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ZCSS: Can You Really Change The World?

Updated 5 December 2012

We have all heard about ZCSS and what it does, but how did it all start?

The Zainabiya Child Sponsorship Scheme, was the first project that worked towards The World Federation’s education objective. After a visit to India, Mulla Asghar M. M. Jaffer, the President of the WF at the time, realised the number of children that were out of school, either in child labour or on family farms because their families couldn’t afford to pay school fees. The scheme was launched in 1981.
So what does ZCSS do now?

Currently, the scheme sponsors 5,309 students and the total running cost is around £500,000. This figure is dependent on exchange rates and school fees that are constantly on the rise around the world. At present, ZCSS has students across 7 countries: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Kenya and Tanzania, Sri Lanka and Haiti.

There are a plethora of success stories which can be recounted, over the last 30 years, however below are three individuals who have proved the multiplier effect works:

Gulamabbas’s Story

Gulamabbas of Bhavnagar, Gujarat, was sponsored by the ZCSS to complete his education. He graduated in Business Commerce. Gulamabbas had been sponsored from primary school all the way through to his graduation. Today, Gulamabbas is a teacher in his home town of Bhavnagar. The sponsorship of one student who then became a teacher is still benefitting his entire locality to this very day. The Band-e-Khuda who sponsored Ghulamabbas, will surely be reaping the benefits of sawab-e-jaaria.

Salim’s Story

Salim hails from Chengoni village in the Kinango district of Kenya. With the help of his sponsor, Salim attained a diploma in Mass Communication from Mombasa Polytechnic University College. ZCSS assisted Salim with his secondary and further education. It was during his time at secondary school, that Salim realised the immense struggle that the poorest students go through.

Upon this realisation he wrote a heartfelt letter to us to share his thoughts and appreciation for his sponsor and ZCSS

“It was during my time in High School that I came to realise the importance of education and I wanted to share my realisation. This became my goal in life. In High school, I came into contact with students of diverse nationalities and from rich families. When I realised how financially disadvantaged my family was, I vowed to fight poverty and dependency to attain financial freedom for my family and myself. After years of hard work, I currently work as a radio presenter and producer for the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation.

As I know that education is the key to success, I have been instrumental in coming up with ideas for educative and informative radio programmes that assist students in achieving better results at school. Finally, I am also financially stable. Moreover, I can support my two sisters through school and take care of my parents…none of this would have been possible without my sponsor and Zainabiya Child Sponsorship Scheme”

Amar’s Story

Amar grew up in Jimba, a rural area in the Kilifi district of Kenya. Amar was assisted by ZCSS to complete his secondary and further education. Amar graduated from secondary school and then continued onward to study Architecture in Mombasa. He now works as an Architectural Draughtsman for the Twin Peaks Development Corporation. He also volunteers with our agency in Kenya, offering advice and expertise on any capital projects they undertake, such as the construction of schools, hospitals or housing projects.

These are, but a few examples of how individuals (and in turn their communities) are reaping the benefits of the ZCSS and Inshallah helping us eradicate poverty from our community through education. Each and every student you sponsor has the drive and the potential to achieve great things. We are in need of sponsors for 2000 children this Muharram and ask you to help, just one child for one year and help them make a difference.

So by sponsoring a student for as little as 33p you won’t change the world overnight, but you would have taken the first step towards changing the world and eradicating poverty from our community. You would have planted the seed of inspiration and motivation and with you continued support, Inshallah you can watch your student grow, intellectually, spiritually, academically working toward the eradication of poverty through our community.

Be the reason for change, be the reason to study. Please sponsor a needy and deserving student.

To sponsor a student through our website please click here. Alternatively you can sponsor any of these students on line. Please click on the picture of the student you wish to sponsor: