The Citizens Foundation (TCF) has concluded the 2026 cycle of its Baghbaan Summer Internship Programme (BSIP), bringing together 2,296 young volunteers aged 15 to 24 from across Pakistan to support children who remain out of school.
Over six weeks, the volunteers worked as education ambassadors, organising awareness campaigns, fundraising activities and community initiatives under the guidance of Chapter Heads.
The programme involved young people from Karachi, Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Abbottabad, Peshawar, Charsadda, Gilgit, Attock, Khushab, Sargodha and Mansehra.
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According to TCF, the volunteers collectively raised Rs43 million during the six-week programme. The organisation estimates that the funds will help approximately 1,000 children attend school for a full year.
TCF said BSIP aims to provide participants with more than fundraising experience. The programme also focuses on leadership, communication, project management, fundraising and emotional intelligence.
As part of the internship, participants visited TCF schools and interacted with students, giving them first-hand exposure to challenges surrounding educational inequality.
A TCF representative said the programme allows young people to move beyond understanding Pakistan’s education crisis and become active participants in addressing it.
The representative described the Rs43 million raised in six weeks as a significant achievement, while highlighting the estimated impact on around 1,000 children who will receive an opportunity to attend school for a year.
The programme takes its name from the Urdu word Baghbaan, meaning someone who nurtures and tends a garden. TCF said the name reflects its belief that young people can help nurture a more educated and equitable Pakistan.
The organisation said BSIP 2026 demonstrated the potential of youth-led initiatives to create social impact, while encouraging young people to advocate for education and challenge barriers linked to class and privilege.
Of the 2,296 volunteers, 1,156 participated from Karachi, while 500 came from Lahore, Faisalabad and Multan. A further 640 volunteers participated from Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Abbottabad, Peshawar, Charsadda, Gilgit, Attock, Khushab, Sargodha and Mansehra.
TCF said the programme will continue to focus on building a community of young changemakers committed to expanding access to quality education for children across Pakistan.
