Out in the street a crowd of youngsters was cheering and shouting. In their midst two kids, not more than twelve years of age, were scuffling and punching each other viciously. One of the two brawlers was a slightly built boy, his name is Muhammad Hadees.

Growing up as a middle child in a family of six, Hadees found himself out on the street most of the time. To make the matters worse he had to deal with an abusive father who was left handicapped and jobless by an accident. Hadees was never interested in getting an education and the atmosphere at the government school in his area drove him farther away.

His father tried in vain for years to get Hadees interested in studies but punishment and abuse did not help in changing the child’s mind. He went to school for sometime just to get away from the stifling environment of his house but realized that the teacher at the school was no better than his abusive father at home. Finally, after several absences he simply stopped going to school and spent his whole day on the streets.

Someone suggested HDF’s “child friendly” school to Hadees’ skeptical parents, they decided to send an even more skeptical Hadees to the HDF school for a few months just to try it out. So without any expectations of improvements on either side, Hadees started attending the HDF school.

His new teacher, Miss. Rizwana, took him under her direct supervision and tolerated all his troublesome behavior with kind yet firm attitude. She also encouraged his parents to join the local PTA so they can stay informed about the child’s progress. This also gave her the opportunity to work with both the parents and she slowly convinced them to change their parenting strategies with the boy.

Hadees has shown a positive change and his interest in education has been rekindled thanks to Miss. Rizwana and HDF’s child friendly schools. HDF schools use the Joyful method of learning; children are involved in the learning process through activities. Teachers at HDF schools never use punishment to motivate kids to come to school or to learn. HDF is working all over Pakistan training individuals like Miss. Rizwana to be teachers in HDF’s child friendly schools.

These teachers might be the only hope for a successful future of Pakistan’s next generation. Please help HDF save these children’s future; your donations make a huge difference in their lives.