Help Educate 1000 Students in Pakistan

Shah sits across the table, composed and narrates his life story with a calm that belies the words he utters.

He grew up in a neighborhood in New Karachi which was notorious for drugs and weapons. He had five sisters, who are now married, a brother who died due to misdiagnosis and another who had fallen victim to drug abuse. Shah has not heard from him in five years. His father lived in the Middle East for fifteen years. He returned to Karachi as a mason but due to his old age was now unable to support his family as he once could.

The weight of his family’s responsibilities lay on Shah’s shoulders. He completed his Matriculation but initially had not wished to pursue further education. His need to provide for his family was overpowering and he moved to Oman where he worked as a helper. His salary was meagre and as a non-skilled laborer, he soon realized that he needed a technical skill to get ahead otherwise his future would be at a dead end.

With that heavy realization he returned to Pakistan. At the time an institute by the name of AMANTECH was advertising technical training. He heard radio advertisements and saw billboards and decided to try his luck.

He cleared the test and joined Fabrication, Welding and Pipework in 2011. AMANTECH exceeded Shah’s expectations. He had expected to operate from a workshop and was pleasantly surprised to note that not only were his technical skills being honed, but also soft skills which helped with personal grooming, communication and stress management. Shah smiled as he remembered his life before he joined AMANTECH. “I was a bit of a rogue before I began my certification, but coming to this institute changed all that. My mother also saw a remarkable change in my demeanor. I had the perseverance to deal with anything that came my way, personally and professionally.”

“I had trouble with Mathematics since I was a child and I was nervous when I learned that we’d be studying that at AMANTECH. “ His hesitation was quelled by a teacher who promised Shah that he wouldn’t be left behind. With his teachers mentoring and extra help, Shah quickly rose the ranks and obtained first position in his Mathematics class.

He successfully completed his course in Fabrication, Welding & Pipework with a distinction in both Practical and Theory.

After graduation, Shah first got a job at the Gulf Steel Industry in Sharjah as a structure fitter. The environment wasn’t safe and there was a possibility to injure the employees enough to render them incapable of working. He decided to return to Pakistan where AMANTECH provided him with the opportunity to work in a production factory in Steel Town. He worked there for three months before he got his lucky break. He applied for a job as a Fitter in Oman. He’s been working there for a year and has not looked back since.

He has bought a house in Gulshan-e-Iqbal, an upgrade from the area he lived in before. He is married and has a daughter. While he works in Oman, his family lives in Karachi and he sends money back home. He plans to bring his family to Oman too, once he’s promoted to Supervisor.

“My father lived abroad for fifteen years and now that I am doing the same I am in awe of how much he went through to support his family. It gives me the strength to keep going even when times get rough. My advice to all young people who are struggling is to never give up, work hard and keep learning. Discipline will get you far. You might have to sacrifice things in the short run but you will need to remember you are doing this to secure a future in the long run.”