By Ambereen Siddiqui | Director - HOPE USA
Dear HOPE Friends,
Consul General of Japan in Karachi, Mr. Hattori Masaru, Reignites 23 Year History with HOPE at Zia Colony Annual School Function
https://youtube.com/shorts/0ijH2iyR4DA?feature=share
On May 27, 2025, Zia Colony Formal School's Annual Function was graced by the presence of an honorable dignitary, Mr. Hattori Masaru, Consul General of Japan in Karachi. Japan holds a special place in the hearts of the HOPE Team since our history with their magnanimous outreach efforts dates back to 2002 when the Embassy of Japan sponsored the construction of Zia Colony Formal School in its entirety.
23 years ago, Zia Colony was a severely neglected inner city neighborhood which was in dire need of intervention. Poverty was truly cyclical in this urban slum and generations would be born and end their lives in the same taxing financial conditions. In 2002, HOPE Chairperson, Dr. Mubina's vision for bringing health and education to urban slums and rural and remote regions of Pakistan was just in its infancy when the Embassy of Japan swooped in to embark on a few charitable projects with HOPE - the first being the establishment of Zia Colony Formal School.
Zia Colony Formal School began humbly with just 60 students studying until fifth grade in 2002. 23 years later, today it boasts K-10 enrollment with 800 students from financially strapped backgrounds obtaining a quality education for free/nominal cost. No longer does being born in Zia Colony mean a life of generational poverty; rather, with a few key interventions such as Healthcare, Education, and Vocational Training, children growing up in Zia Colony have a promising outlook and a chance to improve and change their destinies. Undoubtedly, the critical role the Embassy of Japan and Mr. Hattori played in bringing this vision to life cannot be understated.
The Embassy of Japan's generosity does not stop with just Zia Colony Formal School; other notable projects that have come to fruition through their generosity include the establishment and expansion of HOPE's Middle School in Muzaffargarh, Punjab and various contributions to our Hospitals for the poor.
The Annual 2024/25 School Function at Zia Colony began with various speeches and acknowledgments of the Embassy of Japan and Mr. Hattori's work. In a bittersweet moment, Dr. Mubina presented to him a collage of pictures depicting the Embassy of Japan's long-standing history with HOPE and the numerous milestones that have been achieved through their dedication and support.
As all of HOPE's Annual School Functions go, students were recognized and extolled for their academic and extracurricular performances throughout the year. Along with this year's skits and cultural tributes, students made sure to express their gratitude for the Embassy of Japan. In particular, several children participated in a live sing-along to the ubiquitous Pakistani pop sensational hit "Dil Dil Pakistan" in a tribute to Mr. Hattori and the Embassy of Japan's involvement and critical role in uplifting Zia Colony.
The Embassy of Japan has been an undeniable and unforgettable champion of HOPE in our vision to transform the landscape of poverty and afford those living in dire circumstances a chance to break free from tenacious living conditions. Through their critical help, we have reached a point where our outreach efforts impact 1,000,000 needy people annually. Their contributions two decades ago came at a time where we were able to delicately plant the seeds of change and persevere for the long-term. We are so immensely grateful for their transformative involvement during critical times and for being able to join hands with them in the present and see the fruits of our partnership together.
Warm regards,
The HOPE USA, HOPE UK, and HOPE Pakistan Teams
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By Ambereen Siddiqui | Director - HOPE USA
By Ambereen Siddiqui | Director - HOPE USA
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