DoPeace.org

DoPeace.org DoPeace.org was founded by Dr. Shahid Ahmed in Pennsylvania in 2014 with the mission of providing education to the children in the slums around the world

Key words: Mass education, little children, preschool, slums of the world, low-cost, poorest of the poor

Mission: The mission of DoPeace is to provide education to the tens of thousands of the poorest of poor children per year in the slums of the world, by using our proven rapid implementation model costing USD one per child per month. We bring the street children into the preschool, then make su

re they graduate 5th grade using after-school tutoring. Objectives: (1) cost of education US$1 per child per month (excluding digital devices), (2) bring little children of 4-5 years old to DoPeace classrooms for preschool education, (3) enroll graduates of the preschool into the primary schools, (4) reduce dropout from primary schools through after-school tutoring to students up to the 5th grade, (4) provide computer literacy to the children. Value proposition: (1) One classroom per slum community of 250-500 families, (1) classrooms at close walking distance for the preschool children, (2) instructors employed within the community, (3) emphasis is on easy student access for all children without any testing, (4) frequent on-line reporting and complete access of data to the donors, (5) a classroom named after the donor, (5) 90% of donation will be direct cost of education. Current implementation: The model is currently being implemented at 48 Learning Centers in Bangladesh, enrolling more than 10,000 children per year. Goal: We have the ambitious goal of educating 50,000 children in the next three year. Our story: DoPeace.org was founded by Dr. Shahid Ahmed in Pennsylvania in 2014 with the intention of providing education to the children in the slums around the world. Dr. Ahmed grew up in Dhaka, and Karachi, and has the first-hand knowledge of the acute problems in the slums, particularly the abject poverty and lack of resources for children's education. Dr. Ahmed lived in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, where he taught at Dar-es-Salaam Technical College before coming to Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, where he completed MS and Ph.D. in Nuclear Engineering. Dr. Ahmed obtained MBA from The Wharton School at University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, and taught as Adjunct Professor at the Systems Engineering Department at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Ahmed founded Princeton Information Technical Center (now PITC Institute) in 1998 as a post-secondary career school in technology and health care. He is currently the President of PITC Institute, and Chairman of DoPeace.org. Dr. Ahmed has developed a low cost, effective and rapid implementation educational model, using cutting edge-technology and optimum use of resources. He passionately believes that this model is an instrument to provide education to the masses in the slums around the world.

09/01/2024

In the end, what matters is how you treated your loved ones and the people you met, and how you worked to make their lives better.

Majahe Learning Center, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Supervisor: Meinrad Lembuka
08/23/2024

Majahe Learning Center, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Supervisor: Meinrad Lembuka

July 19, 2024Blog 12: The Blue Mosque of IstanbulBy Shahid AhmedIt was a summer midnight in Istanbul. The cool wind from...
07/20/2024

July 19, 2024
Blog 12: The Blue Mosque of Istanbul
By Shahid Ahmed

It was a summer midnight in Istanbul. The cool wind from the Bosporus felt great. I was relaxed, almost intoxicated, with the slightly exposed and lighted minaret in the background, the deep silence, and the solitude.

This place has a lot of history behind it, some 2,500 years of history, and thousands of years of prehistory—an amalgamation of culture and religion reflected in everything here. They built churches, then converted them to mosques, then museums—all with continuous upgrades—in various sequences over centuries. But they never destroyed a church or a mosque. The ongoing battleground never translated to utter hatred. Brave fighters respected each other.

The overtaking of Constantinople by the Ottomans in 1453 by Sultan Mehmet II, also known as Mehmet the Conqueror, was a remarkable point in history. By using innovative military strategies and advanced artillery, the Ottomans breached the formidable walls of the city after a 53-day siege. Upon capturing Constantinople, they established it as the capital of the Ottoman Empire, and renaming it Istanbul. This conquest not only marked the end of the Byzantine Empire but also heralded a new era of Islamic influence and cultural renaissance in the region. The Hagia Sophia, a grand church, was converted into a mosque, symbolizing the profound transformation of the city.

I chose a narrow, cobbled street next to the mosque, going towards the back of it. I kept going for about 20 minutes, then the area opened up. The majesty of the fully lighted mosque appeared in its full glory.

The rivals, no doubt, had skills. The buildings looked grand and alive, the mosaics were intricate, and the experience of just being there was unreal.

During the day, I prayed Asar and just sat there on the plush carpet for a few minutes, thinking about what these people were really like. Muslims or Christians, they were dedicated to upholding their religion. The kings motivated their subjects in the name of preserving or expanding their faith, which allowed them uncontested and vast power and wealth.

I stood mesmerized in complete silence, except for the white birds flying over the dome, reflecting the light going up the dome.

The soldiers had their own reasons for the ferocious fights—the recognition of winning or the rewards of heaven after death. The four major crusades and countless smaller ones are testaments to their commitment.

In the end, unlike Spain, Muslims continued to exist—to this date, as Islamic culture deeply penetrated Turkish culture for more than a millennium.

I backtracked my path. Unremarkable tiny houses dominate the back of the mosque. Do the inhabitants realize the historic importance of the place where they sleep every day?

07/16/2024

July 16, 2024
Blog 11: Penultimate Day in Bangladesh
My 15th Visit to Bangladesh
By Shahid Ahmed

Ten years of my visit to Bangladesh may seem like a long time, but the journey from a child's birth to maturity requires even more. Beyond just time, a child needs close attention during their growing years. Raising a child to become a responsible individual demands an investment of time and resources, but most importantly, considerable love and affection.

At DoPeace, we have a deep understanding of this essential need. When a student walks into the classroom, they are greeted warmly and given the love and attention that are integral to the teaching process. Over the six years that students are part of DoPeace, the bond between student and teacher strengthens significantly.

The progress they have shown during this visit has been stunning. As a result, our children are in the upper percentile academically. Many of our students hold the top three positions in their classes, achieving this despite facing numerous obstacles.

Our major initiative to systematically motivate students and make them proficient in English conversation has now matured after two years of a pilot project. This initiative is now rolled out to 40% of our students in grades six to twelve, and this percentage will grow in 2024. The remaining 60% of the students are still deserving and are those who cannot afford to acquire these skills on their own resources.

I am very hopeful that our students will continue to go to college, year after year, and achieve their dream of higher education.

07/13/2024

July 13, 2024
Blog 8: Thriving in the Long-Term
My 15th Visit to Bangladesh
By Shahid Ahmed

In the short term, a person or an organization may not be doing well and may be bogged down in survival mode. The long-term approach to thrive may be far from their mind.

However, without a long-term vision and strategy, they may find themselves in perpetual crisis.

At DoPeace, our vision is to change the slums through education. Our strategy to accomplish this is by educating children from preschool to the 13th grade, after which they will be on their way to higher education. I have given an example before: We run a train where we pick up children at the preschool station and drop them off at the 13th grade station. We are designing and continuously tweaking the system to achieve this efficiently and optimally, on a low budget.

Sometimes we encounter obstacles that can be negotiated, and sometimes they are insurmountable. We need to change course for the ones that are insurmountable. There is no point in banging against a fortified wall trying to go through it. The changes can be slow or fast and furious. I prefer a middle ground, not being so urgent to be fast and furious. This is possible if you have been deliberating, envisioning, and resolving your gut feelings all along.

All activities have long-term implications, whether it is evident to you or not. For example, a change in job can bring profound changes in your life for better or worse. Thus, activities in an organization should be viewed through the prism of their future impact. And so are the decisions you make — doing nothing in the face of urgency is also a decision, and you need to determine if you can maintain the status quo.

At DoPeace, after 10 years of operation, we are facing circumstances that we need to address. The train is running towards the 13th grade station, but we are facing obstacles. We must think clearly, come to the optimum resolution, and move forward.

Our organization is resilient. We have thrived from one school to 50 schools and 10,000 active students. Our DoPeace educational system is uniquely developed through many trials and tribulations, for the benefit of the poorest of the poor children in the world.

We are determined to thrive in the long run for the benefit of thousands and thousands of underprivileged children now and in the future.

07/10/2024

July 9, 2023
Blog 6: The DoPeace Ecosystem
My 15th Visit to Bangladesh
By Shahid Ahmed

Achieving worthwhile goals requires more than dedication and hard work — it also requires an ecosystem that fosters unity, humor, and fun.

We can’t simply drain ourselves with seriousness and lofty visions. We need to tread lightly. We need to connect with each other with humor and lightheartedness. Above all, under all circumstances, we need to take ego out of the equation — as ego is the death knell to any success.

That is our underlying theme at DoPeace. On a daily basis, there are activities that create friction. We want accountability and progress. There are unannounced physical visits to the classroom by the DoPeace monitoring staff. Each visit is documented and reviewed by the DoPeace country representative. Any irregularities are passed along to the supervisor, who consults with the teacher in question.

Then there is the monthly visits by the DoPeace country representative, which is quite intense. Random students are checked for the progress intended in the curriculum. A report is then created that documents the details and ranks each DoPeace Learning Center.

It can be quite testy — and that’s where we need to take out the personality and hone in on the broader vision we have all agreed upon — that is, preparing our students for high achievement against all odds — and we are dead serious about that.

We meet, sing, dance, and pull each other’s legs. We don’t pull ranks, and egos are checked out.

I saw this in action last night after our semi-annual meeting at Parbatipur (located in Dinajpur, Bangladesh), when Dewan Wask, DoPeace’s country representative, presented his outcome report after visits to the six Learning Centers of PLSKS. In spite of all the levity we had before the meeting — with non-stop songs, dance, and music for one hour — the report was partly incriminating. After much discussion, PLSKS’ executive director accepted our view that they have made tremendous progress compared to the last visit, but much work remains to be done.

The organizational ecosystem must be based on levity and humor. Even when we take the work seriously, we don’t take ourselves seriously.

07/08/2024

July 8, 2023
Blog 5: Multi-prong Effort
My 15th Visit to Bangladesh
By Shahid Ahmed

The purpose of DoPeace is to help children in the slums succeed through education. This is accomplished using a multi-pronged effort:

1. Implementing the DoPeace educational model: This includes strong preschool education and establishing one-room schools in the heart of the slums. No admission tests are required.
2. Admitting students to primary schools. We ensure students are enrolled in nearby primary schools in grade one.
3. Providing afterschool coaching: To prevent dropouts, we offer coaching up to grade five.
4. Creating a safe and nurturing environment: We ensure that students feel recognized and welcomed in the classroom, fostering psychological well-being at all times.
5. Offering regular motivational lectures: Throughout their six-year tenure at DoPeace, students receive motivational lectures that equip them with skills for high achievement. They learn about successful figures from history and their communities. They set goals, and envision pathways to success.
6. Memorizing and reciting the DoPeace oath: Students start each day by reciting the oath, keeping their vision and responsibilities at the forefront.

We are not just schools where children read and write. The four walls of the classroom are a magical place where children are transported to a world full of possibilities.

07/05/2024

July 5, 2024
Blog 2: What’s in it for us?
My 15th Visit to Bangladesh
By Shahid Ahmed

Why should we bother to think about underprivileged children in slums? How does it affect you and me? We can live without doing anything. Right? Wrong.

Its impact is both near-term and in the distant future.

In the near term, uneducated children in slums represent a lost opportunity. Not only do they negatively impact the country’s economy, but the country also has an obligation to take care of them, which is a drain on already struggling nations with widespread slums. Furthermore, these children are prey to criminal elements, increasing the crime rate. Consequently, the inhabitants are directly and immediately exposed.

The long-term impact is staggering — holding the country back and ensuring that they will never kick themselves out of poverty.

For example, Pakistan has 26 million children out of school (Punjab: 10 million; Sindh: 7 million; Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 4 million; Balochistan: 3 million). Bangladesh has 5 million. Afghanistan: 8 million. India: 6 million. Sub-Saharan Africa: 98 million!

These numbers are staggering and ensure that persistent poverty will continue, and perhaps deepen.

The mismatch in the speed of upward mobility between developed nations and the downward mobility of poorer nations is no secret. The gap will never start to reduce unless education takes priority in the affected countries.

So, you and I, and our children, and their children, will starkly see the impact. We, as a society, need to tackle this issue now. Otherwise, I foresee a point of no return in the near future.

06/22/2024

Blog-3: Stop Killing Children
By Shahid Ahmed
July 22, 2024

It is happening like an ongoing horror film, every day, live on TV and social media. Over 13,000 children have died, and 90,000 children under five years old are severely malnourished. Families are skipping meals to feed small children.

Food shortages are deliberate acts of human brutality shamelessly displayed, while thousands of trucks carrying food are obstructed from entering Gaza.

In the meantime, men — well-educated, accomplished, and well-supplied with arms — are unstoppable. Human and moral values purported by the so-called advanced civilization are meaningless lip service.

Hate rules supreme.

Hamas is a terrorist organization. They did what they are expected to do: kill innocent men, women, and children and keep hostages. Israel is a democratic, highly accomplished, and powerful ally of the West. Why would they do things that kill an unprecedented number of children? When will the conscience kick in — after how many children are killed by explosives and hunger?

I will say it again. Enough is enough.

STOP KILLING CHILDREN!

06/16/2024

To my family, friends, DoPeace students, teachers, supervisors, and Eds in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Tanzania: May this Eid al-Adha bring you and your families the utmost happiness, health, and peace.

06/03/2024

Never give up in the face of adversity. Future may be uncertain, but you have today. Make the most of it.

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827 Glenside Avenue, Admin Bldg A
Cheltenham, PA
19095

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