Educating Zahid

Message of Hope.    From Mumbai in Maharashtra comes this message of hope. Hope for the poor and the needy and the orphan child. Hope for a better life. Hope through education and enlightenment. Please do read through.  Rahat is a Registered Charity based in Mumbai  working at the grassroots level since its formation in 1992. The guiding force was this thought to make  life a little easier for the poor, the needy and the orphan. This was the inspiration which led to the formation of Rahat Welfare Trust in 1992.

Educating Zahid. There is this boy you see. Let’s call him Zahid. Zahid is an orphan, his mother died when he was very  young, his father, deserted Zahid  and his sister  and remarried. “How did your mother die”?, I asked Zahid recently. “Ammi ki sar ki  nas phat gayee”, said Zahid, a small thin boy, all bones and no flesh.   (His mother died of a brain hemorrhage).   Zahid has been sponsored over the past several  years by Rahat Welfare Trust. In May this year his dadi, grandmother,  decided to shift from  Govandi to Mumbra, a suburb in North Mumbai.   Zahid had just passed his 7^th standard  and wanted  admission in the 8^th standard in an English  Medium School.  We contacted  one of the better schools in Mumbra.    And were  told that the school fee was Rs 850/- per month.  And  to secure an admission an amount of Rs 13,250 (the annual fees) would have to be paid in advance.   We said this boy is an orphan and his family cannot pay such a sum right now.   No they said, the fees have to be paid.  We negotiated and settled to pay half the amount. Rahat Welfare Trust made the payment. Zahid was enrolled to the school and is now attending classes regularly.

Muslims in a Maelstrom. But there was a certain amount of pain and trauma involved in securing the admission.   I bleed and I cry  and I wish that I would not feel  the pain so much.  I cry partly for Zahid. It is his life that we are talking about.   And the lives of over a thousand students that Rahat is currently helping, either partly or wholly.  Is there a moral to this story that we have narrated?  Yes.  It is this that the world is not in favor of  the poor and the needy and the orphan. Life has become too difficult and too complex  for them. It is just not one school or the other. All schools are the same and have same or similar rules.  They have their hands full. What we are narrating is the harsh reality facing these children. The only hope that these children have is to go to a good school and acquire education of the highest standard. This is the only way to a better life. This is the only way to escape the maelstrom that the Muslims world over find themselves in. 

Total Support. Rahat Welfare Trust,  a registered Trust, based in Mumbai is an organization working primarily to promote the welfare of Muslim women and children, particularly that of widows and orphans.  In July 2011 Rahat is helping over One Thousand  students, like Zahid, on  an ongoing basis under its Total Educational Support Scheme (TESS), under which a child once sponsored receives almost everything required to go to school: School fees, bus fees, computer fees, uniforms, books, shoes, socks, bags, raincoats, stationery – almost everything is  provided by Rahat.  Rahat provides total support to the family to ensure that the child goes to the school properly. Educating these children is now Rahat’s responsibility. And after twenty years of work at the grassroots, in the slums and the chawls, scores of Rahat scholars are self-reliant,  earning a decent livelihood, supporting their families and volunteering to help others. These are the role models who have shown that a better world is possible. These are the shining stars who have enriched our efforts and have given an abiding meaning to our work.

ZAKAT COLLECTION. Rahat activities are funded mainly through the Zakat collection in Ramzan every year. And Rahat does need funds on a consistent and larger level if it is to help more children like Zahid. We therefore request you to send Rahat a part of your Zakat this Ramzan. (Donations are also welcome). No amount is too small not to be of help.  Please ask at least two other persons  to do the same. Zakat/Donations may be sent by a personal  cheque in favor of Rahat Welfare Trust  to our Administrative  office address at: Row House 5 A, Asmita Hill View CHS Ltd, Shrikanth Dhadway Marg, VIP Area,  Mira Road East 401107. Maharashtra. INDIA. This is the best way to send the funds.  {For overseas donors a bank transfer is also possible. Funds may be sent directly to our Bank account in  Bombay Mercantile Co-operative Bank Limited, Bandra Branch, “Rahat Welfare Trust, Account No 1015, Bank  Code is: 400069021}.   Our Certificate under Section 80 G of the Income Tax Act, 1961,  has been renewed by the I T authorities. (No. DIT(E)/MC/80G/965/2011-12).   Donors may like to take the benefit of the same. We understand that an Indian I T  Exemption Certificate is accepted by overseas  tax authorities also. Thank You. May God Bless you.

IRFAN MERCHANT

PRESIDENT                                                                                

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