It started in one room, with one teacher.
The journey of Dost Foundation Pakistan, told by our founder.
1990s
Our organization’s journey began in the 1990s when I started my professional life as a community mobilizer. Before that time, there were no schools for girls in my village, and students had to travel long distances to pursue their education—I, too, had to take this challenging path to receive my schooling.
A room, a teacher
Determined to make a difference, I opened a small school in a room of my house and requested a retired teacher to give lessons to the students. One day, an official from the Canadian Commission in Islamabad, Shawar Patodi, visited my village to evaluate an AKRSP project. As an AKRSP staff member, I accompanied her during the visit. While having lunch together, she inquired about the students. Upon hearing their struggles, she offered her support on the condition that I donate land and establish a formal organization to ensure a proper school building could be constructed.
2004
In response, I founded the M. Ibrahim Memorial Society, named in honor of my grandfather, a retired teacher who educated his son—a retired federal secretary—who, in turn, ensured I received an education. By March 2004, I expanded my work throughout Shigar District.
2014
The board members decided to rename the NGO DOST to reflect a broader vision. Through this organization, my mission has been to transform lives and provide equitable education for all.