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Application for Recognition of Exemption

Under Section 501( c )(3) of the Internal Revenue Code

Part IV: Narrative Description of Your Activities

Background

Friends of Literacy and Mass Education (FLAME) is a non-profit non-government organization

established and registered in Pakistan under the Societies Act of 1860, in 2001 by Retired
Ambassador Mansoor Alam. The organization’s mission is to make a positive and sustainable
change in the lives of marginalized and disadvantaged communities across Pakistan through an
integrated approach.

Literacy

FLAME uses the Non Formal Basic Education (NFBE) model to establish home schools in
underprivileged communities in Pakistan, which offer free basic primary education from classes 1
to 5 to children of the community regardless of age, income, ethnicity, gender and religion. The
organization employs field coordinators familiar with the area to contact educated women from
the locality. With the consent and consensus of the women and their families, non formal schools
providing basic education from classes 1 to 5 are set up in the homes of the women, who are
employed as teachers. They are given teacher training by collaborating specialist organizations
such as Behbud, while FLAME provides study materials such as text books, stationery and slates,
as well as water coolers, floor mats and portable fans. This costs approximately PKR 35,000
(US$ 580) per school per year. The setting up and running of these schools is done by FLAME all
year round and approximately 80% of the time of FLAME staff and volunteers is allocated to the
aforementioned and related activities.

FLAME collaborates with other local development sector organizations such as Behbud and
Family Education Services Foundation to provide teacher trainings.

There are currently 7000 children including 4000 girls, studying in FLAME operated NFBE
schools in the following locations:

- 47 schools in Islamabad
- 80 schools in Karachi (Landhi; Neelum Colony in Defense Housing Authority Phase V;
Baldia Town)
- 25 schools in Balochistan (Hub and Khuzdar)
- 50 schools in Interior Sindh (Shikarpur; Tando Mohammed Khan; Nowshero Feroz;
Sukkur; Ghotki)

The Education Program involves children from underprivileged communities who do not have
access to formal education facilities due to a number of reasons, including: lack of income;
unavailability of education institutes in the area of residence; age limitations on admission in
government schools; and immobility due to lack of transport facilities.
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The Non Formal Basic Education (NFBE) model is used to counter such restrictions. It is not
only cost and time effective, but is particularly successful in terms of female education, given that
girls face not only the general socio-economic constraints but also cultural restrictions for
example, on their freedom of movement, due to the patriarchal nature of Pakistani society.

80% of the time of FLAME staff and volunteers is allocated to the aforementioned and related
activities.

Funds are raised through monetary donations by individuals and corporations by personal contact,
the official FLAME website and word-of-mouth awareness of FLAME; fundraisers organized
throughout the year by FLAME staff and/or volunteers; grants from private and government
institutions; individual adoption of schools; and donation of materials (such as textbooks) by
individual and institutional donors.

FLAME plans to open 10,000 NFBE schools by 2015 including those offering secondary level
education. The organization also plans to constitute a Fast Track Program through which children
ineligible for admission in government schools due to the age restrictions, are given intensive
tutoring to enable them to enter the higher grades for which they are age appropriate.

Healthcare

FLAME operates one Mobile Healthcare Unit (MHU) of five female doctors who provide
FLAME students with free medical examinations, referrals and medicines. The doctors also
provide free basic health and hygiene education to the children.

The Mobile Health Unit is operated solely by FLAME in the areas of Landhi and Baldia Town in
the city of Karachi, Pakistan. Approximately 20% of the time of FLAME staff is spent on this
activity. The doctors visit 10 schools twice a week per week, and all year round except on the
occasions of Eid-ul-Fitr, Eid-ul-Azha, Christmas and summer vacations when the schools are
closed.

The MHU fulfills the immediate need of disadvantaged communities without access to healthcare
facilities due to physical unavailability of clinics or hospitals in these areas and lack of
affordability on the part of the people. The MHU also motivates parents to send their children to
FLAME schools. The health and hygiene education is also necessary to promote health awareness
about sanitation, diet, and disease prevention.

Funds are raised through monetary donations by individuals and corporations by personal contact,
the official FLAME website and word-of-mouth awareness of FLAME; fundraisers organized
throughout the year by FLAME staff and/or volunteers; grants from private and government
institutions; and donation of materials (such as medicines) by individual and institutional donors.

FLAME plans to launch of 200 Mobile Health Units for every set of 50 schools by 2015 in all
geographical areas of operations.

Economic Empowerment

The first FLAME Vocational Training Center (VTC) was instituted in March 2007 in Baldia
Town, Karachi. This VTC is for women and girls only, offering courses in stitching/cutting,
embroidery, ribbon work, glass and fabric painting. There are 3 female trainers of whom one is
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the also the paid manager of the VTC and classes are conducted from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. seven days
a week all year round, except on the occasions of Eid-ul-Fitr, Eid-ul-Azha, and Christmas.

The VTC is operated by FLAME as all costs (salaries, materials and upkeep of premises) are met
by the organization and the work and finances are overseen by designated FLAME staff and
executive committee members. Approximately 10% of the time of FLAME staff and volunteers is
spent on this activity as a whole.

Vocational training offers an opportunity for members of underprivileged communities to become

independent and active earning members of their families and society, and engages them in
positive and productive activities. For women especially, this not only raises the general income
level of their families, but it gives women a higher value and status in the eyes of their families
and communities. For example, graduates of the functioning VTC in Baldia Town are able to earn
approximately PKR 6000 per month by producing plain shalwar kameez (at the rate of PKR 200
per outfit), and PKR 12000-13000 from the production of embroidered handicrafts such as
coverlets.

Funds are raised through monetary donations by individuals and corporations by personal contact,
the official FLAME website and word-of-mouth awareness of FLAME; fundraisers organized
throughout the year by FLAME staff and/or volunteers; grants from private and government
institutions; corporate sponsorship of courses or groups of students; and donation of materials
(such as sewing machines) by individual and institutional donors.

FLAME plans to establish up to 100 Vocational Training Centers across Pakistan in the next 5
years. These Centers will offer young men and women over the age of 14 years training in
marketable skills such as embroidery, handcrafts, mechanics, and welding. Two Centers are
currently under construction in Baldia Town and Landhi in Karachi.