What my charity is about

Helping underprivileged people get back on their feet. The objective is to lessen the burden on a family.

Current projects

The main projects in my charity are:

  1. Food Drive: – So far we have held 155 food drives, feeding thousands of persons every week in two sectors of Islamabad. 

Ever since the Corona virus hit the world, and the lock down began, many people lost their jobs. The biggest issue is having enough food for underprivileged persons. Since March 23rd 2020, I began the Food Drive in E-11, Islamabad. My followers have joined me in this drive, and so far we have daily fed around 150 to 600 persons. Previously, it was only in E-11 sector, recently one of our receivers, has joined our team, and provides food to one more sector; D-12, Islamabad. The rest of the donations will be used for getting rations for needy families.  

2. Bridal project: So far we have helped in the marriage of over 47 weddings of girls from under privileged families. It is our constant intention to help deserving families. 

This has a package of a dinner set, a set of kitchen items: with water set, cooking pots, frying pan, rolling pin, cutlery set, and tea cups etc.  We provide new as well as pre-loved formal and semi-formal clothes for the bride, (around 8 to 12 dresses.) Whenever possible, we give some cash for the wedding food too.
What you can do:

Send me some clothes and accessories:

You can post them to my Studio. Any formal or casual suits in excellent condition will do.

For cash donations:

You can donate cash online directly to bank account or when living out of Pakistan, you can send through PayPal, (shireenghebe@hotmail.com.) Shireen Khan. 

In Pakistan: 

You can make an online transfer to this Askari Bank Account:

 Account No: 0260320210687 (Add one zero in beginning in case of error to make total number to 14 digits.)

If you live outside Pakistan: use PayPal. 

send via PayPal: shireengheba@hotmail.com

3. Individual projects in 2020 
We helped Faisal Naveed: who lost both his arms in a machine accident in Gujjar Khan, on January 3rd, 2020. We plan to get him back to his normal life again. We hope to get his prosthesis and get him independent as soon as possible. Preferably, an earning member of his family, (with some on-job training).

Heart operation of Emaan:

Emaan, a nine-year-old girl from Mansehra, daughter of Ayub recently had a successful heart operation on September 8th, 2020. She was funded by you all and my mother. Alhamdolillah, we are grateful to Panah, at AFIC and specially Dr. Col. Nadeem for the operation. As well as to the rest of the team. 

4. Support following charity institutions:

It has been my support of other charity organizaitons in Islamabad. I highly recommend these. You can directly donate to these organizations in Islamabad, they are doing a great job. As my work has become very demanding, so I’d request you to directly contact them for your donations to them: 

  1. Gosha-e-Mashal: https://mashal.org.pk
  2. CSS School of Usman: https: //www.facebook.com/communitysservices
  3. Binte-Fatima, an old people’s home: https://www.facebook.com/bfoldhome/

How it began

I have done charity work all my life. A few years ago, I started Shireen’s Studio for art classes, literary meetings and workshops. So, when needed, I’d ask for help from my friends, while doing some projects. It has been the enthusiasm of my friends and followers on Facebook and Instagram which has made these small projects into a regular charity.

Together my friends and I’ve been collecting gifts, clothes for CSS school children, or getting requirements for Old People’s Home, and people would donate also. Paying school fees for children in CSS school and Mashal, especially by Sana Ahmed, my donor in Australia just happened along the way.

How the bridal project began: In May 2019, a follower of mine, Sidra told me about a paralyzed widow, who lost her husband and son in the earthquake. She has four daughters and was going to marry off two of them. Sidra asked me to request my followers for almost-new clothes for the two girls about to be married in a remote area near Muzaffarabad. I did, and within 48 hours, we had more than enough.

I had donors like Aliya Janjua, who donated cash from California, and others from Norway and UAE too.  We ended up having enough to marry off two more underprivileged brides. In nine months now, we had already helped in 28 bridal projects!

Besides this, we are doing two long-term projects since January 2020: Faisal Naveed (of Gujjar Khan,) who lost both arms in a machine accident,  and Emaan, a nine-year-old girl from Mansehra, for her heart operation in AFIC.

How did it start? Each one was a one-off project, and I shared progress with my followers and they would donate whatever was needed. Donors from California, Calgary, Seattle, Oslo, Paris, Adelade, Dubai and Abu Dhabi, UK, and Australia, have participated in these projects.  Cash and required items for donation, especially clothes have been sent from all cities of Pakistan.

All my followers have participated wholeheartedly.

I have literally had to stop them from giving more, sometimes, as that particular project was closed for the time.

Who donates

What services are included

If the amount is less than required, then it is added to the rest for a particular objective. If the amount you give is more, then the rest will go into the same project later on, or added to another project. If there is nothing else, then I’ll make up the amount to achieve the objective of the project.

Projects I do not take

I do not give ongoing school fees for semesters or students. It isn’t within my capacity. Also, people who ask for ongoing monthly payments for their household expenses.

Nor do I help persons who do not help themselves.

The brides I choose are ones from underprivileged families, who are doing their best, and are still finding it hard to manage. I like to help girls who are studying, or working. Mothers who are maids in homes, or are doing jobs. Recently, we married off a girl who is a guard in FAST University, and I’ve helped a girl working in Depilex, Peshawar.

Please support my cause

I would love it if you give a donation which is ‘general’ so that I may put it in the current urgent project. Usually, while I’m on one project, another one becomes urgent, in this process, your donation makes me strong enough to respond to that one too, otherwise, I would have to refuse it.

For instance, in February, I completed three bridal projects, but then, thanks to three cash donations and clothes donations, I was able to help with three more marriages. So, in February, we were able to help with six marriages. (While I was busy with nikah ceremony of my own daughter as well!)

Your support is vital. Please help me grow my charity