Our students, who always wait for such events, were all ready to leave half an hour before the time given to them for the departure of buses from the school. Two large buses were arranged by Mrs. Mustafa and we took our two school vans as well.

It was a fun-filled, educational trip where our students not only had fun but learned so much about the different planes and jets used previously by Pakistan Air Force.

The students saw the personal plane, Viking 1-b used by Mr. Jinnah for his last visit to Ziarat, where he died and the same plane brought his dead body back to Karachi. The students were amazed to see a telephone, and his personal rest room inside the plane.

There was also an F-86 Jet, amongst others, which Mrs. Shabina Mustafa’s husband, Flt. Lt. Syed Safi Mustafa (Shaheed) SJ, used to fly during his time with the PAF. He was missing believed killed in 1971 before the war in Bangladesh (East Pakistan).

There were old planes and new planes. An Indian plane captured in Sindh by the Pakistani forces, helicopters, aviation radar systems, badges of ranks in PAF, the changes in the PAF uniform over the years, etc on display at the PAF Archive Gallery.

There were also pictures of all the martyrs in one gallery where there was Flt. Lt. Syed Safi Mustafa (Shaheed) SJ’s picture with his short life history put up along with other martyrs’ pictures.

Later on, the students were given money to take rides in the amusement park there which was the best time of the trip for them! These students rarely get a chance to experience such rides and they shouted and laughed and got scared and had incredible fun on them!

Before leaving, everyone had a snack. The students and staff all had a very good time and we would all like to thank Mrs. Shabina Mustafa for arranging such an event for us

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As an incentive for coming on Saturdays, one of our regular volunteers, Mrs. Samina Lotia took the students of Grade 3 to Hyperstar at Dolmen City Mall on 21st January, 2012. She gave them money to buy candies, etc. The students, for whom it was a first experience at a hyper market and also at any mall on the whole were all extremely excited and bought the luxuries which are normally unaffordable for them.

Incentives like these are always given to students so that they not only work hard but realize their hidden talents by visiting these different places of learning and activity.

Traditionally, The Garage School celebrates its students’ birthdays. It is a special day for a child when he/she is made royalty. They cut their birthday cakes and their class sings the birthday song for them. A little gift is given by the school to make the day more special. This month, however, our teacher Ms. Huma Adnan celebrated her birthday in school on the 20th of January, 2012.

There was cake, chips, chaat (a Pakistani specialty snack which consists mainly of chickpeas and potatoes with tamarind and lots of spices) and soft drinks. Her class sang songs,  made cards for her and had a hearty snack in the end.  It was a joyous event as it was the first time that a teacher had treated her students on her birthday. Later on, Ms. Huma received a nice surprise gift from Mrs. Shabina Mustafa.

HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY MS. HUMA!

Keeping in mind the theme, the students of The Garage School performed a tableau showcasing the provinces and regions of Pakistan.

Clad in national and provincial attire, the students performed the dances of all the four provinces showcasing the “Colors of Pakistan”.  Confident, energetic and extremely disciplined, our students made the crowd dance in tune with them. The tableau ended with Mr. Ross Mintzer’s (volunteer at The Garage School) performance of the song Jazba Junoon on his saxophone and the students left the hall singing with him.

CIO Pakistan presented a trophy to the school in appreciation for all the efforts put forward by the staff and students for organizing the perfect performance for the evening.

To all those students who performed that day… YOU MADE US ALL PROUD!

A total of 30 students and staff members went to see the match, where the students’ enthusiasm not only uplifted the spirits of the team players but it also helped to promote domestic cricket amongst the younger generation which in turn will help in the development of the future talent of Pakistan Cricket.

The program was very well organized with an English drama, an Urdu drama and a Qawwali being performed by the primary section of the Happy Home School. The school choir kept the audience entertained between the performances. Overall, it was a commendable performance by the students of The Happy Home School and due credit must be given to all teachers and students who worked so hard for it.

The students of The Garage School thoroughly enjoyed the event.

The students, all excited, left for the zoo in the morning at 10. They had so much fun looking at the animals. Some of the students had never seen the wild animals, only studied about them at school, so it was an experience of its kind for them. They also had a hearty lunch there, which was prepared for them by their teachers.

Such activities help these children immensely in their learning process. As the saying goes, “Experience is the most efficient teacher of all things.” And The Garage School makes sure that these children get all the necessary exposure!

There was chocolate cake, balloons and rose petals every where! The students had so much fun singing songs and eating cake. Mrs. Shabina Mustafa was presented with her favorite white lily bouquet and so were Sira Mehdi and her mother, who had come to our school from London, England.

Adult Literacy

This will be in association with the Literacy Support Centre. It includes courses for parents and older siblings of the students of Garage School. There will be a three month Urdu course, followed by a 4 to 6 month English course. Children who are older than 12 will complete Grade 10 schooling in a period of 4 years on a private basis. The class strength at present is 31 (12 men and 18 women. Classes will be held five times a week from 4 to 10pm.

Clean Neighbourhood and Recycling

Dustbins being developed in the arts and crafts class of the school will be provided for each house. Personal visits will be made to homes to distribute stitched cloth bags for the collection and proper disposal of papers, glass and tin. These items will then be sold for recycling. The money from the sale of these items will be saved by each family in containers that are provided.

Savings Project

Each child will save their pocket money and collect in a gullak (mud container). This will teach them the habit of saving and fulfilling their desire at the end of the year. This is the first step towards opening a Garage School bank.

First Aid and Recycling Awareness

A first aid awareness program was conducted on the 20th of January, 2008, courtesy Dr. Nighat. First Aid kits were prepared and provided to each participant. Dr. Nighat will also conduct weekly counselling for the women of the locality.

Medical Checkups

Dr. Farah Ahmed of the department of Community Health Sciences will be conducting quarterly medical checkups for the children and their parents. We shall try our best to improve and upgrade the living conditions of everyone.

WHAT WE NEED

We need our own premises for the Garage School, a place where we are able to conduct all classes from Nursery to Class X. The children require a proper space for sports and extra curricular activities.

Sponsorship Programs

Sponsor a Child (PK Rs. 10,200, USD 170)

Sponsor School Rent (PK Rs. 30,000 per month, USD 500)

Sponsor a Classroom (PK Rs. 6,000 per month, USD 100)

Sponsor a Teacher (PK Rs. 5,000 to 10,000 a month, USD 82 to 164)

Funds for school based consultancy and support programs

In collaboration with the Educational Resource Development Center, TGS aims to launch a one year extensive teachers’ training program for capacity building. A sum of Rs. 663,000 is required for this project.

Please help us with our objectives. Any manner of assistance will be highly appreciated. Thanks.

Please make cheques in the name of “The Garage School”

Standard Chartered Bank, Clifton, Karachi

Account Number: 01-4544048-01

Swift Code: SCBL PKK XXX

Tax Approval No. CIT/COS.V//2006/464