Kiran Flagship Program

Bridging the Gap

A one of a kind educational parenting model that empowers the children and their caregivers through consistent long-term financial, academic, social and emotional support. It starts with our unique Ibtedai program which is a mother and child trauma informed preparatory preschool program further leading to admissions at reputable schools all the way to university. This program aims to bridge the socioeconomic gap through providing equal educational and networking opportunities to the students in mainstream private schools. They take the positive and soft image of Lyari out into the bigger world and bring back hope to Lyari. They perform the task of being the Ambassadors of Change. They lead their community through breaking barriers and create diverse networks for growth and progress.

Kiran Ibtedai School

This is a concept that has been nurtured and pampered like a newborn baby and implemented with the true passion of a mother’s love. This holistic, trauma informed mother and child preparatory preschool is designed to broaden the horizons of families through their child’s admission into mainstream private schools. We develop positive habits in children from a young age, with the aim to nurture them into kinder, more mindful individuals, aspiring to become empathetic leaders.

Kiran Ibtedai School was established in 2006 in a congested street in Lyari inside a narrow building which today stands as our flagship Kiran Ghar, with the integral support of the Khatri Family, and two community champions, Haji Nazir Baloch and Sohrab Darzada. This became the first mother-child preschool of its kind, where children at risk of being disenfranchised by adverse-childhood experiences and their mothers, who went through severe domestic violence were given a safe and nurturing environment to heal into well-rounded individuals.

This pioneer preparatory preschool program made it mandatory for mothers to educate themselves alongside their children to get ready to take the leap of applying to mainstream schools outside Lyari.

Kiran Ambassador Program

We believe that when children are given access to mainstream education and a diverse network of friends, they have the power to turn their circumstances around and unlock the doors to a world of opportunities that would otherwise be inaccessible to them. We have been able to take 145 children from Lyari to main-stream schools and colleges like St-Michael Convent, Haque Academy, Dawood Public School, Habib Public School, Habib Girls, Reflections, Generation, Happy Home, Aga Khan School, Origins, Nixor College, Cedar College and DA Degree College since 2008. Every day, these children dare to step out of their comfort zone and challenge the expectations people have from Lyari. Living in two different worlds is extremely challenging. These students reflect as positive ambassadors of Change for Lyari taking the Kiran message of love to the world. Every year more children are prepared to apply to mainstream schools and colleges.

After school, the Ambassadors are supported at “Kiran Ghar” for evening classes where they are given consistent academic, social, and emotional support through academic tuitions and enrichment programs, in-house as well as out-sourced. Mental health support is also provided if needed.

Academics

Financial

Social

Emotional

Testimonials

Laraib Darzada

15 years
KAP AMBASSADOR PROGRAM

My father’s mindset was challenged by Kiran.

“At Kiran we, as a family learnt to take responsibility and most importantly, believe in ourselves. One lady who we called “Maa” Changed my life. At first, I thought she was from another world; how can we always be hopeful? How is it possible for education to change your entire life? Those were the questions I asked 8 years ago. Today, I can see it alive. Today I have hope! Today, I’m in class 10 at Habib girls’ school and I hope Lyari, my home continues to change.”

Nargis Alvi

Headmistress
HABIB Public School

“Sabina Khatri’s intention of starting work in Lyari to educate the children as a means for social uplift was interesting as well as inspiring. She requested that her students be considered for admission at Habib Girls’ after she had prepared them to sit for the admission test. I had my doubts but Sabina convinced me and since then a number of girls have cleared the admission test and were enrolled I feel a sense of great satisfaction when I see these young girls doing so well in every field.Their language skills are exceptional considering that they come from homes where English is not spoken at all.I congratulate Sabina for dreaming big and achieving even bigger.”

Every day, these children dare to step out of their comfort zone and challenge the expectations people have from Lyari.

Living in two different worlds is extremely challenging.

Kiran is their home, their safe space, their sanctuary.

145 children from Lyari are studying in mainstream Cambridge and
Aga Khan Board Schools, completely or partially supported by Kiran Foundation.

We promise to look after all aspects of these children’s development
till they graduate from university.

We believe this will give them the power to turn their
circumstances around and unlock the doors to a world of opportunity
that would otherwise be inaccessible to them.

“Over last five years, Dawood Public School is proud to have girls from Kiran Foundation. These girls have enriched our environment with their confidence and vivacity. I have no doubt that these girls will become future leaders.’

Sabrina Dawood, CEO, Dawood Foundation

External Academic Enrichment Programs

Literary Junction

Literary Junction is an interactive book group for kids. Children attend creative workshops that are designed around the book to help develop the child’s enthusiasm for reading. These books are part of the North American curriculum and are being shipped especially for LJ.

Reading Lab

The Reading Lab helps children establish a passion for reading and writing. Starting with basic phonics and working all the way up through advanced comprehension, The Reading Lab also helps students interpret information, expand their vocabulary and language skills.

LUMUN Social Responsibility Program

LUMUN’s very own Social Responsibility wing works towards meeting UN’s objectives and strives to achieve the Sustainable Development goal, through which they worked closely with children at Kiran Foundation. The curriculum was specifically designed to make it more relevant to the themes of Model UN. They focused children’s curriculum towards making Pakistan greener and tolerant to new ideas.

Little Momin

Little Momin is an Islamic program that teaches children about the religion Islam through different mediums. They have divided the content into different themes. They enable the kids to practice Islamic teachings in their daily lives. They have different levels for different age groups.

EDEQUAL

EDEQUAL works to deploy technology enabled blended learning in Mathematics to transform learning outcomes. It has assisted students to enhance their mathematical skills by complementing their school curriculums.

Destination Imagination

DI is a volunteer-led, educational non-profit organization that teaches “21st century” skills and STEM principles to kindergarten through university level students through collaborative problem solving challenges. Competing in this, children of grades 5 and 6 created an electronic skateboard.

e-Magazine

e-Magazines provides customized, dynamic & innovative learning experiences for all children of different ages and help them build upon your strengths. Focusing on UN’s global issues, it serves as a platform for children to exercise their problem solving skills as they are presented with a global issue in this competition.

Al-Huda Institute of Islamic Education for Women

Al-Huda is an Islamic school that offers various Islamic courses to give holistic education to the children. Different programs have been designed for different mindsets and ages of women and men.

Ayesha Chundrigar Foundation (ACF)

ACF was created with a vision to assist marginalized or forgotten communities, animals and humans alike, to be rescued and rehabilitated, to improve their quality of life, for everyone to have a fair chance to live their lives with dignity and respect.

ACF is popularly known as ACF Animal Rescue; the first initiative ACF started was the first-of-its-kind animal shelter in Pakistan, based in Karachi for injured and unwell stray animals such as dogs, cats and kites and working animals such as donkeys, horses and camels.

Kiran Ambassador Program nurtures these children and gives them wings to fly, so that they can soar above the societal differences and bridge the gap.

Kiran Ambassadors Outreach Program

With the spirit to give back and contribute towards the betterment of their community, Kiran Green Society was started by 5 Kiran Ambassadors when they were 9 years old.

Hamza

studying at

Nixor College

Sherbano

studying at

Cedar College
Hammad

studying at

Habib Public
High School
Javeria

studying at

Cedar College
Aqsa

studying at

Sceptre College

Kiran Green Society reminds us that you’re never too small to make a big difference.
They have done many different projects over the years, such as

The Kiran School System should not only be hailed for leveling the playing field and providing the same opportunities to these children that are often available to only a narrow strata of society. But, the true extent of its success can be gauged from the fact that regardless of their background, the Kiran Foundation, its founder, Sabina Khatri and her unwavering group of supporters have been able to instill in each child a confidence, self-awareness and sense of pride that is comparable with any one of our own children. In class, these children have exhibited the same enthusiasm, hard-word and creativity to fully embrace the fun-filled and thought-provoking exploration of a new subject matter each month. The kiran ambassador program and kiran foundation’s efforts are only eclipsed by the children’s own determination to use the exposure and grooming to create a tradition of success and achievement in their respective families and neighborhoods. It is the happy ending every child deserves.

Sania Adil, founder of Literary Junction (KAP external program)