Leila Panju, a young schoolgirl from London recently had the opportunity to visit a Zainabiya School in Alipur, India. She was so impressed by the school that she has submitted an essay to the World Federation based on her recent experience. She points out how the Zainabiya School in Alipur excelled beyond her expectations; “They were all smartly dressed in their neat blue uniforms, it was a teacher’s heaven!”
This Zainabiya School and others around the world are continuously standing out from others because of their high standards and academic success. This progress is example of the capabilities and vision that can be achieved by ZCSS. But this good work can only be carried out with the help of consistent funding and dedicated sponsors. Even the smallest donation can effect a student’s education, career and future.
Below is a narration of her visit.
Visit www.world-federation.org/zcss and see if you too can be inspired to help.
For further information, email zcss@world-federation.org
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An enlightening experience into the works of ZCSS
When mum and Dad told us we were going to spend our holiday visiting a school, we were furious! We went on holiday to escape from a school, not visit one! However, when we were finally persuaded to go, it was absolutely nothing like we had expected.
A three hour journey, driven by a friendly driver, explaining the surroundings on our way to Alipur. This was where the Zainabiya School was situated. I was firstly proved wrong by the journey, which actually turned out to be quite entertaining. Along the way, we drove past many fields, animals and huts, but the human population was not great. Plenty of trees surrounded us, all accompanied by adorable monkeys! The road was not very advanced, but bearable!
When we neared the school, we encountered children from other schools out on their lunch break. Immediately, I thanked Allah for the conditions we live in back at home (even though I don’t particularly approve of the weather!) These kids were dressed in shabby uniform if any at all, unmade hair, scruffy poor appearance, and no shoes to walk upon the burning ground. I felt so sorry for these children, whose parents obviously couldn’t afford better, and assumed that the School we were visiting would be just as depressing. Again, I was proved wrong. Very wrong in fact!
Greeted at the gates by a courteous guard, we were heartily welcomed into the school by the headmaster himself! Introducing himself, he humbly escorted us to his office where he offered us snacks. Looking around the room, I noticed a board upon which members of the World Federations’ names were admirably engraved alongside the famous name of Marhum Mullah Asgar who will never be forgotten. There were also other notices such as names of all the teachers at the school. I was quite surprised at the large number considering the shortage of teachers in our own very advanced country back at home! Obviously, this school was well looked after. But I still had not seen the children! My thought of the children we had seen in the streets did not quite match up to this very advanced school!
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After a long friendly conversation with the headmaster, of information about the school, he escorted us about the buildings. And there they were…My first glance at the students of the school was accompanied by a gasp! These children were the perfect opposite to the street kids! They were all smartly dressed in their neat blue uniforms, walking in a perfectly straight line towards their next lesson in absolute silence! It was a teacher’s heaven! These kids were so well behaved, I felt slightly ashamed! Lead by a teacher, they walked past us all with happy expressions on their faces, curiously inspecting us. The boys’ hair was neatly combed and the girls’ scarves were perfect! For a second, I forgot that we were still in India! My view of India had always been a mixture of poverty, dirt and untidiness. But this certainly did not confirm my thoughts.
We witnessed the assembly that took place, where not a sound was to be heard except from the voice of the headmaster. The children were so well behaved, it was almost unbelievable! They then beautifully all recited a Dua in a well rehearsed tuneful manner. Listening soundly to the headmasters’ instructions, they filed out formally, in a curious manner inspecting us and wondering who we were. Following the assembly, we were taken on a tour around the school where I discovered that although this school was incredibly more advanced than the rest of the schools in India, there was still a lot of improving left to do. For example, only the higher classes of about 15 years of age had access to the computers, as there was such a shortage. If more of us sponsored the school, than maybe we could privilege them with the facilities that we consider normal in our own schools. Also, equipment such as PE facilities were also not so great, and other aspects such as the playground would benefit from improvement. Finally, our day concluded with a delicious meal that the school cooks had provided us with, and I left the school with an exceedingly different mood than I arrived with. As our driver drove us out of the school, the sweet friendly children crowded around the car smiling and waving at us!
I hope my account has inspired you to visit the school yourself and witness what it’s like to be in a school in India. My experience taught me how privileged I am to be attending a school in England where facilities are so much more advanced and that I should thank Allah everyday for this. The Zainabiya school in India is already exceedingly better than others in the country, but sponsoring that one extra pound could effect a students education, career and could change their future. So when you are reluctant to go to school on a Monday morning, think of a poor child in India, who dreams of attending a school, but knows that his or her parents cannot afford it. Maybe you could make that dream come true. If the visit kept an impatient 12 year old like myself entertained, than how can it possibly not entertain you?!