Why I am involved with Operation Joy for Asia?

 

I met Kaleem and Nagina at church in Shirley Warren and gradually got to know them and their lovely sons.  In the summer of 2017, I was invited to visit them at home and I heard their story.

I learned about the life of these faithful, intelligent and highly educated Christians in their home country of Pakistan. I learned about the schools they had started and the education they had provided, especially to the poor and under- represented Christian population. I heard, for the first time, about the extent of the oppression of Christians in Pakistan and the circumstances that led the family to seek refuge in Britain.

I heard their concern for the one remaining school in Lahore, providing secondary education for girls, with the aim of improving their life-opportunities. It was, and remains, desperately short of funds to pay teachers’ salaries and for equipment and bills. I also learned about the sewing centres Nagina had started, providing practical skills to women who had not received any education.

I came away from that first meeting wondering how I could help. I came up with a simple plan. If 50 or 60 compassionate people in Southampton would commit to give £5 per month, it would make a difference. If more people were able to give more money, it could make a huge difference.

Together with Kaleem and Nagina’s good friend (and my former pastor), John Symons, we arranged an initial meeting to discuss my plan. Operation Joy for Asia was born.

I was elected as chair, a role that I have found challenging. I have learned much about the difficulties of setting up a small charity. Work and family responsibilities mean that I haven’t always given as much time as I would like. In addition, I am not a natural fund-raiser.

However, I am still convinced that the idea can work; that we, from our comparatively wealthy city, can effectively change lives for the better for our sisters and brothers in Pakistan – and beyond.