Family Educational Services Foundation (FESF) is a charitable organization registered with the Security Exchange Commission of Pakistan as a Not-for-profit and committed to education and social impact in Pakistan. We focus on the empowerment of disadvantaged deaf children and youth through a holistic approach to deaf education, skills training, job placement, and sign language development – creating lasting change in their lives and that of their families.
There are over 1 million deaf children in Pakistan, the majority of whom hail from slum areas living on the edge of poverty, and facing the dire threats that come with poverty and a high risk of being abused and exploited.
Deaf Reach has created a safe haven for these children and spent the past 3 decades in providing education, vocational training and job placement for Deaf youth nationwide – with additional programs for training parents, family members and teachers of the Deaf. Deaf Reach is one of the only branch networks of schools for the Deaf in Pakistan reaching out into rural areas, and working to empower marginalized urban and rural deaf youth, the majority of whom are economically challenged.
Background and Aims
Eight Deaf Reach Schools provide academic (KG – College) and vocational skills training to over 1,800 deaf children and adolescents, 35% female. The students come from low-income, low-education backgrounds and are on full scholarships.
The schools are in Lahore, Jhelum, Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Sujawal, Nawabshah, Rashidabad – Tando Allahyar,.
In addition to academics, all students receive marketable skills training, preparing them to enter the job market successfully. Via Deaf Reach’s Employment Program over 2,000 jobs have been provided, helping deaf young adults to become self-sufficient and contributing citizens.
Program Need
According to recent demographics in Pakistan, there are over one million children who are profoundly deaf, yet less than 5% of these children have access to education!
Deaf Reach is one of the only branch networks of schools for the Deaf in Pakistan, reaching out into rural areas and is continually expanding its programs to further empower marginalized urban and rural deaf youth, the majority of whom are economically challenged, to provide a brighter future for them.
The Deaf Reach Program
The Deaf Reach Program’s innovative and holistic approach includes the following services, creating an enabling environment where deaf students can excel:
1. Scholarships KG – College: Students are from low-income families. Full scholarships enable them to receive an education that maximizes their potential.
2. Parent Training Program: Provides parents with the sign language and parenting skills needed to support their deaf children.
3. Teacher Training Program: Builds capacity in local teachers of the Deaf and develops new student-teacher trainees. Over 50% of Deaf Reach teaching staff are deaf.
4. Job Placement: Facilitating employment for young deaf adults. Over 2,000 young adults have found gainful employment as teachers in banks, restaurants, service companies, airlines, and more in the past few years alone.
5. Development of Educational Resources: Pakistan Sign Language resources developed by FESF are being used across Pakistan – see www.psl.org.pk
6. Links:
a. Video overview (3 min) of the Deaf Reach Program: http://www.deafreach.com/inside-the-school
b. Web site: http://www.deafreach.com
c. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deafreachprogram
Funding
Deaf Reach Schools provide opportunities for low-income marginalized deaf children to get a high-quality education. School support and student scholarships are sponsored via donations by concerned individuals, corporates, grants, and general philanthropy.
FESF is eligible for Zakat. Zakat funds are kept in a separate Shariah-compliant bank and expensed according to Shariah guidelines.
Annual Report 2022-23
Annual Report for the year 2022-2023.
As you view the highlights, witness the incredible impact of your generosity on the lives of Deaf children and youth.
We are ever grateful for the part you, play in making quality education accessible to Deaf children in Pakistan. https://deafreach.com/fesf-annual-report-2022-23/
