15 years ago Shahid Salim approached George Brunton about the possibility of Life Church Lancashire doing something to help children in Pakistan. Shahid is from Pakistan and understands the vital importance that education plays in the lives and opportunities of children, young people and their families. Education isn’t universally free or accessible in Pakistan so for many poorer families it simply isn’t an option.
George went to visit Shahid’s family home town of Toba Tek Singh and together, with support from the Life Church community they purchased some land and began Brighter Future School. Since then George has visited a further 5 times and sustained the running of the school through raising support in the UK.
Life Church is able to give Christmas gifts each year and during the covid lockdowns in Pakistan was able to help with food supplies, face masks and hand sanitiser.
Currently Life Church supports the 67 pupils at Brighter Future School as well as the 6 members of Staff. Students receive free education which means they can access High School when they graduate, as well as free school uniform, free fruit each day and school materials such as books.
On Sunday 7th November 2021 we hosted our first Brighter Future School Celebration Night at Life Church with over 50 people in attendance and a significant amount of money raised. In attendance was Andrew Stephenson MP, the MP for Pendle who was also Chairman for the Pakistan All-Party Parliamentary Committee. Andrew spoke about his admiration for the school and his belief in the importance of education.
In the next year we plan to connect Brighter Future School with schools here in Lancashire and plan to take a visit to Pakistan in Autumn 2022.
If you are interested in finding out more about the school or would like to support the school then please contact us at [email protected]
