Salima is a UK-qualified teacher who volunteered for six months at Soan Valley Public School in Bassali, one of the schools run by our partner, the Kashmir Education Foundation (KEF). She wrote this account to encourage other teachers to volunteer, and Quest for Education (now Quest for Education Foundation) is pleased to share it. The dates of her placement are not recorded. These are extracts in Salima’s own words.
A conversation in front of the TV
Who would have thought when I was sitting comfortably at home one Sunday in front of the TV with my family […] that what they were watching would take me to the other side of the world and back. I think I was in the middle of chatting to my mother about something when my father asked me to keep quiet for a moment. He was watching a Pakistani TV channel and listening to the Chairman of Kashmir Education Foundation (KEF) talk about some educational project in Pakistan, so I started to listen and became interested too.
One of the panel described how this school in a remote village was successfully helping children who came from disadvantaged families to achieve excellent results. As the programme went on, my discussion with my mother and father took a most dramatic turn, which changed my life. Without much thought to what I was saying, I came out with “I wouldn’t mind going to Pakistan to help out”. To my surprise my father said “I think that is a very good idea. After all, you are a qualified teacher now”.
[…] He encouraged me to write to KEF and send my CV. Soon after I did KEF invited me for an interview at a local venue. The interviewer told me how he got involved in KEF activities and how much personal satisfaction he was getting out of his work with KEF. The more he spoke about the children, their families, and the curriculum and staff development work, the more excited I got.
Six months at Soan Valley
The Principal at Soan Valley Public School and I hit it off immediately. We discussed how to maximise my input for those beautiful children and devised ways of helping the other local staff without imposing on them. I spent six wonderful months with KEF’s competent and experienced teachers. […]
I made wonderful friends in Pakistan and the families we visited were full of warmth and hospitality. I shall always be grateful to KEF for making such an impact in my life […]. I enjoyed being with those wonderful children and I learnt so much. It truly was a rewarding and inspiring experience […]. Pakistan is a wonderful country and the children are so keen to learn – English is their third language, after Punjabi and Urdu.
The front of Soan Valley Public School, Bassali.
Why she encourages others to go
I was asked to write my story in order to share my experiences with other postgraduate and locally qualified teachers and encourage them to follow my example and volunteer in the schools. […] That’s why if anyone asks me for my opinion about making a personal contribution or supporting KEF in whatever way they can I’d say without any hesitation – GO FOR IT.
Salima’s account shows what one teacher can share in a few months: ideas worked out together with the school’s Principal and staff, and children keen to learn English, their third language.
Thank you to Salima, and to KEF’s teachers at Soan Valley. If you are a teacher and would like to share your expertise, find out how educators can help; and if you would like to help keep the schools open, please make a donation.