Shoaib is a lively 17-year-old from Mathura, a small town. He has been residing in the madrasa’s halls for the past eight years, where his educational journey has taken shape. As he prepares to face his tenth-grade exam, his eyes betray a hint of sadness.
“I’ve attended and handled past examination papers, but now I’m confronted with the challenge of ‘Basic Computing’,” he laments. Recalling the sight of broken computers amidst the rubble of the demolition of his old madarsa, Bahrul Uloom, only adds to his sorrow. “I poured my sweat into creating academic notebooks throughout the year, only to lose everything,” he complains.
Even though Miles2Smiles provided him with notebooks, we were unable to retrieve his lost work. While Shoaib currently faces difficulties preparing for his ‘Basic Computing’ exam due to not having access to a computer, we aspire for other children to not endure similar challenges, thus Our goal is to furnish children with the necessary tools, including computers, to facilitate their education.
Tragedy has marked Shoaib’s journey ever since his father fell victim to a horrific murder soon after Eid in 2016. “I still vividly remember that heart-wrenching day,” he murmurs. His maternal uncle, Zakir Sahab, who served as the Imam of the demolished mosque, Masjid Akhondji, now shoulders the family’s responsibilities and
Despite facing numerous hardships, Shoaib’s spirit remains resilient. As a Quran Hafiz, he has memorized the holy book and mastered the complexities of Tajweed. Proficient in Hindi and Urdu, he harbors a strong desire to learn English. “I love English; I aspire to speak it fluently,” he exclaims passionately.
While Shoaib has a deep affection for Urdu storytelling, his interest in Urdu poetry is limited. He proudly mentions his study of Iqbal’s poetry and the joy it brought him.
Cricket serves as Shoaib’s haven, and he makes time every day to indulge in his favorite sport, reveling in its excitement.
Shoaib’s goals remain unchanged in the face of hardship, which are to become fluent in English, study religion, and eventually become a teacher. “I see myself teaching here in this madarsa,” he says, his eyes gleaming with determination.
