The Shining Light Community Development Organization
(SLCDO) is a locally registered, not-for-profit,
social welfare organization committed to equipping families
and communities in Northern Pakistan through education, training
and development. To accomplish this vision, we work with communities
and in partnership with others to assess local needs and offer
support to achieve the following:
- Provide high quality, affordable education for children
and adults in communities throughout Northern Pakistan
- Raise self-confidence levels among children through
provision of extra-curricular activities including sports,
art and music
- Promote computer literacy and competency for students
of all ages through computer training and knowledge centers
- Develop innovative technical and work skills training
opportunities to help reduce poverty and promote employment
- Increase community awareness of health, social, and
environmental issues
- Provide help for the helpless and hope for the hopeless
through mental, social, and spiritual development
The Shining Light Community Development Organization
(SLCDO) began in April 2003 offering an after-school
homework assistance program to a small group of poor, uneducated,
minority Christian children whose parents had immigrated to
the city of Gilgit in the Northern Areas of Pakistan. Sohail
and Rebecca Emmanuel, professional teachers and founding board
members of the SLCDO, began working with the children in the
home of Pastor Sajjad Masih (founding SLCDO Board member).
Most of the children were the first in their families to learn
to read and write.
In July 2003, Mike and Robin Gordon (founding SLCDO Board
members) obtained a large donation from an international donor
to establish the Children's Coaching Center
in Sonikote, Gilgit. Operating under the name Northern Areas
Children's Education Project (or CEP for short), a building
was leased and furnished, professional teachers and staff
were hired, and native English-speaking volunteers were recruited.
Funds for education scholarships were generously provided
by international donors to provide public school tuition fees,
books, uniforms and coaching center fees for over 30 children
from low-income families. In September 2003, the Children's
Coaching Center officially opened to the local community.
And the community response was overwhelming. Within a few
short weeks, the Coaching Center had reached capacity with
over 60 children in Kindergarten (Prep class) through Class
5 registered for tutoring support. Within seven months, the
Coaching Center had outgrown its original building and property.
In July 2004, the Coaching Center was relocated to its current
location in Zulfiqarabad, Gilgit allowing enrolment to expand
to 90 children.
With the success of the Children's Coaching Center and the
community's overwhelming and desperate call for high quality,
affordable education, the Shining Light Academy
was opened in March 2006. The Academy, an English-medium,
primary school, was developed to offer the highest quality
education to children in Play Group and Nursery levels with
plans to expand by one class each year through to Class 10.
Today, over 100 children attend the Academy (Play Group through
Class 2), over 120 children attend the Coaching Center (Prep
class through Class 9), and 50 children are enrolled in the
SLCDO's Education Scholarship Program.
In developing the Coaching Center, Shining Light Academy and
Scholarship Program, it became clear that there were many
overwhelming needs in the mountain and valley villages of
this region that were not being adequately addressed. As a
result, a volunteer Board of Directors was formed and efforts
began to formally expand SLCDO's role to address education,
training and development needs in communities throughout the
Northern Areas of Pakistan.
The SLCDO was formally registered on April 11, 2008 as a social
welfare organization in Pakistan, and has 501C3 status in
the U.S.A and charitable status in the U.K. Based in the city
of Gilgit, the SLCDO relies on the generous support of international
and national donors to operate the diverse and innovative
projects it has become known for. The SLCDO is as committed
as ever to bringing hope and light to families and communities
in Northern Pakistan through education, training and development.
Check out the most recent issues of The Beacon, our regular e-mail update
for SLCDO friends and supporters:
If you would like to keep updated on the SLCDO's work in
Northern Pakistan, send a note to our subscription
email and we will be pleased to add you to The Beacon
mailing list.
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