TC F R AHBAR P ROGRAM

Volunteering for Rahbar

Three cycles are held every academic year at multiple schools between January February, April - June and October - December. If you are interested in being a part of TCF Rahbar Program please register yourself on our website: w w w . t c f . o r g . p k / VolunteerRequest.aspx For more details contact us on 111-823-823 (111-TCF-TCF) or 0321-2432514.

Influence a Young Life - Become a Rahbar

About TCF The Citizens Foundation (TCF) is a professionally managed, non-profit organization working to improve the quality of education in Pakistan. As of April 2012, TCF has 830 purpose-built school units nationwide in urban slums and rural areas with an enrollment of more than 115,000 students. TCFs vision is to remove barriers of class and privilege to make citizens of Pakistan agents of positive change. What is Rahbar and the role of a mentor? TCF Rahbar a Mentorship Program aimed at the development of youth as responsible individuals and productive members of society.
Above: Mentors with their mentees at the exposure trip at Igloo ice cream factory.

Rahbar helps re-energize the Samaritan sleeping inside each of us and has the ability to spark wisdom and provoke positive thinking in mentees at an impressionable age which can help form the key to a tolerant and progressive society. It has provided me with a platform to relive and share my life lessons and I hope that the essence of Rahbar can be spread to as many corners as possible.

In line with this, the role of a Rahbar is to encourage the mentee to develop a positive thought process, a vision for his/her future, the plan to realize that vision and the capacity to deal with the failure that he/she will inadvertently confront on this journey.

Below: A group of boys with their mentors

Stepping out of my comfort zone and reach out to the 'less privileged' with the hope to make a positive difference is what urged me to become a 'Rahbar' for the kids of TCF Schools when I first joined the program two years ago. Little did I know that this program, its organizers and the most integral part of the program the 'mentees' would make such a huge impact on my life. Since then, it has been impossible for me to depart from this inspirational program. "To live within ones means and to be content with it is to live life fully" is what the kids have taught me. "To never give up on ones dreams and to strike ones level best" is what I have tried to convey to them. Together we make a great team!

Ahsan Kazmi Partner Design Dimensions Construction Company

Aamna Tabish Home Maker

TC F R AHBAR P ROGRAM
Rahbar thus far The program has completed nine successful cycles in Dharki, Faisalabad, Karachi, Khushab, Lahore, Quetta and Rawalpindi. In the brief span of four years, we have been able to reach over 6100 students with the support of more than 1300 volunteer mentors from all walks of life. Our mentors have included people employed in the corporate sector, housewives, lawyers, engineers, scientists, doctors, teachers & retired personnel - just about anyone who would like to make a meaningful difference in young lives. What will be the time commitments for Rahbar? A group of five to seven students will be assigned to a pair of mentors for the duration of the program, that is, seven Saturdays between 9:30 am to 12:30 pm. I am interested - what is the next step? If you are interested in being a part of TCF Rahbar Program please fill out our volunteer form by visiting the following link: www.tcf.org.pk/VolunteerRequest.as px For more details contact us on 111823-823 (111-TCF-TCF) or 03212432514. The focus of the program is sowing a seed of positive thinking, aiming high and realizing ones potential. Therefore, where this program provides you an opportunity to contribute to the betterment of Pakistan, at a personal level, it gives you a chance to meet new like minded people, share and learn from each others experiences and grow. I would encourage you all to join and experience the pleasure of being a Rahbar. Sharjeel Ahmad Partner, Advisory Ernst & Young
Above: Girls hand painting on a canvass with their mentors.

TCF Rahbar program is not just a mentoring program for the mentees, for us it has been an experience whose worth is much, much more than we invested. Being in different schools brings each its own unique flavor to the program but what has been constant is the innocence, passion and hope within young minds that are the future of our country. The crux of the program is to trigger positive thinking and promote self development in mentees but this is where the experience has been just as effective in helping us do the same for our own selves. Our Rahbar journey from the mentees, to the mentors, to the people running the program has been truly inspirational.

Above: Mentors and mentees showing their creativity during a session. Below: A football match in action at a school.

Rumina & Umair Nasir Ali Rumina is Production Designer while her husband is Director at Num Films

I had first joined Rahbar as a mentor with an intention to give back to the society but instead the mentees helped me develop the attitude for gratitude towards life in general. They taught me lessons pertaining to teamwork while retaining their energy to excel. The program has helped me develop better management and communication skills in work and life. It has truly been one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life.
Khawaja Umair Najam Retail Network Planning, Shell Pakistan Limited

Right: Hand made gifts by the mentees for their mentors.