Great Mother's Great Daughter is the testimony of one student's devotion and conviction that each human being can achieve anything he truly sets his heart upon.

Sargand School is situated in a rural area of District Mardan in the North West of Pakistan. Sargand School is a courtesy of Human Foundation Development (HDF) TMF team. There are about 70 students enrolled in this school.

A student named Aisha, from Sargand School narrates her story to us in her own words about her poor family which has fallen on hard times and of her journey from darkness to light:

"We are three sisters, and four brothers. Our father was a tailor. He was a drug addict, and his addiction cost him his only Job. Jobless, and without any better hope of future, our family fell on hard times. Following his unemployed status, money shortage, our house-hold atmosphere took a deep plunge towards despair and disarray. Quarrels began and the end result was my father using force against my mother to silence her.

The worsening circumstances forced my mother to take the initiative to leave my father. We as a family left our home, our father, and moved to village Surgand. Our misfortune came with us, as my elder brother also followed into foot-steps of my father and started using narcotics.

It was in this time of hardship and horror that my mother acted as our savior. She became this bold and valiant woman, who took the responsibility to support our family both financially and morally. She started to sew and work in other people’s houses. Even though, my mother worked to ensure we don’t go without food every day, the money was just about enough to take care of our basic-necessities. We in many ways were living a life of abject poverty, where there was no extra means to support our educational needs.

Then one day, in this time of dire need, Human Development Foundation (HDF) visited our village. Our village didn't comprise of any voluntary sectors that provided health and educational facilities for poor locals. The HDF-TMF decided that local population could benefit from free educational institutes. They passed a resolution of starting a school in our village. The local populous greeted the news with joy and hope. For poor people this was a blessing. I was fortunate enough to get admission in HDF-TMF girls school, while my brothers enrolled in boys school. My mother paid frequent visits to our place of learning. She was also intrigued by the culture of learning. My mother expressed her desire for an opportunity to study to my teachers. The educational staff at HDF-TMF school provided her with a learning opportunity, and she was also enrolled in our school. Now by the grace of Allah, she has learnt how to read and write and has also mastered the art of signing her name.

With no providing father at the head, my family struggled. We all went through our share of worries and troubles. The circumstances of my life galvanized me into putting all my effort towards improving my performance in educational field. My hard work was rewarded in terms of me coming out with top grades in class. I was also one of the better performers in my class.

When I reached the fifth grade, I put in my full determination and effort to perform better in my class, this time I placed more emphasis on extra learning, as I was soon to participate in the Government Board Examination. With hard work and full devotion, I sat the important exams. Later, when the result was announced, my happiness knew no boundaries; I was rewarded with the joy of fulfillment that can only come with the input of maximum effort. It was a moment of sheer joy and pride for my mother and teachers as I achieved the first position in HDF-TMF schools. I got 577 out of 700 marks. I was showered with words of encouragement and praised for my achievement. My mother has enrolled me in Shah Dhand Baba School in class sixth for further education.

Inshallah, I will endeavor to excel in my studies and a day will come when I will be able to give my full fledged support to my great mother.

My request to all kind human beings out there – please Pray for me, "May God fulfill my Dreams ". In the end, I would like to express my gratitude to HDF-TMF team for all their kind help and support, and I will always remember them in my prayer. It's through them, that I and thousands like me are getting an opportunity to seek education. "

Aisha's story shows how HDF strive to reach the remotest places like in Mardan District, to provide hope through the gift of education and improve future prospects of those people and communities.