Meri Pehchan · My Identity
A school where every child can discover their value.
Meri Pehchan is a free learning community in Faisalabad, Pakistan. It welcomes children whose families may not otherwise be able to afford education and gives them a safe place to build knowledge, confidence and hope for the future.
“Meri Pehchan” means “My Identity.” The students chose the name themselves because the school is a place where their voices, abilities and dreams matter.
Our mission
Education that opens the world.
Our mission is to help children build the foundations for successful and meaningful lives. Students develop reading, writing, communication and computer skills while learning about their surroundings, modern technology and the wider world. Just as importantly, they learn to ask questions, make choices and recognize their own capacity to shape the future.
Why the project exists
Opportunity should not depend on a family’s income.
Many children in low-income communities have limited or interrupted access to education. Without practical support, they risk entering adulthood without basic literacy, digital skills or confidence in their ability to learn. Meri Pehchan helps close that gap through free, inclusive and empowering education.
Strong foundations
Children develop practical literacy, mathematics, communication and digital skills that support learning in everyday life.
Equal access
Girls and boys are welcomed equally, helping reduce educational inequality and expand possibilities for every learner.
Personal agency
Children are listened to, trusted with responsibility and encouraged to see themselves as capable participants in their communities.
How learning happens
Modern tools, human guidance and room to participate.
The project creates welcoming learning spaces equipped with laptop computers, educational resources and a reliable internet connection. Teachers and volunteers guide children as they search for information, practise new skills and work through questions together.
A safe and respectful setting helps children feel comfortable asking questions, trying unfamiliar tasks and learning from mistakes.
Computers and online resources support literacy, creativity, research and critical thinking rather than passive screen time.
Small groups encourage cooperation, discussion and peer support while knowledgeable adults remain available to guide the process.
Funding and organization
A partnership built on trust.
The school is supported through donations from individuals and cooperation between organizations in Finland and Pakistan.
Funding coordination · Finland
Association for Educational Progress
Kehittyvä koulu -yhdistys ry is a Finland-based nonprofit organization that coordinates funds for the project. Its work promotes student empowerment, equality and well-being.
Local operation · Pakistan
STEP Organization
Social Transformation & Educational Prosperity coordinates and operates the schools locally. STEP has worked alongside families in the community for more than twenty years.
Every contribution matters
Help keep the door to learning open.
Support from individuals makes it possible to maintain learning spaces, provide technology and materials, and keep education free for children and families.