Program 1 · Learning Centers
A first classroom for children who never had one
Free, joyful bridge education for out-of-school children aged 4 to 12 in Multan and, for girls only, in Peshawar.
The challenge
Over a million children on the streets
In Pakistan’s major cities an estimated 1.2 to 1.5 million children spend their days on the streets. Many live in slums with parents who work as daily laborers, house help or sweepers and cannot afford school fees.
These children are not just behind. Many have never held a pencil, and some speak only their home language. Without help they are destined to stay in poverty, and they are easy targets for exploitation.
What we do
A safe, nurturing place to learn at your own pace
Foundational learning
Alphabet and reading, sentence formation, numbers, counting and arithmetic in Urdu and English, plus drawing, stories and play.
Everything provided
Uniforms, sweaters, shoes, school bags, books and stationery, and a daily healthy snack of milk, fresh fruit, egg or a sandwich.
Small groups
Children are grouped by ability, not age, from prep to level 5, so every child gets individual attention from caring teachers.
Health & values
Hygiene, nutrition, emotional wellbeing and character education, with vaccinations and annual eye screening.
Families as partners
Mothers join result days and celebrations, and families receive support through our other programs.
A path forward
When ready, children prepare for admission tests and move into regular school as Rising Star scholars.
Where we work
Two centers, two provinces
Multan, Punjab
Opened 2 March 2018 · co-ed · ages 4–12
Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Opened 2 September 2024 · girls only
Multan Learning Center, August 2026
Peshawar Learning Center, October 2025
Multan Learning Center
Opened 2 March 2018 · co-ed
SKF’s first center started with ten children in a single room. Today it has three classrooms, an office, a kitchen and a garden. It has celebrated Independence Day, Teachers Day, Color Days, sports days, robotics camps and many result days.
Peshawar Learning Center
Opened 2 September 2024 · girls only
Our second center gives out-of-school girls whose families cannot afford school a place to learn. Within four months, visiting board members saw the difference the dedicated staff and enthusiastic students were already making.
Stories
Meet the children
Zahoor: From a Learning Center to Cadet College
His family couldn't afford school. Six years later, Zahoor is studying at a Cadet College on his way to becoming an army…
Kamran: From House Helper to Pre-Engineering Student in Grade 11
At 11, Kamran had never been to school and worked as house help. He is now a pre-engineering student at a reputed…
Ujala: The Girl Her Relatives Said Shouldn’t Go to School
Relatives pressured Ujala's family to keep her at home because she is a girl. Ten weeks after joining a new school, she…
Read more
Related reports
Year-End Report 2024: A Second Learning Center for Girls in Peshawar
SKF opens its second Learning Center, a girls-only center in Peshawar, alongside free eye screening and SKF's first year as a sponsor…
Mid-Year Report 2024: National Rankings and the First Donor Iftar
Six years of the Multan center, Ramadan food for 180 families, two Rising Stars ranked nationally in the Kangaroo contests, and 90…
Year-End Report 2023: Eleven New Rising Stars
A record cohort of 11 Rising Star scholars, online teacher training, SKF at OPEN Silicon Valley, and toys for 100+ children in…
Give a child the chance to learn
$250–$350 covers a child’s full year at an SKF Learning Center: teacher, books, uniform and a daily healthy snack.
