Annual Report 2020: The First Rising Stars and COVID-19 Relief

2020 was the year SKF’s model came full circle. The first children from the Learning Center moved into a mainstream school, and SKF responded quickly to the pandemic in Pakistan and at home in California.

Learning Center

• 22 children studied in seven groups, from play group to level 5, organised by learning ability rather than age.
• New uniforms, bags, colourful desks, carpets and classroom posters.
• Children learned English, Urdu, maths and science, recited the Quran, and planted an organic vegetable and flower garden as part of the Make Pakistan Green initiative.
• Top students received trophies and every child received a medal at the year-end celebration.

The Rising Star Scholarship Program begins

Two children passed the admission test for a reputed public school in Multan and became SKF’s first Rising Star scholars. The scholarship covers everything: admission, monthly fees, uniforms, books, stationery and daily pocket money, with progress reviewed twice a year.

COVID-19 relief

• Food distribution: more than 300 families who lost daily-wage work received ration boxes and cash in several Pakistani cities.
• Medical relief: 100 medical kits for front-line health workers in three hospitals.
• Learning at home: educational kits with worksheets, books and colouring materials while centers were closed.
• Eid ul Adha: biryani lunch boxes for the children and their families.
• In California: a donation to Nuestra Casa’s food distribution in East Palo Alto, and thank-you gifts for front-line hospital staff.