Fazal and Mahmood Need Your Support!!

Dear Friends and Supporters, 

I’m reaching out for your support for a worthy cause that deserves your attention. It is the remarkable story of two brothers, Fazal and Mahmood, who come from an impoverished Muslim family in Pakistan. Their story was also recently published in the Express Tribune, a well known Pakistani newspaper. Both Fazal and Mahmood were accepted into world renowned McGill University's engineering program in Montreal for undergraduate studies, where they have excelled academically while taking on leadership positions in extracurricular activities. This Fall, Fazal will start his 5th and final year at McGill's Materials Engineering Co-op Program, while Mahmood will begin his 3rd year in the Electrical Engineering & Computer Science Program which is a 4 year program. Without your support, it will be impossible for Fazal and Mahmood to complete their education this year! We ask you to please donate generously!  

Fazal and Mahmood pictured with their father at his roadside fruit cart in Karachi (identities have been covered to protect the privacy of both the brothers)

They Have Come So Far...

Fazal and Mahmood come from a poor community in Karachi, Pakistan and belong to a family of five. Their father, a local roadside fruit cart vendor (locally known as a fruitwalla), earns less than $5 per day. Their mother works from home as a tailor to supplement the family's income and to help make ends meet. Recently, poor health has made it difficult for her to contribute towards her family's upkeep. Despite living in a slum community, where education is not valued, Fazal and Mahmood's father always believed education would be the way out of poverty for his children.  

Mahmood, who will be starting his 3rd year at McGill University, needs your support to continue his education 

I along with my family used to run a school in Karachi geared towards giving poor children an O’ Levels quality education. It was through this school Fazal and Mahmood first came to me in Kindergarten and I and my family have since helped sponsor their elementary and secondary education, along with others like them. Despite their background and against all odds, through hard work, determination and strong academic results throughout their schooling, both young men have reached their current level.  

After graduation Fazal and Mahmood intend to pursue a professional career utilizing their engineering education. This experience has also inspired both of them to pay it forward when they have the chance by helping to educate others like them from similar impoverished communities in Pakistan.

Brothers, Fazal and Mahmood plan to help those in need after graduation (pictured to protect their privacy)

Top Notch Conscientious Students

Mahmood: In just his first two years, Mahmood has already received multiple academic awards and recognitions while maintaining leadership positions and involvement in various on-campus extra-curricular activities ranging from the McGill Student Cricket Club to McGill Rocket Team’s Avionics Division. Given his excellent academic results, Mahmood was selected for the highly competitive and prestigious Summer Undergraduate Research Experience Award this summer. In his free time, he works on-campus helping with moving and assembling furniture and with check in/check out procedures for students and visitors. Part of the money he earns he sends back to Pakistan to help pay for books for his younger sister’s education, using the remainder to help cover his own rent and food costs.

Fazal: As part of his co-op curriculum, in his last year Fazal is required to get practical experience through work for academic credit programs arranged by McGill, through a highly competitive process with leading companies. Due to his hard work and performance at McGill, Fazal was selected by one of the world’s leading steel manufactures to do part of his co-op internship in their Japan office, which started in May 2017. Currently to save money and help contribute towards his own upkeep, everyday Fazal walks after work from the office to home, a distance of 5km (approx. 60 New York City blocks), instead of taking the bus, so he can save the travel stipend his company gives him, which he then uses towards his food and living expenses.

Their Cost of Education

To date their education related costs have been covered through: 

• A partial McGill scholarship which is assessed on an annual basis 
• Annual donations by generous sponsors 

As their original sponsor, I’m spearheading the fundraising effort for both the boys so they can cover their educational expenses for the coming academic year which includes both the Fall 2017 and Winter 2018 terms and thereby continue their education at McGill without interruption.

The following is an estimate of each of their total all-in educational costs for the coming 2017-2018 academic year (which includes both the Fall 2017 and Winter 2018 terms) including tuition, related fees, rent, food, books, transport and living expenses:

• Fazal's total education costs: $30,000 
• Mahmood's total education costs: $60,000 

Any excess funds raised will go towards covering Mahmood’s education expenses for his next year, as he still has one more year to go after the coming 2017-2018 academic year.

Timeline and Funding Deadlines:

The deadline for payment of tuition and related fees to McGill for the Fall term is due before or on August 30, 2017 and for the Winter term is due before or on December 30, 2017. Payments to McGill need to be made in full by these deadlines in order to allow for full enrollment.  We have also were able to get an extension from McGill on the Fall payment deadline whereby 50% of the tuition due for Fall term will be due end August and the other 50% will be payable September 30, 2017. 

Fazal and Mahmood need your help! (pictured to protect their privacy)

How You Can Help

Fazal and Mahmood are in need of your help and support! Without this critical funding they will not be able to continue their undergraduate education at McGill. They have come so far and are almost at the end of their undergraduate study. We must not let their journey come to a premature end due to lack of finances. The following are ways you can help!

• ​Donate by clicking one of the giving levels on the right side of the screen - as you click on any one of them you can then enter/edit whatever amount you would like to donate (Jazak Allah Khair!)
• Share this project on your social media by clicking on the above social media links and / or by sharing directly on your Facebook, Twitter and What'sApp groups with the link LaunchGood.com/FazalAndMahmood
• Donate to this campaign if you are paying Zakat (this is a Zakat eligible campaign) 
• Say a dua that Allah swt blesses both young men in their education and journey ahead!

No donation amount is too small as every little bit adds up and helps. If you have questions or would like to know more on how you can help, please email educatingpk@gmail.com.

Related News and Links 

Additional background information on the Fazal and Mahmood and their amazing journey can be found through the following links and published articles in Dawn News, The Express Tribune and Humans of Karachi:

http://www.dawn.com/news/1128844/fruits-of-labour

http://www.dawn.com/news/1131584/breaking-barriers

http://tribune.com.pk/story/1484736/society-rallies-behind-cause-dreams-come-true

https://www.facebook.com/humansofkhi/photos/a.378105932252561.88418.378098815586606/523588714370948/?type=3&theater

https://www.facebook.com/humansofkhi/photos/a.378105932252561.88418.378098815586606/575366005859885/?type=3

https://www.facebook.com/humansofkhi/photos/a.378105932252561.88418.378098815586606/743302619066222/?type=3&theater