Christian Sharoon now gets schooling in Pakistan

Danish European Mission wants children to be rescued from this vicious circle. That's why we raise money so that children with a Christian background can go to school. We also have sewing schools for young girls who as children had no schooling or only a few years of schooling. At the sewing schools, they learn to sew and earn more money than before.

Here, children in the school project talk about what it means to them to go to school.

Vishal Matloob

"My name is Vishal Matloob. I live in a village in Yuongsonabad. I have one brother and two sisters. Eight years ago, my parents died in a car accident on their way to Lahore. After their death, my uncle, who is my father's elder brother, took care of us. My two sisters are also in a school in Sialkot and my younger brother lives with my uncle. My uncle has two sons, so it's hard for him to feed all the children as he is the only one who has an income. This year he told me that it is difficult for him to pay for my education. This worried me because I want to finish my schooling. In April, I heard about Shepherd [Danish European Mission partner], so I contacted them and now I am in 8th grade. I am happy and feel peaceful that I have been able to continue my schooling." This year, Vishal is moving on to 9th grade.

Vishal said: "Thank you to everyone who is helping me to continue my schooling without any problems. It shows your love and kindness towards people in need. I am also grateful to Shepherd [Danish European Mission's partner, ed], which makes it possible for me to get a good education, which is otherwise not possible due to my poor financial situation. Now I am in 10th grade. I have renewed motivation for my education: I want to work hard and get the best possible result. I pray that God will bless Shepherd more. Amen.

Sharoon Razaq

"My name is Sharoon Razaq. I have two sisters and a brother. I live in the village of Dala Chanda Sing Chuk 85. My father works as a daily wage laborer and earns only 7000 rupees a month, which is barely enough to cover our expenses for food and daily necessities. So I faced a problem with my education because my father could not pay the school fees. I was worried if I would be able to finish 10th grade. One day I heard about the school project in my church. Now I am in 9th grade at a Christian school and I am very happy." This year Sharoon will be promoted to 10th grade.

Sheeza Arshad

"My name is Sheeza Arshad. We live in the village of Burj Cheema. We are four girls and one boy. My father is a drug addict and stays at home. He used to work one day a week. My mother works as a domestic worker. Due to the bad circumstances in my family and my father's addiction, my two older sisters dropped out of school two years ago and stay at home because our mother cannot pay for their schooling and has been forced to give up their education. My younger sister and I went to a private school in the village. We made an agreement with the principal, who also owns the school. We went to school in the morning, and after school my sister and I cleaned the whole school. So we didn't get paid for it, it was just deducted from the school fees.

It was very hard and most of the time we didn't get home until the evening, sometimes it took a very long time and she didn't treat us nicely. We did all this because my sister and I are very eager to get an education. We want to be nurses. Then one of our relatives told us about Shepherd [Danish European Mission's partner, ed.] and they helped us so that we can now get a good education in a school and school home. I am now in 8th grade and my sister is in 6th grade, we are very happy that we don't have to clean the school anymore."

Michele Arshad

"My name is Michele Arshad. We are three girls and two boys. I live in the village of Clarakabad. My father died of illness seven years ago, so now we are completely dependent on our relatives. My mother is a housewife and we live in a room which was my father's share in my grandfather's house. After my father's death, my relatives sent me to school, but it was difficult for my mother to pay the expenses and every time the school management called her to ask for the money, which was very painful for me. In April, my teachers referred me to Shepherd and now they pay for my schooling and there is no more pain. My mom and I are so happy for what Shepherd and my teachers have done for us."

Thank you to everyone who ensures that vulnerable children from the Christian minority in Pakistan can go to school. Without schooling, the children face the prospect of hard and underpaid work, but with schooling the door opens to a better future.