The Idea

The plight and misery of down and out children has always touched my wife Bushra’s heart. Time and again she expressed her desire to adopt some of the orphans and raise them as our own children. In 2004, during a meeting with a close friend, Mr Akram Chaudhry, we discussed Bushra’s desire of a shelter for homeless children and Mr Chaudhry supported the idea wholeheartedly.

Then came Oct 2005 – a devastating earthquake that rocked and tumbled the North of Pakistan and Kashmir. The defining moment had come; thus the Saba Trust said “Labaik” (I am here) and embarked upon massive relief efforts in the affected areas.

Introduction

Saba Homes is a subsidiary of Saba Aslam Education and Welfare Trust (Registered); a voluntary, non-profit, non-political and non-sectarian charity organization. The concept of Saba Home is based on:

“If you give a person a fish you feed him for a day – if you teach him how to fish you feed him for a lifetime.”

Unlike any orphanage, Saba Homes is truly a “home” for orphans. A home full of love and affection which offers orphans all that can uplift them, cherish them and set them on the journey of becoming a noble, educated, civilized, and inspiring citizen of Pakistan.

It wasn’t easy setting foundation of Saba Homes. We faced a lot of difficulties and hurdles but teachings of our beloved prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.W) who talked highly of the greatest significance of taking care of orphans, were what moved us and kept us going forward successfully.

Saghir Aslam's wife, Bushra, always had a string of emotions whenever she saw miserable condition of orphans. Since the very beginning, it was her goal to raise orphans with utmost love and care. She came up with a noble idea of raising even a small group of orphans with the same level of love, care and opportunity as if they were our own children. Based on this purely noble idea, foundation of Saba Homes was laid.

Our Mission

To be the catalyst in bringing hope to the Orphans of Pakistan by providing food, shelter, medical care, educational assistance and more in a manner that breaks the cycle of dependence and promotes individual and societal productivity as well as charitable character within the community.

Our Goals

• Provide comfort through modern equipment.
• Provide quality education through solid and improved models.
• Provide homelike environment, health facilities and recreation.
• Promote interfaith, moderation and respect to others faiths and cultures.
• Support global efforts to promote and protect the rights of girls.
• Augment awareness for the plight of parentless/ needy children.
• Raise children to be highly responsible and productive members of the society in the environment of love and sport.
• Formulate and conduct comprehensive training programs to facilitate the growth of Saba Home mentors.
• Expand the operation of Saba Home on a larger scale in the years to come.

The Aim

Saba Home aims to groom Saba Girls to love and care for all human being regardless of their religion or country. We will teach them hope and freedom instead of anger and hate and become prolific and highly responsible productive members of the society through quality education and character building.

“Peace through education. Peace through tolerance.” -Akram Chaudhry

Operational strategy and implementation matrix

Criteria for selecting Saba Girls

• Girls between 4 to 7 years of age will be adopted.
• While adopting a girl, preference will be given to parentless girls.
• Thorough medical checkup by a recognized hospital will be conducted. Any child with hereditary or contagious disease will be regretted.
• Providing birth certificate of the child will be mandatory.
• In case of parentless girls, production of parent(s) death certificate(s) will be mandatory.
• Birth certificates of siblings will also be obligatory for verification.
• Verification of the character/ background of the candidate’s relative/s by police authorities who can be contacted if need be or who wants to keep a link will be verified by police authorities.
• Final selection of Saba Girls will be done by Saba Home Grandparents.

Rules and regulations for enrollment

• First preference to earthquake victim.
• Second preference to both parentless girls.
• Third preference to fatherless girls.
• Age should be between 4 to 7 years.

Details of required documents

Following documents should be attested:

• Two passport size pictures of the candidate.
• Death certificates of parents/father.
• ID card copies of both parents.
• “B” form.
• School certificates of the candidate.
• Undertaking of guardian on stamp paper.

Medical Examination of the Candidates

Confirmation of following diseases:

• T. B.
• Diabetes.
• Any type of Cancer.
• Any type of Hepatitis.
• Other.

Bond

• A bond will be legislated to swear an undertaking from the relative(s) of the candidate to abstain him from maligning or demanding the girl in the name of Wani, Sawara, Watta Satta or any such social vices.
• The bond will further protect the girl from underage or imposed marriage.
• The girl at any stage will not be married without the consent of Saba Home grandparents.
• The girl will be bound to attain at least a bachelor’s degree before joining the mainstream of the society.

Agreement between Saba Trust and orphan’s relatives/guardians

Only the relative/ authorized at the time of adoption will be allowed to visit.

Frequent visits by the relative will not be approved.

The relative may join Saba Girls at Saba Homes on festivals to celebrate.

Relative /guardian that authorized at the time of adoption will be allowed to make a call on first Sunday of every month.

Vacations

• No conventional summer/ winter vacations will be observed instead activities and field trips will be planned and organized.
• In exceptional cases, SH working committee may send a child with authorized relative on a limited vacation.
• Members of the board of trustees, Board of Advisers may invite a group of Saba Girls to spend few days with their families.

Upkeep of Saba Home

• Maids shall be responsible for the cleaning of rooms, toilets and courtyard.
• A committee of ladies will be deputed by a panel appointed by working committee.

Security

• Integral security guards fully armed will be hired.
• Guards will be responsible to keep an eye on each entry and exit of personnel & material.
• Security cameras will be installed at key points for surveillance.
• Records of each entry and exit will be maintained.
• Security passes will be issued to all personnel associated with SH.
• Cell phones & cameras will not be allowed at the premises except authorized by Grandparents.
• Adequate fire fighting appliances will be installed. The staff will be imparted with requisite fire fighting training.

Weekly schedule

All students should follow this schedule:

Note

• All room lights should be turned off at 8:00 pm
• Room mothers should not allow talking after 8:00 pm

Management committee

Regular day by day affairs of Saba homes will be managed by:

• Administration
• Assistant administrator
• Senior Counsellor
• Room mothers
• Teachers

Above staff will be responsible for all the needs of saba girls including:

• Residence
• Education
• Counselling
• Recreational Activities
• Health and Hygiene
• Any other matter

Job Description

Administrator:

To have the records and data of all girls.

1. Admission dates.
2. Full bio data of girls and individual files.
3. Full information of parents and relative contacts.
4. Legal documents from the trust attorney.
5. Maintain Academic data which means each girl’s entire result and academic progress.
6. Interaction with school management and teachers.
7. Overall responsibility of education, quality and evaluation of tutors.
8. Record of stationery given to girls.
9. Submit demands to head office for stationery.
10. Administration of Saba Homes.
11. General monthly reports of the performance of girls, room mothers and their teachers.

Job Description

Medical Responsibility:

1. To manage regular check-ups (general, dental, eyesight) but any new admission should be seen by a doctor 1st.
2. To arrange visit to doctors at the time of illness
3. Assign room mothers to give medicines.
4. Keep the record of all visits of doctor in proper individual files.
5. Assign room mothers to look after personal hygiene of girls.
6. Management of room mothers, supervision and reports.
7. Regular meeting with room mothers for evaluation of performance, needs, suggestions etc.
8. Close observation of room mothers during their probation period and their evaluation.
9. Coach room mothers and let them know their expectations and duties.
10. Guide room mothers in physiological and emotional aspects while dealing with girls.
11. Maintenance of Saba Homes, report of things needed, broken etc.
12. Cleaning of Saba Homes.
13. Physiological, emotional consoling of girls.

Job Description

Administrative Manager

1. Perform accounting and clerical; functions to support supervisors.
2. Research, track, and resolve accounting problems.
3. Compile and sort invoices and checks.
4. Issue checks
5. Place checks in envelope and mail out.
6. Record business transaction and key daily worksheets to the general ledger system.
7. Record charges and refunds.
8. Support accounting personnel.
9. Provide front desk service.
10. File and tally deposits.
11. Work with adding machines, calculators, databases and bank accounts.
12. Match invoices to work orders.
13. Process bills for payment.
14. Open mail and match payments to invoices. Arrange for money to be delivered to bank. Utilize computer systems to run database, pay bills, and order supplies.
15. Contact individuals with delinquent accounts.

Job Description

Room Mothers

1. To be the really dedicated, devoted and loving mothers.
2. Be a teacher for character building along with everything else.
3. To keep the premises clean.
4. Wake up Saba Girls with Azan or Ayat from Quran (control room)
5. Make sure girls of age 7 years and older pray with Jamaat (congregation)
6. Observe, monitor and teach Quran to all girls.
7. Prepare report of each girl every Sunday. Make spreadsheet of 52 weeks in a year for each girl.
8. Exercise with girls (guide them) minimum half an hour.
9. One room mother can come to kitchen with 3 girls to prepare breakfast.
10. Other room mothers will help other girls to get ready for school.
11. Call all girls and room mothers for breakfast.
12. Ask girls to go upstairs for the final preparation and comedown stairs, stand in line to go to school
13. Girls will go to school under the supervision of a room mother with the driver.
14. Check the cupboard, rooms and set their cloth items. Plan their wearing of clothing.
15. Open the windows and check cleanliness.
16. Room mothers off time will be from 10 to 12 in afternoon.
17. One room mother will plan daily-pick of small girls from school before 12:30
18. Help small girls to change their cloths etc.
19. Check their school bags, diaries and ask what they did at School. Help them to learn.
20. Collect other girls from Indus school daily at 1:50 p.m.
21. Remaining room mothers should get ready to serve the lunch.
22. After lunch room mothers should help girls to get ready to go in study rooms at 3:10 p.m.
23. Help girls to read in courtyard for karate class at 5:10 pm.
24. From 6 pm to 7:10 pm, involve girls in different activities like reading, playing, games, drawing etc.
25. Remaining room mothers assign for dinner duty will take 3 girls to get ready to serve the dinner
26. Other room mothers will bring the girls for dinner in line.
27. After dinner they will ask girls to go upstairs in line.
28. Room mothers will help the girls in cleaning their portion and ironing their uniform etc.
29. As the day was started from the recitation of Holy Quran, it should be end in the same way. So, room mothers will go to the control room, play some verses of Holy Quran with translation.
30. Room mothers will go to sleep at 8:30 pm.
31. No cell phones are allowed except administration staff. Cell phone should be deposited in the office.
32. Try to prepare at least one creative, character building lesson for your girls daily and it must be documented in your book.
33. Make a spreadsheet so activities in entire year can be seen at a glance.
34. Room mothers should remember that they are paid mama and they must do the full duty just like every mother.
35. Room mothers can do leisurely things and shopping in their off days.
36. Room mothers are responsible for the hygiene of girls which includes clearing of lice etc. Their nails must also be checked. This will be checked every morning.
37. However, every Friday girls will be checked thoroughly and proper treatments and adjustments must take place.
38. Final report will be submitted to the administrator every Friday.
39. If any room mother proceeds on leave, remaining room mothers should divide their duties according to situation.
40. Every Friday, there will be a Milad for an hour. Room mothers need to submit their plans to Administrator. Administrator will proceed particular request to chairman for the approval & recommendation.
    90% of the time, must be spent discussing the life of our beloved Prophet and Khulafa-e-Rashideen.

Human Resources

Sustainability

The funds for Saba Home are provided by:

• APPNA
• Mr Amin Ghaffar Hamdani
• Dr. Saeed Bajwa
• Mr. Hamed Malik
• Mr. Safi Qureshi
• Mr. Fareed Jaffery
• Mr Akram Chaudhry
• Mr. Rauf Gajiani
• Dr. Asim Malik
• Give Light Foundation
• Sabin Children Foundation

Others who have donated:

• Mr. Abu Bakar Vakil
• Mr. Sarfraz Khan
• Mr. Shezad Rokerya
• Mr. Jamsheed Badr Zahidi
• Mr. Aziz Memon
• Mr. Adel El Sahn
• Mr. Fareed Bukhari
• Mr. Keith Atkinson
• Mr. Alam Akhtar
• Dr. Shah
• Mr. Ahmed Ali
• Mr. Bishop Tom Thorkelson
• Mr. Shawn O’Neil
• Mrs. Sheila O’Leary Thorkelson
• Mr. David Goodenough
• Mr. Sohail Sherif
• Mr. David Hockner
• Dr. Yahya Abdul Rahman
• Mr. Frank Laviano
• Mr. Tom Kleinbauer
• Mr. Tariq Chaudhary
• Mr. Faruk Zia

This group, however, recognizes that in order to ensure sustainable future of the project, external funding sources will have to be explored

• Board of Directors
• Board of Trustees
• Board of Advisors