Your generosity has enabled TCF to provide timely relief to more than 45,500 households in 250+ vulnerable communities and 20,000 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits to medical facilities nationwide. Moreover, our efforts to engage and continue the learning process of TCF students and millions of other children through ‘Ilm ka Aangan’ – TCF’s ground-breaking edutainment-focused TV program and magazine would not be possible without your support.
TCF’s response to the crisis continues to evolve with the changing face of COVID-19. With lockdowns easing in many areas, TCF will increase its focus on supporting frontline healthcare workers and ensuring continuity of learning process for children who are forced to stay at home. At the same time, sustaining our programs and teachers and ensuring that our students have the resources they need to succeed when they return to the classroom remain our primary responsibility.
Supporting TCF’s decision, TCF-USA is suspending allocation of donations to COVID-19 relief efforts. We will still honor any request to donate specifically to TCF’s ongoing COVID-19 relief efforts.
PROVIDING RELIEF TO IMPACTED COMMUNITIES
250+
Communities have been reached across Pakistan
45,500
Most deserving households have been served
$670,000+
Worth of relief has been provided
700+
Alumni, teachers and volunteers leading the effort
ENSURING CONTINUITY IN LEARNING
6 Million
Viewers across 4 channels are tuning in every week to watch “Ilm ka Aangan” a TCF-produced national TV show for early learners.
Two age-appropriate editions of Ilm ka Aangan Student Magazine for primary and secondary students are being distributed across TCF Schools.
SUPPLYING PROTECTIVE GEAR
20,000
Personal protective equipment (PPE) kits are being provided to hospitals and medical professionals across Pakistan.
- TCF Continues Education During School Closures
- TCF Community Offers Support with Donations of PPE
- Mushtaq K. Chhapra talks to VCast Online about the power of education
- Relief efforts reach out to 26,000 families in 108 communities
- Spring Newsletter: Rekindling Hope in Uncertain Times
- Zeenat rises to the challenge
- Ali Rehman Khan’s star-studded virtual birthday in support of TCF
- Relief Update: Together We’ve Made This Possible!
- A Letter from Surbandar
- Holding onto hope in Ramzan Kareem!
- A Letter from Shaidu
- Sania Saeed Urges You To Support TCF COVID-19 Response Appeal
- Zia Akhtar Abbas, EVP Of TCF Talks About The COVID-19 Appeal On Zara Hat Kay
- Ilm Ka Aangan, every Sunday at 11 a.m. on PTV Teleschool
- 4,942 Families Lit Their Stoves Again
- Mr. Mushtaq Chhapra Talks About TCF’s COVID-19 Response
- TCF-USA has earned a 2020 Platinum Seal of Transparency by GuideStar
- Asia is on the Frontline!
- Rations Distribution in Rehri Goth
- Cash Transfers in Ibrahim Goth
- The Tough Get Going
- The Night Mission
- TCF leverages it current nationwide network to fight against COVID-19
- Webinar: Learning without Schools? Education, Relief and Government Partnerships during COVID-19
- As The Coronavirus Spreads In Pakistan, Volunteers Rush Out To Help
- TCF-USA launches $3 million COVID-19 Response Appeal
- FAQs
- Ways to Donate
TCF Continues Education During School Closures
The COVID-19 crisis has resulted in the official suspension of face-to-face classes at all TCF Schools across Pakistan. TCF operates schools in the poorest and most vulnerable communities of the country. We understand that our students have little or no access to digital resources such as computers or internet. Therefore, we are trying to stay connected with more than 266,000 students and their families through a variety of viable distance learning methods
TCF Community Offers Support with Donations of PPE
We are humbled to share that in the past three weeks, TCF has successfully delivered 4,980 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits to 3 hospitals across Pakistan which include: Indus Hospital (Muzaffargarh), Lady Reading Hospital (Peshawar) and Liaquat University of Medical & Health Sciences (Jamshoro).
“TCF’s donation of PPEs of 1,200 kits will help us immensely in coping with the corona crises in South Punjab,” says Dr. Irfan Javaid, Head of Campus, Recep Tayyip Erdogan Hospital, managed by The Indus Hospital while appreciating the support.
As we continue to deliver more support, we would like to send our prayers to all our frontline fighters – doctors, nurses, clinical staff and healthcare volunteers who are continuing their brave work to care for COVID-19 patients across the country, risking their own lives to save others.
Mushtaq K. Chhapra talks to VCast Online about the power of education
In an interview with VCast Online, TCF’s Co-Founder and Director, Mr. Mushtaq K. Chhapra talks about the power of education in bringing about positive social change. Today, 40,000+ TCF alumni are serving as a force of change in their communities – leading TCF’s COVID-19 response efforts on the frontlines and delivering relief to those who have been affected by this crisis.
For the past 25 years, you have supported the education of these young men and women and helped them transform into agents of positive change. Please keep up your support and match their efforts so they can continue to serve their communities, especially during this difficult time.
Relief Efforts Reach Out To 26,000 Families In 108 Communities
Your Zakat, Sadqah and donations to TCF’s COVID-19 Response Appeal are reaching those in urgent need of support. We are humbled to share that your generous contribution so far has helped us put food on the table and provide relief to 26,000 families across 108 communities of Pakistan.
Spring Newsletter: Rekindling Hope in Uncertain Times
Check out our spring newsletter ‘Rekindling Hope In Uncertain Times’, special Ramadan edition for
✅ A moving letter from Danial Noorani, Founder, TCF-USA
✅ Latest update and numbers on TCF’s COVID relief efforts
✅ TCF-USA volunteers’ efforts to help local vulnerable communities
✅ Report on TCF events as they go virtual
Zeenat rises to the challenge
In Bhai Pheru, a small industrial area in Kasur District, Punjab, all factories were at a standstill. Thousands of factory workers after having lost their daily earnings amid the coronavirus outbreak were at home, struggling to survive. Amid this situation, Zeenat Ahmad, daughter of a security guard at one of the local factories – once a TCF student, and now a teacher – stepped up to help!
Ali Rehman Khan’s star-studded virtual birthday in support of TCF
Ali Rehman Khan, Pakistani Actor and TCF’s Goodwill Ambassador dedicated his birthday this year to TCF’s COVID-19 Response Appeal! A star-studded virtual celebration, which included Hareem Farooq, Adnan Siddiqui, Marina Khan, Faisal Kapadia, Anoushey Ashraf, Ayesha Omar, Khalid Malik and Nomi Ansari, took place on 5th May, just a few hours before midnight!
Relief Update: Together we’ve made this possible!
With your support to TCF’s COVID-19 Response Appeal, we have reached out to 14,000 households in 42 communities across Pakistan! Please watch our relief update video to see the impact of your Zakat and donations.
A Letter From Surbandar
We had driven about half an hour outside of Gwadar, Balochistan, when we entered Surbandar. As my team and I slowly made our way through the slum’s small shacks, constructed out of old barks, fabric, and other scavenged material, empty eyes stared at us in wonder. We stopped in front of one of the shacks, and sought permission to enter.
The home belonged to a widowed woman, Razia whose son, Sameer, is a Grade 9 student at the TCF School in Surbandar. Until recently, after school, Sameer had a part-time job dispensing fuel at a highway gas station to bring some money home. But with the coronavirus lockdown, he lost this job. As I settled in and explained the reason for my visit to Sameer’s mother – to collect information and help TCF’s school communities survive the lockdown – Razia immediately broke down in tears.
Holding onto hope in Ramzan Kareem! ?
As the sun set behind the glorious mountains of Kingran, Muzaffarabad, both Khizra and Adnan, students of class 3 and 4 respectively, at the TCF School, Happy Hearts Campus, gathered around the radio set with their family. Anxiety filled up their hearts as they waited for news of the Ramzan moon sighting. The beginning of this blessed month had never been this uncertain for them.
Every year, as soon as the announcement for Ramzan was made, Khizra and Adnan would hustle about to begin preparations for selling samosas and pakoras (traditional fried snacks) at their little shop in the neighbourhood over the next month.
A Letter from Shaidu
When Khyber Medical University in Peshawar announced the closure of its campus and dorms due to the coronavirus outbreak, I packed my bags to return home. I said goodbye to my friends and teachers and walked across the road to catch a bus that would take me home to my village — Shaidu.
Sania Saeed Urges You To Support TCF COVID-19 Response Appeal
Renowned actor Sania Saeed is supporting TCF’s COVID-19 Response Appeal and urges you to do the same! Your Zakat, Sadqah and donations will help impacted communities and frontline healthcare workers.
Zia Akhtar Abbas, EVP Of TCF Talks About The COVID-19 Appeal On Zara Hat Kay
Zia Akhter Abbas, Executive Vice President of TCF talks about TCF’s COVID-19 Response Appeal on the show Zara Hat Kay on DawnNews
Ilm Ka Aangan, every Sunday at 11 a.m. on PTV Teleschool
We are extremely excited to share that TCF is producing and presenting a 45-minute colourful and engaging show for kids by the name of “Ilm Ka Aangan” (The Learning Courtyard). The show will be aired every Sunday at 11 a.m. PKT on PTV Teleschool – a dedicated TV channel for virtual learning launched by the Ministry of Federal Education Pakistan.
This programme is structured around early childhood education that TCF follows in its classrooms nationwide. Successive episodes will engage children through theme-based videos, activities, storytelling sessions by renowned actor Sania Saeed, physical exercise segments and much more.
TCF is proud to be a part of this effort being made by the Government to facilitate continuity of learning amid school closures.
4,942 Families Lit Their Stoves Again
Pipri, a small village near Gambat in Sindh, lies by the side of a major highway. Life is difficult for the dwellers of Pipri and most of them have to resort to begging to survive. Before the Coronavirus outbreak, their mornings would take them to the nearby bus terminals on the highway, seeking alms from travellers. When the Government of Pakistan announced closures of all motorways and highways to suspend the country’s transportation network, they were faced with hunger and starvation.
The staff at our TCF School in Gambat identified this community for urgent assistance. Our principal, Ms. Rabail went door to door along with her team to identify 300 families in Pipri village who had eaten little or nothing for days. She collected their details for TCF’s COVID-19 Response team at the Head Office to mobilize support. Within a few days, in collaboration with JazzCash, TCF carried out successful cash transfers of Rs. 2,500 to each of these families. Representatives of the families collected their cash transfers and bought rations from stores in nearby Gambat and after many days, lit their wood stoves to cook.
Mr. Mushtaq Chhapra Talks About TCF’s COVID-19 Response
TCF’s Co-Founder, Mr. Mushtaq Chhapra shares how TCF is leveraging its wide network of teachers, principals and alumni to provide economic relief to impacted communities and support to frontline healthcare workers amid the coronavirus crisis.
TCF-USA has earned a 2020 Platinum Seal of Transparency by GuideStar
TCF-USA earned Guidetar’s 2020 Platinum Seal of Transparency.
A reflection of our commitment to the highest level of transparency about our performance and progress we’re making toward our mission!
We are proud to announce that The Citizens Foundation, USA has earned a 2020 Platinum Seal of Transparency this year which is GuideStar’s newest and highest level of recognition!
TCF-USA is committed to the highest level of transparency through its performance and impact metrics to serve the underprivileged children.
Asia is on the Frontline!
Donning her protective gear every morning, Asia Ashfaq musters strength for a hectic day ahead. She is a technologist at the Tehsil Head Quarter Hospital in Kamoki, Punjab. Like millions of doctors and health workers worldwide, Asia is also serving at the frontline to defeat coronavirus or COVID-19, while risking her own life.
“It is a difficult time for all of us. But we should not lose hope and do what is necessary; that includes practising social distancing and staying home for the safety of our loved ones,” says Asia.
Rations Distribution in Rehri Goth
On April 5 at 2 a.m., TCF Alumni led a team of 60 volunteers in the fishing community of Rehri Goth to distribute ration bags to 506 families in the area, who were suffering since the coronavirus lockdown.
Cash Transfers in Ibrahim Goth
Riaz Kamlani, EVP at TCF takes us through TCF’s first relief efforts in the slum area of Ibrahim Goth under its COVID-19 Response.
The Tough Get Going
In Ibrahim Goth, TCF has transferred an amount of Rs. 2,200 to 512 deserving families.
For Rehri Goth, TCF partnered with Karachi Relief Trust to fund the provision of ration bags to 506 families identified by our alumni who worked closely with KRT volunteers and the Rangers to conduct relief operations during the night. Each ration bag contained provisions worth Rs. 7,000.
The Night Mission
Around 2 am, in the dark of night on April 5, TCF alumni, Mairaj Sheikh and Mansoor Ahmed, led their community-based volunteer team of 60 members – most of them TCF alumni like themselves on a special assignment. It was the distribution of ration bags in the fishermen community of Rehri Goth on the coastal belt of Karachi. Mairaj and Mansoor who hail from the same area, in response to the TCF COVID-19 appeal, offered their help to identify families in Rehri Goth who had too little to nothing to eat since the coronavirus lockdown.
TCF leverages it current nationwide network to fight against COVID-19
Isfandyar Inayat, General Manager at TCF talks about TCF’s COVID-19 Response Appeal on SAMAA TV. Watch to learn how we are leveraging our national network of teachers and alumni to provide economic relief to impacted communities and support to frontline healthcare workers in the wake of this crisis.
Webinar: Learning without Schools?
Education, Relief and Government Partnerships during COVID-19
In this live webinar, TCF shared how it is partnering with the government to educate children at home without internet access. to launch children’s media on state television and to deliver relief, leveraging its network of infrastructure, transportation, alumni, and all-female faculty in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis. Panelists included Susannah Hares (Center for Global Development), Mushtaq Chhapra (TCF Co-Founder), Riaz Kamlani (TCF EVP), Paul Skidmore (Rising Academy Network). Moderated by Shashi Buluswar (UC Berkeley, Institute for Transformative Technologies)
As The Coronavirus Spreads In Pakistan, Volunteers Rush Out To Help
“A Pakistani nonprofit, The Citizens Foundation, does the same but on scale, using its network of 1,600 low-cost schools to aid 700 villages and slums.”
TCF-USA launches $3 million COVID-19 Response Appeal
The Citizens Foundation, USA has therefore has launched a $3 Million COVID-19 Response Appeal.
Your contributions – including Sadqah and Zakat – will be used in the following four ways:
What is the TCF COVID-19 Response Appeal?
The economic impact of COVID-19 crisis is felt most acutely in the underprivileged communities TCF serves. The Citizens Foundation, through its vast network of 1,650+ schools located in the heart of poor rural areas and urban slums across Pakistan, has deep roots in these most vulnerable communities. We are directly connected to the lives of more than 1 million people, including 18,000+ teachers and school support staff and 266,000 underprivileged children and their families. These are the communities we call home and as in the past, we committed to being there when they need us the most.
The Citizens Foundation, USA has therefore has launched a $3 Million COVID-19 Response Appeal. Your contribution to the TCF-USA COVID -19 Response Appeal will be used to:
- Help families in TCF communities through direct cash transfers and distribution of relief goods to help cover food and other necessities during a period of extreme duress. With TCF teachers and alumni guiding this effort, your support will reach those who need it the most.
- Work with local organizations to support the frontline healthcare professionals and volunteers with the equipment, testing kits and protective gear they need the most.
- Ensure continuity of learning through public television for millions of children whose schools are closed due to COVID-19. TCF is quickly developing programs to support ‘learning from home.’
- Sustain families of those teachers, ayahs (custodians), guards, drivers and other support staff at the low end of our pay scales who are facing extreme economic hardship.
Conditions of the TCF-USA COVID Appeal:
- 20% of all donations will be dedicated to COVID relief within the affected communities. The remaining funds will be used to sustain families of TCF staff including teachers, Ayahs (custodian), guards, drivers and other support staff who are on the lower end of the pay scale and are faced with extreme economic hardship.
- Donations for build projects, endowment and scholarship are considered restricted funds and will not be allocated to COVID Response Appeal
How is TCF likely to be impacted by this crisis?
COVID-19 crisis affects TCF significantly in several ways. TCF currently has more than 18,000 staff members, most of whom are our teachers and school support staff. Their salaries account for more than 60% of the organization’s monthly expenses and despite this difficult situation, TCF has been making sure that their salaries are paid on time. We are relying on the generosity of our supporters to help us ensure this.
Furthermore, we are witnessing a massive decline in the incomes of the families who send their children to TCF schools. 14% of TCF’s overall income comes from the nominal fees paid by our students’ families and in the current crisis, we expect this critical income stream to be severely impacted.
Lastly, a significant portion of our yearly donation revenue is, in usual circumstances, received as a part of our Ramadan drive. With regular fundraising efforts curtailed during this crisis and other financial strains on the economy, we are apprehensive that we may not raise enough funds to ensure the sustainability of TCF’s program during this crisis.
Given the stress on financial sustainability, why has TCF decided to take it upon itself to be involved in COVID-19 relief efforts?
Through its network of 1560+ schools, TCF has deep roots in vulnerable communities across Pakistan, and is directly connected to the lives of more than 1 million people including 266,000 students and their families; 12,500 teachers and principals; 40,000 alumni; and 120,000 adult literacy learners. These are our communities and, as in the past, we are committed to being there when they need us the most. We were active in providing relief and rehabilitation during the massive earthquake in northern Pakistan in 2005 as well as the floods in 2010. In this unprecedented crisis, we believe that our sincerity of intent and unique leverage in reaching the affected communities will help us raise the necessary funds and provide relief to those who need us the most as well as to sustain our families of our staff at the lower end of pay scale.
Why have we decided to allocate 20% to COVID relief efforts? Why not more?
Our foremost responsibility is towards the TCF families and we need to make sure we sustain the families of our teachers and the other school support staff (including ayahs, guards, drivers), who are at the lower end of pay scale, during this time of extreme economic hardship.
Will all donations be split on an 80-20 basis?
Apart from funds received for school construction, endowments and scholarships, 20% of all donations, Zakat and Sadqah received from April 1, 2020 onwards will be allocated to the essential relief efforts under TCF- USA COVID-19 Response Appeal.
How will TCF ensure that relief is reaching the right people?
The focus of our relief efforts will be on families whose daily income has been severely impacted because of the lockdown. We will leverage our large network of alumni and local faculty living in these communities to identify such families and obtain the information necessary to execute electronic cash transfer using mobile telecom networks. Since grocery shops are still open in all localities and these shops typically serve as agent locations for mobile-enabled financial transactions, we believe we will be able to implement the approach above without increasing the risk of COVID-19 infection due to cash handling by intermediaries. In the process, we will also attempt to have their mobile wallet accounts opened so that future transactions can become easier and the household benefits from financial inclusion as a whole.
What is TCF’s approach to providing relief and why has TCF chosen that approach?
Where possible, TCF will provide beneficiaries with financial support in the form of electronic cash transfers using mobile telecon networks. TCF is partnering with Jazz Cash to make this possible. Since grocery shops are still open in all localities and these shops typically serve as agent locations for mobile enabled financial transactions, we will be able to implement the approach above without increasing the risk of COVID-19 infection due to cash handling by intermediaries. Using cash transfers instead of physical rations also helps sustain local shopkeepers and micro entrepreneurs in the community.
Where cash transfers are not possible (e.g. beneficiaries do not have CNIC or mobile payments are not possible) we are partnering with other non-profits (such as Karachi Relief Trust) to distribute physical rations in communities.
How much support Is TCF providing to each family and how many families can benefit from this relief effort?
Based on our estimates, a family living in a typical TCF school community can sustain itself for two weeks on rations costing Rs.1945. We are therefore planning to make cash transfers of Rs.2000-2500 ($ 12- 15) on a fortnightly basis to support beneficiary households. Every $100,000 raised for the community relief effort, for instance, can help us support 3300 + families for a month. An amount of $10,000 can support 330+ families for a month.
When will the relief efforts begin?
Relief efforts have already been initiated in two communities i.e. Ibrahim Goth and Rehri Goth.
1)Ibrahim Goth, we have transferred an amount of Rs.2200 ( ~ $14) to 512 deserving families.
2)For Rehri Goth, TCF partnered with Karachi Relief Trust to fund the provision of ration bags to 506 families identified by our alumni who worked closely with KRT volunteers and the Rangers to conduct relief operations during the night. Each ration bag contained provisions worth Rs. 7000 ( ~$42).
Are Contributions to this appeal zakat eligible? Do we have a fatwa to this effect?
Yes. Our Shariah advisor has given a fatwa that TCF is eligible to receive zakat to provide relief to communities adversely impacted by COVID-19.
Can donors opt to give their funds entirely for school / classroom support etc. and not for the COVID-19 appeal?
We would request that all donors do join us and participate in our essential relief efforts. The need is urgent. If donors are convinced that they do not want to do so, we will respect their wishes and their contribution will be used entirely for the purpose they have indicated to us (i.e. no portion of their contribution will be allocated towards the COVID-19 relief efforts).
Can donors give specifically for the COVID-19 relief efforts and not for TCF Operations support?
TCF decided on an 80/20 split of each donation because, despite our intent to help alleviate the impact of this pandemic through emergency relief efforts, we strongly urge donors to help sustain families of our teachers and school support staff on the lower end of pay scale during this time of economic hardship. Having said that, if a donor still wants to contribute only to the other relief effort listed ( first three bullet points in Question 1) as a part of COVID-19 Response Appeal, we will receive it gratefully and place it under a specific head so as to ensure its 100% allocation as per donor’s preference.
How can I communicate my preference about where the funds should be applied to TCF-USA?
Please call 888-729-3022 to talk to our Donor Services representative who can record your preference and assist you in making an online or offline donation. You can also email us at contact@ tcfusa.org
Alternatively, you can go to www.tcfusa.org/donation-online/
Click on ‘Gift allocation’, you will get a drop-down menu. Select ‘Specify Chapter or Project’ out of the options and a comment box will open up where you can write your preferences e.g. 100% COVID Relief or 100% TCF operations or any other specific split.
Will TCF be allowing the use of its physical infrastructure for ration storage or distribution by other stakeholders?
TCF Pakistan is working with a wide coalition of nonprofit and governmental partners to enable relief efforts wherever possible. While maintaining the safety and security of assets funded by our supporters in the past, we will work closely with trusted partners to leverage our physical facilities for the benefit of our communities.
Is TCF waiving the fees it charges from its students’ families during this crisis?
TCF’s fee collection policy has always been extremely sensitive to the family’s financial needs and is designed primarily to ensure a minimum level of student and family engagement in the educational process. Due to school closure, no fees are being collected at the moment and even when schools reopen, our Principals will continue to exercise the same sensitivity to the family’s prevailing financial condition.
Will TCF accept in kind donations?
Due to severe limitations on mobility as well as the countrywide spread of TCF program, we are unable to receive in-kind donations at the moment in either Pakistan or USA. However, the organization will direct all such offers to partner organizations in relevant areas who are able to manage and credibly distribute in-kind donations aimed at community relief.
How are you going to help frontline healthcare professionals and volunteers with the equipment, testing kits and protective gear?
TCF is working closely with Governments, other nonprofits as well as corporate partners to (a) assess the need for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), testing kits and other equipment across a range of health facilities all over the country and (b) identify sources of supply for these essential support materials locally and internationally. In particular, we will be looking to provide protective gear and other facilities to smaller hospitals and Basic Health Units closer to under-privileged communities so that medical personnel working in these units can be better protected and enabled during this pandemic.
How are you planning to ensure continuity of the learning process for marginalized children who are currently forced to stay out of school?
TCF Program Design team is currently working with the Government of Pakistan, large scale broadcasters, and international nonprofits who have previously dealt with such crises, to develop programs to engage millions of children who are currently not being able to attend school. This will include leveraging existing content as well as developing new content aimed at engaging children in a distance learning process.
Will TCF-USA provide any relief or support to communities in the USA?
TCF-USA network of 41 chapters and 300+ volunteers across USA are actively exploring and partnering with local non-profit organizations (food drives etc.) in their respective cities to provide relief to COVID-19 affected communities in the USA. Donors can work with their area TCF Chapters to support these local efforts.
How long will this appeal last?
The appeal began on April 1, 2020 and will continue until the situation stabilizes and TCF USA’s management decides to suspend or discontinue the appeal.
By Mail
The Citizen Foundation, USA
7874 Solution Center
Chicago IL 60677 7008
Donate Online
www.tcfusa.org/donation-online/
Donate by Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT)
By Wire Transfer or Phone
Contact us at:
(888) 729-3022