Islamabad -UNS: Mashal Association is working for the uplift of underprivileged girls and women by providing education, health care and vocational training, organized a charity Bazaar on Nov.8, in Islamabad.
The charity bazaar was attended by a large number of women and children from the community.
Women were encouraged to bring homemade cuisine and handicrafts to enhance their entrepreneurial skills. Rides and games for children added to the fun.
The Association regularly organizes Charity Bazaars in consonance with its Mission Statement “To bring about a meaningful change in the lives of girls and women in the community through education, employability and entrepreneur skills.”
They were mostly from Poona Faqiran and Mohrian Village near Margalla Town where fun fair and outlets for women to present their homemade items comprising handicraft and food items for sale is a rarity.
Students of Mashal vocational training center have the opportunity to earn revenue from marketing their products in this type of bazaar.
Members of Mashal Association participate in the charity events wholeheartedly.
The President Fauzia Asim and Vice President Mahgul Koreshi inaugurated the bazaar by lighting a torch of hope.
Mashal Association looks forward to support from philanthropists to its various projects which have been instrumental in changing so many lives since 1996. It will help them in paying back to the country and giving a boost to women who were born less fortunate.
Mashal is a social welfare association registered under Islamabad Capital Territory Charities Registration, Regulation and Facilitation Act, 2021. It was founded by Begum Shahida Azim in 1988.
It is a non-political, non-sectarian welfare association dedicated to the uplift of under-privileged women and girls in and around Islamabad.
It is run by members, who are all dedicated volunteers.
The welfare complex became operational in 1996 and comprises:
School for girls up to grade 10, where the students are provided free tuition, books, uniform and transport.
The school has a paid principal and teaching staff who offer well-rounded education with an emphasis on extra-curricular activities to turn them into self-confident citizens.
Fully equipped medical unit, which has three consulting rooms and a dispensary, staffed with four voluntary doctors, two nurses and a dispenser. A very nominal sum is charged for the checkups and medicines, while preventive vaccinations are free of cost.
Doctors examine 250 to 300 patients per week.
Vocational center provides training in cutting, stitching, embroidery and knitting to young women, six days a week. Voluntary members oversee paid teachers.
A grooming center has been added where girls can learn the skills required for working in a beauty salon.
Mashal Association has also organized rural uplift program in villages around Islamabad.
Its pilot project is in Village Mohrian where Female Adult Literacy, Vocational Training and Medical Camps have been set up.
The Association regularly organizes Charity Bazaars in consonance with its Mission Statement “To bring about a meaningful change in the lives of girls and women in the community through education, employability and entrepreneur skills.”
Education is free for the girls till Intermediate while adult female literacy is also provided along with free medical care.
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