to so many more children!
In Conclusion
Ten years is a long time. Some of our Sitara children have been with us since the beginning, and so have some of you, our loyal friends and supporters. For those of you joining us for the first time, Sitara is one place where you can see the rewards of your giving. The relationship between donors and receivers is one of mutual benefits. The rewards of charity are immeasurable, as is the light that dawns in a child’s eyes when she experiences something wonderful. I know you will take these children into your hearts once again and give generously to these shining stars in Sitara’s constellation. Jazak Allahu khairun and thank you.
Your giving amount
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Bricks and Mortar
Your contribution helps us build and furnish new classroom space and facilities.
33 claimed
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Books and Stationery
Help us put knowledge in their hands.
18 claimed
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Provider
Raise a child's self esteem and confidence by providing new uniforms, shoes, warm winter clothes and a book bag.
54 claimed
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Facilitator
Technology upgrades in school enhance the learning process and prepare students for the future.
53 claimed
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Supporter
Support teacher training to provide quality education to all.
10 claimed
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Mentor
Help us fund a new technology project for SMCC students or mentor our high school boys and girls
3 claimed
0
Benefactor
Sponsor a child for one full year of school, including books, uniforms, technology and class time. Your contribution pays rent and salaries too!
29 claimed
0
Community Care
Help us to better educate parents and community members on the benefits of recycling and proper waste disposal. Support our overall development and expand our ability to serve those in need.
6 claimed
0
Visionary
Your contributions will help ensure the successful growth and development of our entire school community, Inshallah.
4 claimed
Donors
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Updates 5
We Did It!
Dear 2021 Campaign Donors,
By the grace of Allah (SWT) and your generous contributions, Sitara Trust surpassed our fund raising goal of $100,000 this Ramadan. You have no idea how much your donations will help us to grow our educational and community development programs. With this money, we can increase the number of students we serve in our elementary school, Mother Child Center and high school programs. We can upgrade our computer lab and provide after school programs in IT skills. We can more effectively serve the impoverished refugee community in our area by providing them with basic utilities, such as running water. We are also hope to improve their livelihood by creating an organized local recycling initiative. There are so many possibilities at hand and dreams to fulfill, all because you cared enough to reach out to extend a helping hand.
We started the month of Ramadan with a modest goal of $50,000. When we reached it, we increased it to 75k and then, seeing your generosity we dared to ask for more. We asked Allah (SWT) and He answered with more than we could possibly imagine and you can be proud of the role you played as He worked through your hands! So once again JAZAK ALLAHU KHAIRUN. Of course, I would also think to thank the people at Launchgood for providing us the awesome opportunity of fund-raising through their platform. Their service to the community at large is invaluable.
If you would like to stay in touch with Sitara, please check out our YouTube page at Sitara Trust and like us on FB at Sitara School. We also have a what's app thread you can join for pictures and updates. If you send your contact info to me, Sommieh, at +923315760317 I will be happy to add you. I'm going to end this update with a picture of some of our SMCC students on Eid. Their new clothes and Eid lunches and an upcoming field trip to a local amusement park, were all funded by donors like you. I wanted you to see their happy smiles.
Would you help them for a Dollar?
Assalamu alaykum Donors!
Only three days left for our LG campaign. You can still earn still more Ramadan blessings and help us reach our goal. At 90k, we are 90% there! We are very grateful for what you have done, but we need just a little bit more! If you could all give us just $5-10 (more or less) we would be at 100K in no time. So do it now, and spread the word. Do it for the kids! Launchgood.com/sitaraturns10. Thank you!
Sommieh Flower, Director
Sitara Trust
Sitara Needs your Help!
Dear LG donors,
Assalamu alaykum! Alhamdulilah, this week marked the end of our most unusual school year. in spite of Covid lockdowns and start ups, the 300 children of Sitara were able to take their final exams and graduate. Nobody knows what the next year will hold, but we intend to do our best to educate and support these needy children. You have helped us before and I'm sure you'd do more if you could. Sharing our links is one way to continue helping so share them far and wide. We are reaching the last ten days of Ramadan, when your charity can be of unlimited value, so please keep Sitara in your donation plans once again and urge your friends and family to contribute too. Our recent video, https://youtu.be/gG3rvgnWsFc is the story of one boy told through the eyes of another. It captures the true essence of our mission, Ensuring the Right to an Education for All.
Jazak Allahu khairun for all of your support. May Allah accept all our deeds this Ramadan and keep our intentions pure. All the best, Sommieh Flower
Launchgood.com/sitaraturns10.
Important Message!
Assalamu alaykum dear Friends and Supporters,
Ramadan Kareem!
I need to tell you about something incredible LaunchGood has done. It’s something unheard of in the financial world and it’s proof of their sincere intent to launch good by living up to the Quranic verse that first inspired them eight years ago: You’re meant to be the best community brought forth for mankind.(S.3, V. 110, Holy Quran)
Let me explain what I mean. To support our fund-raising efforts, Launchgood offers marketing packages. These packages guarantee a 1x ROI (return on investment). No company does that. Return on investment is always a risk the buyer has to take. But LG provides its services to those who represent the most needy among us; refugees, orphans, widows, victims of war and impoverished people in critical situations around the globe. The last thing we need is to lose money for those we seek to help! So LG made it impossible to lose. Fund raising campaigns usually double or triple their return on investment with LG and there are countless success stories.
After tracking a significant decline in 2021 donations over previous years, LG made a noble decision: They are giving a 50% refund on marketing packages to all groups that have bought one, effective immediately. And they still plan to work just as hard to help us all make the money we need to fund our causes. This means if anybody loses, it will be Launchgood, not us.
Friends, it is our turn to step up to keep Launchgood on its feet. Support Sitara and other great causes with a donation of whatever size you can afford. Helping us will actually help Launchgood to fund thousands of deserving causes. We don’t want this vibrant, innovative, award-winning platform to suffer a loss because of pandemic related causes. It’s time to stand up for an organization that has always stood by us. Please continue supporting your causes through Launchgood. Give less than you have in the past, but at least make a contribution. The hand of Allah is with the jamaat. And as we all know, crowd-funding demands a crowd! Donate to Sitara at Launchgood.com/sitaraturns10. Join the Ramadan Challenge on the LG website, share this message far and wide and pray for the best outcome for all. Thank you!
With du’a for our mutual success,
Sommieh Flower
Director, Sitara Trust
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