The Problem

Education is a fundamental human right that every child is entitled to. Yet Pakistan has the highest rate of OSC (out of school children). We at Akhuwat strongly believe that poverty or lack of resources should not be a deterrent to a child's basic human right to education.

Education is the main driver of development for any country, and our vision at Akhuwat is to make education accessible to every child to help in transforming their lives so that they are able to play a more active role in the society. Education is critical to our development as individuals and as societies, and it paves the way to a more successful and productive future.

We strongly believe that by providing access to quality FREE or affordable education communities can be emancipated from poverty. When we ensure that children have access to a quality education that is rooted in equitable societal remit and gender equality, we create a ripple effect of opportunity that impacts generations to come. Unfortunately, education is one of the most lacking sectors in Pakistan.

Akhuwat's Founder, Amjad Saqib, firmly believes that Education is a vital component of bringing change to any society. Educating the masses will allow us to change the perceptions and to alter the paradigm. Now, more than ever before, in developing this new narrative education and knowledge will play a significant role. Education, from a skills-based approach, will have to move towards a more strategic and experiential one with a focus on research rigour, in order to arm the professional and organization with knowledge that would aid in, not only, fulfilling market needs but creating market needs and benefiting the society.

This proposed new paradigm shift could only take place once we inculcate a spirit of solidarity and brotherhood, in our youth to play their vital role in society-building by being more inclusive and compassionate towards the deprived segment of the society and make them a part of this solidarity movement of Mawakhaat (Brotherhood).

Hence why we emphasize the need for an institution which not only teaches how to be more useful in the society by earning a degree but also works on character-building something that which we refer to as Taleem-o-Tarbiyat -- instilling the spirit of compassion and local wisdom.

After providing INTEREST-FREE loans to over 2 million families all over Pakistan, Akhuwat is now focusing on offering FREE education to the deserving yet talented students who fail to continue their higher education due to lack of access to resources and funds.

Akhuwat envisions an equitable and just society and this can only happen by providing people with equal opportunities to finance and education.

Akhuwat Education Services (AES) is currently, imparting education to its beneficiaries under three main projects: Akhuwat College, Akhuwat FIRST, and Akhuwat Educational Assistance Program.

Conforming to its tradition of extending a helping hand to the underprivileged segment of society, Akhuwat has been focused on making education accessible to the poorest of the poor. It believes that every child deserves a chance to be educated; not only is it promoting learning in terms of the regular curriculum, it also aims to fine-tune its students to become productive and efficient human beings in all walks of life

For this particular cause, Akhuwat has established a College in Lahore. Akhuwat College is a residential facility catering to students from all over Pakistan. It has a fixed quota for individuals coming from all four provinces of Pakistan- Sindh, Punjab, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa- as well as a 20% reserved seats for students from Gilgit-Baltistan, FATA and Azad Jammu Kashmir.

Currently, 300 students from 40 districts of Pakistan are already enrolled in the College.

About Buy a Brick Build a University

Why are we collecting funds to build a University in Pakistan?

Akhuwat's Qard-e-Hasan (Interest-free loan) model has proven to be phenomenally effective in lifting people out of destitution and despair. Their philosophy of extending solidarity (Mawakhat) and their approach of creating 'virtuous circles' is of great significance bringing societies and communities together. The thought of facilitating a young child to translate their dream into reality through educating themselves is quite wholesome. We wish to draw on these virtuous circles of solidarity around the world by asking you to be part of our solidarity movement.

Traction

Akhuwat, as the largest model of Qard-e-Hasan (Interest-free) loans, has been catering to the needs of the underprivileged micro-entrepreneurs of Pakistan society for the past 17 years now. What started as a personal philanthropic act of its founder, Dr. Amjad Saqib, is now grown into a phenomenon having served 200,000 families in different areas of Pakistan. This is what gives us the confidence to now take this magnanimous task of offering FREE education option for deserving students in Pakistan.

Impact

Akhuwat through its many operations and activating community on many levels has touched and transformed lives for many. The most visible manifestation of Akhuwat’s efforts is the transformation of its beneficiaries (borrowers) into donors. Most of the beneficiaries are voluntarily giving back to the organization, once they have achieved a sufficient degree of financial sustainability and awareness about the vision of the program. 

• A common practice that has evolved in communities where Akhuwat operates has been Akhuwat’s borrowers offering ‘internships’ to new beneficiaries to assist them in setting up their own enterprises.
• Akhuwat has inspired state institutions to replicate this model on a wider scale.
• Akhuwat's case study is taught at many universities including Harvard Business School.

Akhuwat's Education Services

Continuing the journey of alleviating social marginalization by identifying financial needs and realizing the altruistic potential of Pakistanis, an independent Division of Akhuwat is operational under the umbrella of Akhuwat Education Services (AES).

Currently, AES is striving to provide equal educational opportunities in Pakistan through Akhuwat Educational Assistance Program, in the hope that they will contribute in transforming the nation for the better. AES is endeavouring to establish Akhuwat University, a project in its blueprint phase where many more needy and talented Pakistanis would be able to realize their academic potential, and in turn help our country materialize its progressive vision. Akhuwat University will have a unique focus towards the functionality of degree curriculum and emphasize the development of students character and value system (Taleem-o-Tarbiyat).

Akhuwat Education Services (AES) is catering to the needs of the deprived and side-lined segments of society who have immense potential but lack opportunity. AES extends a multi-pronged framework to motivate and catalyse the youth of Pakistan and bring about a positive change in our society by promoting values of peace, harmony, tolerance, and equity.

Our Vision

It is our resolve that by the year 2018, the university welcomes its first batch of students at a campus. It is also our resolve that only a nominal fee would be taken from students. There would be no conflict, coercion or financial requirement. Ideally, parents will give according to their means at the university's bank account. Those who can afford just a rupee may give just that; those who can afford a hundred thousand, give an amount commensurate to that.

We believe education is not a commodity, but a basic human right. If one is to reduce the provision of education to a mere business venture, then it is far better to pursue something else. The realm of knowledge must remain sacred.

Our Model

In the first stage, Rs. 500 Million ($5 Million) is required for the construction of the building. We have valued one brick of the university at Pak Rupees 1000 ($10). We require 500,000 bricks for the completion of this project.

Akhuwat University will be the first of its kind - A fee free residential university where students from all over Pakistan will be selected on merit and provided free quality higher education.

How are we going about it?

At Akhuwat University, we shall afford every student meriting admission, for WHATEVER the student can afford to pay!

We take no pledge, no bond, and no indemnity - only a commitment to pay as much as one muster during the years of education, with the rest in instalments on being gainfully employed. With every student who walks in with stars in their eyes, our door shall forever remain open. The only contract we shall make will be with their conscience, secure in our belief that they shall return the large-heartedness shown to them by their Alma Mater whenever they can afford to with matching kindness so that the light of knowledge goes on burning bright for those who follow in their footsteps.

When will it become operational?

The project has moved beyond the blueprint phase. The first critical step has already taken from Akhuwat's own resources and donor's benevolence. The land has been acquired in Kasur, bordering Pakistan's academic and cultural capital, Lahore. The project cost of the first phase of construction is estimated to be 500 million. A campus is already in operation in the industrial city of Faisalabad, with emphasis on cutting-edge technology related programs. Initially, it shall have two disciplines, with gradual expansion to a full university status.

Wall of Builders

Buy a Brick for Akhuwat University for just £15. Re-ignite hope and change the future. Only 500,000 bricks and it shall be all systems go for the university. We are striving to develop a five billion rupees Endowment fund to provide for talented needy students.

Each buyer of 10 bricks or more will have their name inscribed on THE WALL OF BUILDERS

Such a deed is an incentive by itself, but one's name chiseled alongside those who helped build a Sanctuary of knowledge is recognition worthy of the gesture.

Akhuwat in the Press

Dr. Amjad Saqib Presenting Akhuwat Model at United Nations Economic and Social Council

https://www.un.org/ecosoc/sites/www.un.org.ecosoc/files/files/en/integration/2017/2017_integration_segment_ speakers_bio.pdf

The Institute for Business in the Global Context

http://fletcher.tufts.edu/~/media/Fletcher/Microsites/IBGC/pdf/Student%20Research/Final%20Jelmer%20Ikink.pdf

Stanford Social Innovation Review

https://ssir.org/articles/entry/akhuwat_making_microfinance_work

Dr. Amjad Saqib's Talk at Berkley Centre, Georgetown University

https://berkleycenter.georgetown.edu/interviews/a-discussion-with-dr-amjad-saqib-executive-director-akhuwat

Akhuwat Impact Assessment by Lend with Care

https://www.lendwithcare.org/news/post/181

Featured in Aurora

http://aurora.dawn.com/news/1140913

Akhuwat Case Study Published in Harvard Business Review

https://hbr.org/product/akhuwat-fighting-poverty-with-interest-free-microfinance/KS1198-PDF-ENG

https://case.hks.harvard.edu/akhuwat-fighting-poverty-with-interest-free-microfinance/

Akhuwat Model appreciated by TRANS4M, Centre for Integral Development

http://www.trans-4-m.com/akhuwat-brotherhood-london-trans4m-invited-panel-role-islamic-finance-economics-alleviating-poverty/

Impact Assessment Report by Lendwithcare in collaboration with Portsmouth University​https://www.lendwithcare.org/news/post/203