Bamboo School (Humara Apna School) ~ Dera Allah Yar, Jaffarabad, Balochistan, Pakistan 

 

We are thrilled to continue our collaboration with Alif Laila Book Bus Society (which serves as the International Board on Books for Young People Pakistan chapter) in their ongoing mission to bring education, books, and libraries to Pakistani children, especially to girls and those in hard to reach rural and mountainous areas.

Our newest project with ALBBS, funding the building of Bamboo School (Humara Apna School) is now complete. Set in a structure crafted from eco-friendly, cost-effective, and flood-resistant bamboo with solar panels on the roof, this institution is not just a school but a beacon of sustainable development and progressive education. While the focus is on educating girls, younger boys will be a part of the student body too. In addition to the school structure, funds from WBO also permitted construction of two washrooms with sinks. Clean, drinkable, running water will follow.

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Bamboo School aims to deliver a holistic learning experience by integrating early literacy skills with innovative STEAM (science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics) programs. In addition, for younger students, there will be an emphasis on play and learning from nature.

Mahnoor Baloch, Bamboo School's teacher, recently spent time in the City of Lahore participating in an extensive teacher training, and has designed the interior space of the school to highlight the natural environment and to be conducive to a ‘learn through play’ pedagogical approach. She has installed a Tech Hub area featuring electronics and an IT corner to bridge the digital divide. A Science area offers hands-on experiments to foster critical thinking and problem-solving skills among students. 

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Bamboo School officially opened in March 2024 with a visit from local dignitaries. Students were thrilled to tour them (and their parents) around the classroom and everyone took part in the official ribbon cutting ceremony. Classes have now begun and students are immensely excited to be attending.

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Our previous partnerships with ALBBS include their Libraries in a Box project that saw 680 box libraries with 100 books per box sent to rural libraries and schools in Pakistan, and the support of their camel mobile library project. Umeed (Hope), our WaterBridge Outreach financed camel delivers books and literacy materials to children in Kohlu, Balochistan.

We are delighted to be able to partner with ALBBS once again with this important and vital Bamboo School, a wonderful example for future rural schools, and to continue to support their impressive and imaginative work being done for children and the wider Pakistani community.