Seven-year-old Rubina Akhtar carries a smile so pure and bright that it lights up the space around her like the sun breaking through a cloudy sky. Her energy and joy are contagious. She lives in the Camp in Nuh with her two younger siblings—her five-year-old brother Abu Bakar Siddiq, and her three-year-old sister, Sumaiya Akhtar, who is full of innocence and charm.
Rubina’s family has lived in this camp for the past ten years, trying each day to make ends meet and hold onto hope. Her father, Abu Taher, was the backbone of the family. He ran a small shop in the camp that helped them survive. But tragedy struck when a devastating fire broke out in the settlement. The fire engulfed not only their shop but also their home. Everything they had built over the years was turned into ashes in a matter of moments. The family was left with nothing but the clothes they wore and the will to start over again.
Despite the heartbreak, Rubina’s family refused to give up. They remained in the camp, trying to rebuild their lives. Understanding the gravity of the situation, the Shaagird Foundation built a new shelter for Rubina’s family.
With their father no longer around, Rubina’s mother took charge of the shop. She is a determined and strong-willed woman, driven by her deep love for her children and her dream of giving them a better future. Education is her top priority for her children, and she does everything she can to ensure they learn and grow. One day, we saw her sitting in front of the shop, watching over it while at the same time teaching Rubina a chapter from the Quran. That moment, filled with care and commitment, left a lasting impression on us. It reminded us how much strength and hope can be found in even the hardest of situations.
Inspired by her resilience and the thirst for knowledge in the eyes of children like Rubina, we decided to take the next step. We built a learning centre within the camp, a space where children can study, grow, and explore their potential. The centre aims not just to educate, but also to create an environment where the children feel safe, seen, and encouraged.
Through all of this, our goal is simple yet meaningful—to support these children in their early years, to be a bridge between hardship and hope, and to give them the tools they need to become strong, thoughtful, and capable individuals. Rubina’s smile reminds us every day that even in the toughest places, dreams can bloom.
