Shining Light International

Our Vision:

Shining Light International exists to empower oppressed communities by meeting practical needs and offering hope for a brighter future.

Our Mission:

To accomplish our vision, SLI equips individuals and resources sustainable programs to create opportunities in Northern Pakistan that break the cycle of injustice and poverty.

Traveling Tent Schools in Northern Pakistan:

One of SLI’s most exciting programs is the Remote Village Development Program among the Gujjar communities of Northern Pakistan.  The Gujjar people are incredibly hardworking and industrious, as they are semi-nomadic, traveling to the high pastures six months out of the year with their livestock and have existed in the roughest, most remote terrain of the Pakistani mountain ranges for generations.  However, they are about 97% illiterate and face little access to education or economic opportunity for their future as society continues to change.

In 2008, SLI began to meet with the Gujjar local leaders and officials to discuss, how we could come alongside them to assist and partner in acheiving their goals for the future.  Knowing their history of illiteracy, and how society is changing, they unanimously expressed their deepest need to be; Education.  They longed for economic opportunities for their children, and knew that something had to change. 

SLI immediately set to work to help support and sustain schools for over 500 children in the the three villages of Darmandar, Bahtrate, and Gumsing.  Within five years, SLI has provided salaries for seven Gujjar teachers, school supplies, books, uniforms, tuition, and tents for the children to be able to continue their studies during the nomadic months of travel to high pastures.

These Gujjar communities are particularly conservative, and the local and religious leaders were resistant at first to allowing girls to go to school, but community discussions and education have led to the enrollment of over 150 girls! This is the first time in the history of the Gujjar people that girls have received an education.  

Celebrating these accomplishments, SLI desires to see every Gujjar community and valley receive the same opportunity to receive a high quality education.  Therefore, we have made it our personal goal to provide an education to every Gujjar community in three districts of Pakistan by 2020.

Two New Village Schools:   Thurulti and Thamuskh

Recently receiving permission and invitation from the local and religious authorities in the Shashi Nalla (Valley), SLI will be providing and education for two additional Gujjar villages! We are so excited to announce that over 220 more children will have the opportunity to receive a high quality education, and be able to stay enrolled in school during the warmer months of the year when they are traveling.  

In order to provide the best education for these communities, we need to raise $15,000 to cover: 

• Hiring 4 additional Gujjar teachers, provide training and salaries
• School Supplies, Tuition, and Uniforms for 220 children
• Major Building Renovations and school furniture for the winter school buildings
• Provide 4 large tents for the nomadic months

We believe that the only way to break the cycles of extremism and oppression in this region of the world is to to equip boys and girls to stand against them, and that when ALL children are educated, including the girls, entire communities are transformed.  

You can join with us in offering hope to the Gujjar people and empowering children to be who they were made to be.  You can join us in transforming entire communities by helping us to provide an education to the people of Thurulti and Thamuskh.