Shazia Mirza was a student in 2002 when she heard the death news of a two year old child. This was Ramzan, who was her maid’s son, he was playing when the sudden passing of cargo trains crushed him. This took place in the marginalized area of Raiti Lines that is adjacent to the posh locality of Bath Island. She decided to pay a visit to the bereaved family. Some students were playing on the same cargo tracks where the accident had occurred. She asked them why they were not in school.
They said the government schools are far off and they are also reluctant as they fear corporal punishment- a common practice in many schools. When Shazia advised them to pursue their education and not waste their time sitting idle, one student said: ‘Since you’re so inquisitive, why don’t you teach us?
She visited Ramzan’s home where all maids sitting there surrounded her. One said my husband and I work to earn bread and in our absence our children play on the cargo-tracks. There is no one to prevent them. ‘We request you to please teach basic reading and writing to our children, we don’t want them to have a similar fate as Ramzan.’ Shazia used to get Rs. 2,000/ as pocket money. Ramzan’s mother offered to rent one room for Rs 1,800 as rent so she can start teaching children. Shazia agreed and started the first reading and writing non-formal classroom. There was an influx of many children, young and old. Within a couple of days, the quantity reached over 50. After a few days…
She visited Ramzan’s home where all maids sitting there surrounded her. One said my husband and I work to earn bread and in our absence our children play on the cargo-tracks. There is no one to prevent them. ‘We request you to please teach basic reading and writing to our children, we don’t want them to have a similar fate as Ramzan.’ Shazia used to get Rs. 2,000/ as pocket money. Ramzan’s mother offered to rent one room for Rs 1,800 as rent so she can start teaching children. Shazia agreed and started the first reading and writing non-formal classroom. There was an influx of many children, young and old. Within a couple of days, the quantity reached over 50. After a few days…
This and the preceding incident changed the course of Shazia Mirza’s life. She realized, how swiftly Allah Talah led her to His plan. This is how the journey of Manzil began, today it’s a flourishing school providing education to students from marginalized areas of Karachi. Team Manzil is making a difference by its unique Cognitive-Affective curriculum that emphasizes that care and social emotional aspects should be integral part of teaching and learning for the 21st century.
