Written by Yumna Rafi | Photos by Syed Jafer

In a modest house off Mauripur Road in Lyari, loud shrieks of boisterous laughter ripple through the air as 12-year-old Iqra and her siblings race around their narrow verandah. Their mother tries to hush them down, as she goes about her daily chores. It is just another day in August 2012 and the family is completely unaware of the calamity they are about to face. It is the day Iqra’s father abandons the family, giving no explanation or reason.

‘I would always remember the date Abu left, I won’t ever forget,’ says Iqra, now 18, as she recounts the ill-fated day and the testing times that left her family scrambling to survive.

The incident had a profound effect on Iqra’s mother. There was no time to heal from the psychological trauma of the event. The prospect of her children’s bleak future further deteriorated her already ailing health, leading to worsening kidney pain.

Iqra’s eldest brother started contributing to the household by continuing what his father did: making and selling suitcases. But despite his hard work and the best of intentions, the young teenager struggled to make any meaningful financial contribution. Iqra’s Rs. 1,000 fee at her former private school was now an extravagance.

A ray of light

With a stroke of luck, Iqra’s mother found out about The Citizens Foundation (TCF) school in her neighbourhood which eased her worries regarding her daughter’s education– she heard it was known for its quality education and had a nominal fee. There has been no looking back ever since and Iqra was quickly enrolled in 8^th grade of TCF’s Cowasjee campus.

‘When we found out that we would have to pay only Rs. 20 for the TCF school, I was beyond elated. I could sense a new opportunity opening in my life,’ says Iqra

She found a different teaching style at her new school which accelerated her learning and enabled her to understand concepts with new perspectives. ‘The teachers were very different here. They took a personal interest in our development. It was as if I was being exposed to the world around me for the first time. I grew much more confident over time as well.’

With a little encouragement, Iqra soon started faring better than the rest of her peers, securing first position in her final exams in Grade 10.

Pulling her own weight

With the challenge related to her schooling addressed, it did not take long for Iqra to lift herself out of self-pity and start contemplating ways to support her family financially. With maturity and determination far beyond her years, Iqra soon found an after-school teaching job at her previous school. Here, she teaches Maths and English to both Primary and Secondary students. Her success made her eager to push herself further and she decided to work at home after her job by giving tuitions to 6^th and 7^th graders.

When she was in her 10^th grade, TCF Head Office representatives visited Iqra’s school and encouraged students to take the entrance test for their newly initiated venture: the TCF College. Needless to say, Iqra eagerly took up the opportunity and passed the entry test as well as the rigorous selection process which followed. She is currently pursuing her Pre-Engineering (1^st year Intermediate) at the TCF College, while also juggling two jobs.

At the College, Iqra is receiving a well-rounded education, centred on the 3 pronged agenda of the college:

• • Helping students perform well academically at the Intermediate exam level

• • Perform well in University entrance examinations

• Personality development

She intends to pursue a career which is technical and involves logic: ‘I think a lot,’ says Iqra.

Looking ahead

The household which once had no breadwinners now has three incomes coming in, however meagre. Iqra’s eldest brother, now 19, works at an internet provider and sells connections to households. Her mother has taken up a job at a beauty salon, while she gets treatment for her ailment

‘Kuch bhi ho bachon ki parhai nahi rukni chahiye [No matter what, the children’s education must not stop],’ says Iqra’s mother.

Life is slowly getting back on track after having spiraled out of control, but the family still has an uphill battle to face every day.

‘At times there was no food in the afternoon. Dinner would be the only time we would eat properly. When my mother cooked for us at night, she would sometimes criy’, says Iqra with tears in her own eyes as she tries to put on a brave face.

‘But we are hopeful. We have come a long way. Khuda nay bohat meherbani ki ham par aur kare chalay jar aha hai [God has bestowed upon us His blessings, and He doesn’t seem to stop doing so]. I am so privileged to be a part of the TCF College, where I have attained a spot by clearing a very competitive entrance examination. I am going to make the most of this opportunity.’