About Us

Ibtida holds the belief that all children in Pakistan, regardless of their socioeconomic background, should be given equal access to quality education.

We strongly believe that educated and informed future generations are the key to a prosperous, peaceful and progressive future. If the next generation of children is to have a promising future, they must not only be educated, but also taught tolerance and respect for others.

Our mission is to promote a modern and secular education that incorporates these values for underprivileged children through a network of schools across rural areas of Pakistan.

Ibtida was established in 2003 by a group of individuals who share the belief that the only way to break the vicious cycle of poverty and ignorance is through education.

We are an all-volunteer, non-religious, non-political organization.

What We Do

We make grants and work closely with both domestic and foreign organizations to further our mission. To see an overview of the state of literacy in Pakistan, please click here.

Our goal is to:

+ Provide underprivileged children in Pakistan access to a modern and secular education that incorporates cultural and religious tolerance and respect for others.

+ Provide underprivileged children in Pakistan with basic health education, such as personal hygiene and sanitation in homes and communities, safety inside and outside the home, and good etiquette and awareness of the environment.

+ Encourage involvement of Pakistani families and communities in the education process of their children.

+ Support grassroots non-profit programs in the US that provide education to underprivileged children, such as those of migrant farm workers and/or of refugees.