Mashal Model School is a non-profit school with a purpose to educate the marginalised children of the Bari Imam area in Islamabad, who have never had a chance for proper education. At Mashal, the first rule that we work on as teachers is that physical abuse, in any sense, is non-acceptable, as these children come from a background of constant mistreatment and lack of emotional and directional supp
ort. Admissions start from four years onwards and multi-aged children are admitted according to their levels of basic understanding and learning skills. We follow the National Book Foundation curriculum set by the Board of Education in Pakistan. Educating on issues in health and hygiene and particularly protection against abuse is one of the core aims of our modules. At present we have 18 teachers from the same community who have been trained by the Teacher Trainer, keeping in mind the background of these children. The school also has afternoon sewing classes for the community women, mother's of students and young girls. The space created for the women, not only provides them with the opportunity to build their skills, but provides them with an avenue to share their problems, experiences, as well as joys with each other.
