Jam

2011-01-17T02:40:00.000-08:00

2011-01-17T02:38:00.000-08:00

2011-01-17T02:36:00.000-08:00

2011-01-17T02:33:00.000-08:00

couragious person

2011-01-17T02:31:00.000-08:00

alive pythen

2011-01-17T02:29:00.000-08:00

2011-01-17T01:40:00.000-08:00

2011-01-17T01:39:00.000-08:00

2011-01-17T01:29:00.000-08:00

2011-01-17T01:24:00.000-08:00

muzafar hussain with his family

2011-01-17T01:15:00.000-08:00

pictures

parents' day November 2010

2010-12-04T05:41:00.000-08:00

Parents day
Parents day is celebrated in the Stars’land grammar school every year. It provides an opportunity for the children to express their best wishes and appreciation for parents and respect their efforts in bringing them up. parents day provides a chance to recognize and promote parenting as a central vocation for our communities and families. It is an occasion to make an statement about what should be our priorities to promote our society. It is a chance to create a positive tradition based on the realities of life. As it is a fact that role of a parent is vital in looking after the children, therefore requires investment,focus’and commitment.
Parents in the Stars’land school needed to know more about their responsibilities as parents. Apart of other occasions parents are invited once to the school to participate in the parents day program. The well educated community leaders’ and retired teachers in the village are also invited in the program. The program starts with different items performed by the school children. Parents realize that how much improvement has been brought in the students’ learning process.
The leaders of the community make parents feel their responsibility by their speeches in the last session of the program. The parents are send the video records of the program. In this way change is observed in the Booni region. More people are interested to educate their children in the public schools. Majority of the parents are involved in the agree culture sector and have not been able to improve their life style. The parents day program brings awareness among the parents and every year parents participate in the program and make commitment to help their children and cooperate the school for the better future of their new generation.
Students in the Stars’land school perform on the occasion in the presence of their parents and feel proud. The students start the program with welcoming speech by one of the school students. The first item is Hamd( praising Good and the prophet Muhammad)Mili Naghma (the national songs)Urdu song, and the Qawali usually about the issues of students. Talk show and hard talk is presented by the students. In the end of the first session a stage show is played on the stage and it is the most interesting part of it.
In the second session the principal high light the achievements and issues about schooling and educated people address the parents and try to convince them to know about their responsibilities and how to fulfill them.
Preparations for the program starts earlier. When the children are prepared to do what is needed. Not only parents attend the program. The majority of attendees usually are the community members. parents day in the stars’ land is a great event and is celebrated with great pump and show.
We have observed great achievements from such programs. Students with week performance in the exam achieve confidence by participating in different activities and feel that they also have extra qualities and boost up as a well behaved student. Students help the school staff to manage the program and learn how to organize such programs. The students learn how to deal with parents and the participants that improves their social skills.

Situation in Booni after the glaciers broke

2010-08-19T02:55:00.000-07:00

Dear All

Hello’

Since the day when the glaciers broke first time in 28 July 2010’ most people in the Booni village have lost the test of life. Many families have been deprived from each and every thing. There is no water for drinking and irrigation for the whole Booni village. We have lost the crops due to the non availability of irrigation water’ and the apple fruits got damaged and no buyer came up to chitral as the roads are broken as well. women children and aged people in Booni are taken to the tents to sleep in the nights’ due to the unexpected situation of flood .The schools are closed due to the thread of flood.Booni village is in complete risk. There is shortage of cooking oils and ghee. The prices have increased at least up to hundred percent. People in the Booni village are depressed and seem uneasy to face the difficulties awaiting.
The threads of flash flood and the circumstances have effected the schooling of the children.Stars’land Grammar School has been providing quality education to the economically lower class of the community. Now only this class of the community has been suffered. As we do not expect any sort of help from any source in the country, therefore we expect once again the international community to help us directly to come out from this circle. Stars’ land school has send carpets to uk to be solved and you can help the students in the Stars’land school to buy them. Apart of that you make contribution and send us through the charity Jam established in Scotland. Our website is www.jam.org.pk

Thanks
Muzafar Hussain
Principal Stars’land Grammar School Booni Chitral Northern Pakistan

Booni Zoom Glaciers Burst out

2010-08-11T10:28:00.000-07:00

The gigantic water resource in the Booni zoom mountain had been the only way to provide fresh and clean water to the Booni village, burst out twice in ten days. First time when it came , was the late afternoon of July 28.The flood had damaged the village in both side of the stream. Since than life already had been difficult for Booni people. The second time the glacier burst out in nearly the mid night of 8th of August 2010 when every body was asleep in the village. A horrific and terrifying sound wake up all.It was the dreadful sound of the out burst of the glacier.
The flash flood hit the village with full strength and it took few minutes to destroy the water supply lines, electric lines and swept away two main bridges apart of other small bridges, which were connecting both sides of the village. A big bridge, over mastuj river, which was recently build for the college students is destroyed. The flood damaged roads, houses, orchards and agricultural fields. The maiz,Rice and different crops are left dried due to the non availability of irrigation water. The green orchards and overhanging gardens of different fruits are made deserts. The flood stricken people are grieved and disappointed and suffer in trauma. Now is the season of apples and People of Booni used to get a good amount of money by sailing their apple fruits and dried apricots. Usually women’s duty is to collect the apples and apricots ,dry them and keep for sale or to be eaten in the winter. It is a good diet and way to keep the children happy and healthy, now the apples gardens were buried under the flood and the families left for the Gahly ground to take shelter in the hot sun of August, where except tents nothing has been provided to them. Thousands of Booni inhabitants have got shelter in the Gahly ground, as it has become a complete thread for the whole Booni village. The flood is continue since than, and if once it breaks the weak points, will destroy the whole village, that would be the real disaster. The wheat crops were ready to be harvested; the heavy rain has delayed the process, and now these are damaged as well. The flood had started earlier and already destroyed the canals, in the result rice crops and vegetables farms are dried. No vegetable is available in any one’s farm. Due to the break down of roads between chitral and Booni there is a shortage of every thing in the Booni Bazar,and even if it is available in the bazaar, people can not buy them as they have no money. life has become quite difficult for Booni people. . Due to the break down of roads the apples and dried apricots can not be sell and the apple fruits in Booni are getting spoild,as they can not be kept for longer. Majority of people have left for other places due to the emergency situation prevailed in Booni.from children to adults in Booni can be seen bringing water from miles away.

Schooling

Many children reading in the Stars’land Grammar School can not come to school, as they have lost their houses, and others can not cross the stream. All the schools Including Stars’ land Grammar school in the Booni village are closed for unknown time due to the over hanging thread of a sudden burst of glaciers in the Booni Gol.Parents already delay payment of tuition fee. Now it has become more difficult for them to pay the tuition fee for their children as they have faced an irrecoverable damage. The negative effect has been observed in the Stars’land School. Not a single rupee has been received in the school in this month. Due to the difficulties facing by the Booni People the Stars’land Grammar School authority has considered six months relief for its students and charge no any tuition fee which is equivalent to three hundred thousand rupees for six months. This would be possible if we could get support from philanthropists around the world. For further information please contact us. We can provide videos and images of the realities. To help us please visit our School website>www.jam.org.pk

Muzafar Hussain
Principal Stars’land Grammar School Booni
Booni’Chitral’Pakistan

NOWROOZ MUBAREK

2010-04-06T10:06:00.000-07:00

Naurooz Celebrated in Chitral Pakistan

Naurooz, the spring equinox festival, was celebrated in northern Chitral and Lotkoh valley of the Chitral district on March 21st, marking the commencement of spring with trees putting forward fresh shoots and blossom. In Chitral, it is a time of the year when the newly sprouted blade of grasses and flowers fills the air with aroma and the land with motley colours immediately after receding of the white sheet of snow. For people, then this particular time is the right season to celebrate.

Naurooz in the beginning of New Year is a refresher of commitment of the locals to practice noble deeds for the broader community welfare, adopting the tradition of hard work in their professional life. Besides, it is time when one evaluates one’s achievements in life. Thus numerous time-honoured values, such as self-evaluation, self-discipline, creativity, truthfulness, happiness progressiveness and plenitude emanate from Naurooz.

The important socio-religious aspect of Naurooz is that it always encourages the social bonds by bringing together the community, promoting passion for charity and ensuring that the more needy members of the community are not overlooked. These are some of the guiding principles keep in mind whilst celebrating Naurooz.

Chitral has a tradition of more than thousands year of celebrating Naurooz, which was introduced into the valley from Central Asia. A few days before the festival, a wave of exultation passes through the rank and file most visibly amongst the younger. Purchases of new cloth, footwear and other items are made for every body in the family.

A traditional mass ‘spring cleanliness’ campaign has historically been associated with Naurooz in northern Chitral, when women and young people in remote rural regions start cleaning their houses, bedding, utensils, linen and furniture in addition to repairing, painting and whitewashing the traditional Chitrali houses.

On the morning of Naurooz, prayers for the welfare and prosperity are offered. Traditional cuisine, famously shoshp, a special Chitral confectionery is served with walnut oil poured in the middle. Without this traditional sweet, Naurooz is less likely to be considered formalized. Families exchange a variety of dishes and personally visit each others.

“The happiness on Naurooz is intended to make us happy throughout the year”, says Ms Nazhat, a school student from village Booni. Women go on picnic to the nearby lush green pastures and play flute, play games and have leisure time. The philosophy of Naurooz is to promote happy feelings amongst people in the beginning of the year.

There are ranges of traditional sports e.g. free style polo to be played for the first time after a long discontinuation of the sport in winter. This year polo was played at Booni polo ground. In addition, hide and seek is another favorite sports of the youngsters. Adult enjoy fighting each other with snowballs.

Still another practice related to Naurooz is that groups of energetic young people in villages go to the roof with particular flowers, which they deliver to the family through the opening on the centre of Chitrali house as souvenir. They sing special songs for the occasion. In return the families pay them either in cash or kind, with which they arrange a night party and keep vigilant night, laughing, telling folk stories and other entertainment.

Meanwhile, regular night musical programmes also feature as important component of Naurooz. One of such programme was arranged in PTDC Booni through the support of Anjuman-e-Taraqi Khowar (a society for the promotion of Khowar culture). To begin with, as many as 15 poets presented their poems which followed a mega musical concert to be continued until late night through the participation of expert folksingers and folkdancers.

2010-03-23T06:45:00.000-07:00

snow fall brings defficulty in schooling

2010-03-04T09:41:00.000-08:00

Earth quack destroyed our school boundary wall.

Earth quack causes the most serious disaster in chitral. After the disastrous earth quack occurred in 8th October 2005 in the northern Pakistan, the after shocks were felt in chitral as well for at least thousand times. In the result many houses were either partly or fully
Damaged. Chitral as being, the most remote area, is deprived from any help in the national and international level. Mostly in chitrali constructions are made from mud breaks. Falling of too much snow, following earth quack is the most dangerous period to bring disaster in the region.
The pity is when any building is effected once due to the above mentioned reasons, than it becomes difficult to recover for it. The same situation happened in the stars’ land Grammar school Booni in 3rd march 2010.An earth quack finally demolished the boundary wall of the school. Apart of the boundary wall, the creaks in the wall of the class rooms indicate the threats further. The children are in the school for at least five hours daily. The school has been doing well to impart education to the financially lower class of the community of upper chitral.Our students pay little money as their tuition fee, after making it delayed for months and even years. The boundary wall need to be built as soon as possible, whenever the weather permits. Please help us to rebuilt the boundary wall and save our children from all hazardous

Paragliding in Chitral, Pakistan

2010-01-31T02:49:00.000-08:00

“When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return”, said Leonardo da Vinci.

Flying like birds has always been the earnest desire of men. The launching of HIKAP [Hindu Kush Association for Paragliding]—the first registered Civil Society Organization with a mission to promote paragliding in northern Pakistan—on December 6, 2009, is a big leap forward towards the realization of this unusual dream of the Chitrali youngsters.
The association has opened categories of professional and honorary membership with fee of Rs 1000/- for professional members. The beginners have to pay Rs 2000/- entry fee to learn the sport.

To begin with, Miftahuddin, ACO Chitral administered oath to the new office bearers of the association and wished the sport could be instrumental in the wellbeing of the entire region by highlighting it into an ideal destination and attracting more national and international paragliders on equal footing to Phokran in Nepal.

The speakers underlined the significance of paragliding as an innovative technology for tourism growth in future and ranked it as a budding product after the Kalash communities with mountaineering and free style polo to be ranked at third and fourth respectively.

Meanwhile the forum appreciated the step of the paragliders who, at first hand, learnt the sport without institutional supervision and now working assiduously to impart the gliding skills to other young people. The total number of senior pilots and new entrants is ten at present.
Given the perfect launching points and open landing spots coupled with clear blue sky, lofty snow-clad peaks and the buoyancy of the everlasting thermals keeping a pilot afloat for nine hours at times, Chitral could be the hub of both national and international paragliders.

Mr Saifullah Jan, himself a pilot and the newly elected president of the association shared his story of how he learnt to fly. He lamented the fact that in the beginning people discouraged him that the sport was life threatening and a difficult one. Despite all difficulties, he did not surrender. He saved some money, proceeded to Islamabad for some training and learnt it. Now he is recognized as a good trainer also.

“I can not find words to express the thrill that come when you fly through the air. It is a unique and unusual experience only to be appreciated by those who fly”, he said. He believes the sport is safe and easy for energetic youngsters to learn. “I was motivated for the first time when I saw a foreign paraglider who landed in Chitral polo ground twenty-three years ago. “On the inauguration of Jashan-e-Chitral 2004, five years ago, when I landed in the same polo ground for the first time, the crowd believed I was a foreigner. But when I took off my helmet, they were awe-struck to see a Chitrali paraglider”, said Mr Saifullah Jan. He thanked Shahzada Capt Siraj Ulmulk for the moral and technical support in the course of learning the sport.

We can not arrange international cricket or soccer events in Chitral given the deficiency in infrastructure and the huge budget that it involves, but we can easily organize an exceptional international paragliding contest as we don’t need any preparation or ground infrastructure for the sport. So why should we not use our favorable natural topography for promoting the sport and earn handsome income?

The participants termed the sport as an innovative sector of community development necessary to diversify people’s livelihood opportunities the way it has done in other parts of the world. They thanked the pilots to take adventurous initiatives to promote paragliding in region.
In his concluding speech, Mr Sartaj Ahmed Khan, Tehsil Nazim Chitral, appreciated the launching of HIKAP as a good omen for the future development of paragliding in Chitral and considered it not only an annotative area of entertainment but also a new sector of tourism promotion in future. He pledged his committed support from the Tehsil administration for the cause.

An adventures paragliding show in sawat by chitrali paragliders

2010-01-31T00:45:00.000-08:00

Paragliding in sawat

It was the first week of January 20010 our association established in the name of HICAP(Hindukush association for paragliding club)A meeting was held in the PTDC hotel chitral. Majority of the nobles of chitral town were invited. Some clips of the local paragliders’flightrs were displayed. All the participants appreciated the efforts and healthy activities of the local paragliders.
Within a week we received a massage from our office, to participate in the activities carried on by pak Army’ in bringing piece process in the sawat valley. We had to perform paragliding on the occasion of passing out pared of sawat special police force. It was a great opportunity to promote our association. We had only few gliders. Any how we decided to avail the opportunity ‘to express our well wish to the depressed community of sawat.
A day before to leave for sawat we did ground handling, in order to remain familiar with our gliders. We left chitral the next day 0n 11th January. All the way we enjoyed our trip, as our company was the best. We had booked a van from chitral to chikidara.When we reached chikidara after at least six hours journey, the pak Army jawans took us on their custody. We set in another vehicle and start our journey towards sawat.On the way we could see nothing except the rushing vehicles. We enjoyed funny tales uttered by some of our friends and we reached khowza khela in about 7; o clock.
At khaza khela, our van left the main road, and cutting to the right, straight went in to a street. An army man, standing at the gate, allowed our van to the inside of the building.
It was a sensational movement for all of us. We were now in a army unit. The light had gone earlier. Every army man was rounding with a torch in hand. It was some ones residence, and before the operation all the family members had been shifted somewhere.
We had come across with an unexpected situation, which we had never experienced as being civilian. What we thought, was to stay in one of the luxurious Hotels in sawat and move freely like an ordinary man. We entered in a big hall, where charpoys (cuts) were stretched roughly with single mattress on each bed. Our team leader shahzada farhad and president Mr. saifulla Jan demanded to see any higher authority to make the situation favorable and comfortable for all of us. In the meanwhile a guy with three other army man entered the room and introduced himself. He was a major in the army rank, who had lived in the upper chitral in mastuj and knew nobles like colonel khoshwakhtul mulk’one of the British army commander. His attitude was friendly. He briefly told us about the situation. Now we had been convinced to change our mind and deal with meters accordingly. We ate super and went in to bed early ,as we had been tired due to the whole day journey.
Next morning was very exciting for us, because we had come to sawat for the first time and had not seen the surrounding hills of the sawat velly. I got up early in the morning and wanted to know about, how the weather was? I saw some of my friends, who had already woke up earlear’and worming up themselves by strolling around the roof of the building. An army man was setting different parts of the rifles together. We enjoyed the view of the different areas of the velly,specially the sun shine on the peeks of Mata hills across the river were clearly visible.
The building was el shaped with a square lawn allowing a clear view to the river side and partly facing the sun. It was a two story building. It was directly accessible from the street to the second flour of the building. Entering through the gate in the street, there were some more compartments in the left hand. The captured Taliban’s were imprisoned in these rooms. The whole lawn was decorated with tile of marble. The walls and ceiling were decorated with paints in different colors. In the right corner of the lawn the was a water tenk, and on that tenk there was a place for sitting or praying. It was very suitable place for meditation indeed. There were well decorated almerahs set in each room one side above three to four feet from the flour approximately. Some materials of the house members were left in the almerahs.There was a well defined picture of the owner of that house or hotel, hanging on the wall with another picture of may be his sun in another frame. For a while it seemed that the family in that building had left the house in hurry, as some other things had left in each room. With all the decorated work the building was not looking beautiful. May be because of the scenario and panic prevailed around. There was no enemy existed, but there was terror of enemy. An unexpected enemy who must not be a non Muslim. He can be any one, a misguided ,enthusiastic already involved in rubbery. His job is to increase terror.

The army jawans are always active and don’t know what ease is. All the night we could hear the sound of their shoes while walking on the roof of the building. If we civilians had mould our lives like them we would have achieved a different Pakistan. I mean how important such a life to bring change in a nation is. What is more important about them is, they have been accustomed to lead their lives according to the rule of law and discipline, which can not be produce by other ways

We made short flights from nearby hills to the colleague ground. In the late hours of the afternoon brigadier Ajub khan happened to visit the unit. He treated us like his own family members and directed the authorities to take care of us. He put a lot of strength in us by his friendly and kindly behaviour.We were very encouraged and gained more confident. He conformed it to us, saying that army jawans are standing in the faraway peeks around sawat, and the terrorist either run away or killed and captured. The day passed in a pleasant way, now we had good affiliation with all around. After eating supper each member of our team contributed in telling funny jokes and stories.
The next day two of our friends went to the top, and made flights. The rest of the team went up to the nearby hills, and made short flights to the college ground. In the afternoon we decided to visit the nearest market. We sat in the army vehicles and with full protocol happened to visit different shops and bought some required things. The army command gave an extra ordinary honor to us. We returned to our residence in the late hours, and met three more paragliders,who had come from Abatabad to join us in the last day paragliding show. Apart of being expert paragliders, we found them good human being. One of them is mr.Rafaqat.He is expert of making good scholarly discussions, like well learned schoolers.He is well learned, friendly , and above all one of my favorite singers. There are many qualities in this guy. The night passed in singing and in the middle funny tales kept us pleased and delighted. There was an important discussion about paragliding as well.
Next morning we got up early and did some exercise. After having break ,we were picked up to the half way by vehicles. There we took breakfast again.Subidar Rashid with his team joined us to the top. Some local porters were hired to carry the bage and baggages. It was two and half hours tracking to the top. Every day we were taken to the top from different directions, and we happened to see many destroyed and demolished buildings. Mostly schools were targeted. The destruction and sign of bullets on the walls were witnessing the combate between the pak Army and terrorists. while we were passing through the steep hilly congested village. We happened to see a young lady watching us through the door of her room. When once she tried to come out from her room to have a clear look to what was going on, as we passed by with army jawans, ponies and some local boys in hubbub. A young bearded man standing in the lawn, who was also watching this whole procession, suddenly turned back and pushed her behind the door of the room.
We got to the top within two and half hours. The highiest peek of Rakapushi was clearly visible from the top. Almost all the vallies of sawat are visible from the top of Baney Baba.There was a lieutenant and some other army man. The lieutenant was a sober cool minded young guy. Before we could take off a cup of tea was offered with a plate of potato chips.

Baney Baba

The highiest peek of Baney Baba is approximately 8000 feet.Baney Baba was the most highiest and strong sector of Taliban. The most wanted commander, Muslim khan was living here in a cave. There were many caves on the top. From the cave to downward’ a passage was digged through the bushes and gasses, so that no one should be seen while going to the caves through the bushes. There were sign of heavy bombardment on these caves. Most of them were demolished, and the remaining ones were now used by the pak army. There were plastic chapels scattered there in the bushes. The caves were made digging wholes in the rock by drill machines. Electricity was made available by running generators. The take off place was quite difficult, as wind was blowing over there from different directions and suddenly changes it direction. Too much bushes can not make you run forward and balance your glider before take off. In the morning time the wind blows from the east, and allows one to take off facing the sun, but after eleven o clock the wind changes its direction and starts blowing from the south west direction.

Landing place

It was a college ground surrounded by evergreen trees in Gali Bagh. There was college building attached with ground, but was destroyed by a terrorist attack. The roof had sat down and the flower plants in the front side of the destroyed building were still green. One can not imagine that a patriot Pakistani will not weep to see the disaster brought by so called justice seekers. Any how the ground was decorated, and the chief minister was expected to come. The sawat special police force pared was going on. While circling over the ground we heard the sound of Allah Hu Akber raised by the special police force. When we all the paragliders landed, we met the Ghazi Afzal khan Lala, The great anty Taliban activist, a well dignified personality a true Pakistani and a moderate Muslim, who fought against the terrorists till pak army eliminated the elements. He was a chief guest of the day. We also happened to meet an army general and Brigadier Ajab khan himself received us and gave us shabash.All the nobles of sawat and college students were the participants in the event. After having tea and sweets we returned to our residence in the after noon.

Disaster in sawat

To day was our rest day, thus we decided to visit mangorey and saidu sharief. Our paragliders team was joined by the army jawans in civil dress and we sat in a private vehicle, and took the way to the city. It was very easy to estimate the destruction brought by the anty country fighters. Each government property was damaged. Various beautiful buildings of schools and colleges were demolished. Even no work has been started to remove the debris. The shops have been left destroyed, and no efforts have been started till yet to improve the situation. The army is alert every where, and continuous checking of each individual and vehicle is the activity of the day. When we reached in the centre of mangorey, a person told me that in the Taliban period, people were brought to the chouk,and slayed in the main chowk.Not only that ,their dad bodies were hanged there for at least three days.Femals were strictly bound to go out of their homes. Life every where was full of stress. Collecting money from the shopkeepers in the name of jihad was another issue. It was told that once in the early days of Taliban within three hours, fifteen hundred thousand rupees chanda was collected in the main bazaar.Femals were compelled to sell their juleries to contribute in bringing Nizam Adel in sawat. A seventeen years old girl was flogged infront a croud. We left to saidu sharief and visited the shrine. The shrine is situated in the right side of the mosque. There are many people coming to the shrine and pay homage to the saint Baba. Our team members visited the shrine and we all prayed and kissed the tomb, stayed in the court till fulfillment of our spiritual satisfaction. We also visited the residence of wali e sawat, but he was not present in his residence. It is said about the rule of wali sawat’who was a saint and justice was prevaild during his regime. When his regime ended, even than he used his influence and did a lot of work to promote education in sawat. Prices of the same commodities were varies in each shop. One dozen Oranges were hundred rupees in a shop, and after few shops the same quality of oranges were twenty rupees one dozen.
The next day after short flights we went to see the upper areas, such as malam Jaba.A wonderful valley and unique in its beauty. God has blessed such a country side to us. what is needed to remain grateful to our bellowed Allah. We can promote tourism and encourage the local and foreign tourists, to do so only we need to be piece loving nation and prove ourselves to be friendly, honesty, and a good human being once again. We have no enemies, but we are the enemies of our own. The ruthless cutting of the forest is going on. The beautiful hills of malam jaba have been made barren and roughly designed houses and tin roofed houses have put negative impact to the pleasant environment of the paradise like land. God is always blessing, and we human being are ungrateful therefore disaster becomes our fortune. The Anger of God can come in any form, because God wants his human being to be good indeed.
We returned by evening, and continued our lovely discussions, mostly funny tales and jokes. in the late hours we also checked our gliders and packed them for the last day event for the next day.
We got up early took our break fast and left in the army vehicle once again to the half way up. This time we had an additional break fast. It was a young army soulder, and he was the pupil of our paragliders friends from pak army. We enjoyed the testy dish with a cup of tea. thanking God we left the spot and after two and half hours tracking once again we got to the top. When I opened my bag, the helmet was missing. I was worried and tried to find it, but it was really missing. We were worried, very upset and remorseful on our mistake. I couldn’t tell to my senior friend saifulla. Finally I had to tell him about. He remained calm and quite, for a while and it was very panic movement for us. The tea was offered, but I could not enjoy it at all. Any how when the wind changed its direction, we had to move in to another place a little distance ahead. To take off from another direction. When we reached there, what I see. My helmet was shining there. I didn’t believe on my eyes. Really it was my helmet. The porters while tracking up had taken out the helmet, and given it to another boy to be carried to the top. On the top rather to put it in the bag or to give it to us, it was misplaced. Such incidents can be dangerous in paragliding. We made normal flights once again, but the wind was strong in the ground. The chief minister had canceled his visit. We met the chief guest of the program, who was an Army general Mr. Sajad Ghani. There were musical program. It was very colorful day, but every body was missing the chief minister.
When the program was over, every one of us reflected’ the main theme was, why the chief minister canceled his program? may be due to any threat. Were we enough stupid to fly in such a situation or our lives were cheaper than any politician. We could be targeted easily. No, we did it with the power of our respect and love for our country and to express our love and affection for our army and loyalty to our country.

Visit of the Madras
In one of the days of our visits, we once happened to see Bridger Ajab khan. The dining hall was well furnished and carpeted in white colour.We thought may be high renk officer of pak army should have that standard of living, but The brigadier sahib told us, that only the carocine heater was the army possession, all the rest was belong to the Taliban commander, who was a imam of the Madrasa. The building reminded us the era of the mughol kingdom, when the art of architecture was in its apex. Now even one can not dream about. The head of the Madrasa was not the king like any mughol king, than how that madrasa was built with its unique feature?

Happy Merry X-mas

2009-12-22T04:47:00.000-08:00

Wish all friends and colleagues working with Stars Land Grammar School and all the peace-loving people around the world. Wish you all a happy Merry X-mas and happy new year on behalf of Stars Land Grammar School. May this august spritual occasion fill us all with love, peace, prosperity and good health. Thanks!

Stars Land Grammar School,
Booni, Chitral, Pakistan

Climate Vigil Rally Booni, Pakistan

2009-12-22T04:37:00.007-08:00

A vigil rally held in Booni Mastuj, northern Chitral, Pakistan. The objectives of the placard bearing rally was to showcase solidarity and show support to the climate change SOS Copenhagen and to highlight the issues of climate change in the Hindu Kush mountains that has already posed a serious challenge to the communities living here.

The participants were mostly students of Stars Land Grammar School Booni and Government High School Booni from business community, political leadership, social workers and people from different walk of life. The rally walked for a kilometer before concentrating at the main Booni square where teachers, political leadership and business community representatives addressed them. It was maintained that for the last three decades there has been a considerable degradation to the natural environment is inevitably linked to global warming. The destruction of the village Sonoghor and Brep three years ago resulting from glacier bursting and the devastation of village Washeej from the snow avalanches are the eye opener in this regard.

The melting glaciers high up in the Eastern Pamir region—which are vital source of cultivation in the entire northern Pakistan for centuries—are melting very rapidly. If these natural water reservoirs get lost, then the people here do not have any other option except to migrate to other places the way some of the valuable bird species have already done.

Likewise climate change has also severely threatened the habitat of the valuable natural biodiversity including some of the rare bird species like the black throated thrush, finches, magpie, grey tit and golden eagle that almost disappeared as their ecological needs were no longer fulfilled in the given ecological system. The population of wolf and fox has drastically shrunk and they are about to disappear. The degradation of the substantial vegetative covering has caused migration to markhor and wild goat that has disturbed the food chain for the elusive snow forcing him to migrate to some other habitats. Now one can have very rare glimpses of the snow leopard in northern Pakistan. It must have migrated to some other places better suiting his ecological needs.

The speakers at the rally emphasized that students, being young and energetic agents of positive social change and silent revolution, have to be focused whilst addressing the issues of natural environment. Moreover, they recorded their apprehension with regard to the damages to the natural climate as a matter of real concerns for the mountainous communities as it is affects their social, political, communal and economic needs and create a range of health related issues. If land resources are eroded and natural biodiversity degraded, then it will surely threatened our own very existence. It is, therefore, for the protection of natural environment and forming combined front against global warming must be the priority no one for the mountainous communities.
At the end of the rally, the following resolution was unanimously passed with an aim to protect the healthy natural environment of the Hindu Kush region:

• That today, a vigil climate rally supporting the conference in Copenhagen firmly pledges to continue efforts for the protection of natural environment by supporting the cause worldwide. To this end, the strength of school, places of worships and other social centre will be harnessed, awareness will be raised and a workable plan will be prepared at grassroots.

• That developed and industrial nations are appealed to curtail the emission of carbon into the atmosphere so that the prospect of global warming would automatically be reduced and its negative impacts on the remote and less developed mountainous regions would be minimized.

• That there must be authentic research initiatives on the part of developed nations to measure the continuing damages to the natural environment of the mountainous communities in northern Pakistan. Based on such researches, awareness campaign will be mounted in the target communities and improved and coordinated strategy aimed at tackling the menace of global warming would be undertaken.

• That courses on environment must necessarily be included in the curriculum of schools, both in the government and private sectors so that they will have proper knowledge and be equipped in handling the problems of natural environment based on their indigenous knowledge.

• That to fight against climate change; it is of paramount importance to put a halt to deforestation in the southern Chitral and to increase forest everywhere else in the district. Only with much greenery can we assure the health of our natural environment. To reduce pressure on the existing forest belt, the rally maintained, provision of an alternative source of fuel to the energy starved Hindu Kush region either in respect of natural gas from Central Asia or by generating electricity from its numerous rivers and streams could be helpful.

We are back in the saddle

2009-11-27T01:12:00.000-08:00

Dear readers, we are back after a little long time to operate our website once agains and to update you all with fresh information on education in Chitral in general and Stars'land grammar school in particular.

You know well that we are struggling with our sort of difficulties in pursuing standard education for the less income earning families in village Booni, northern Pakistan. You also know the fact that our mission is not merely to enhance the curricular capacities of the students in the area, but also to develop the extra-curricular side of their live as well. We feel that without grooming up these aspects of life of an individual, it is less likely that he/she will be a useful, sensible and responsible individual at present time.

Please visit our website: http://www.jam.org.pk/ and then visit 'Muzafar Page' in order to know more about Chitral and the education system there. The website contains rich information on everything about Chitral and the entire region.

We would like your kind help in the field of education for the education of poor families in the area.

chitrali fiction

2007-04-27T19:48:00.000-07:00

Zumbul and Zerbali (chitrali fiction)

To day was the wedding of Zumbul.while zumbul was being departed from her father’s house, due to the love and affection with his daughter, her father karim, was shedding tears. In spite of controlling on his emotions, he could not hide the tears of love and affection for his daughter zumbul. To avoid from participants in the wedding he had put the handkerchief on his eyes. He took the way straight to the inside of the house. Those who were around him, noticed that, karim had gone through the situation, which was not only a sensational movement, but was intolerable, when one’s only daughter is departed for ever from the house, where she was born and brought up, now was going to live separately, and was going to start a new life. Every body was neither sad nor do happy, to see the tears in the eyes of zumbul’s mother, for she was going to miss her daughter, who, she had supposed a part of her heart. Now after whenever she comes to her house, she would be supposed as a stranger, and treated as a guest. Whenever it happens, the house seems empty, and people in the house feel missing the daughter who leaves the house. The same conditions were of the people in karim’s family.

Congratulation, my son; God blessed you daughter. Twelve years later, these words came to his memory, after a long time. Having no any child, when first time he had heard about the news of the newly born baby, he had felt, as if he was given the Kingdome, with an empire. He went to the roof of his house, and started firing, in the air with an old gone, at least for more than seven times. Than his parents stopped him, otherwise he would have gone for more times. His naighbours, and relatives started started coming, on this occasion for many days. In this way he had the accompany of every body. His house had a gargle of guests for many days.
After, when he had the daughter, he interred in to a new world, He gave his full love and affection to his daughter, and Zumbul was brought up under the kind care of her father. God blessed sons to him, but that did not decrease the immense love of her father.
When zumbul was seven years old, Karims closed friend Hasil khan came to hime, and asked him for zumbul’s hand for his son Zerbali. Zerbali was of the same age of zumbul. Karim was in deep thought for a while. Zerbali was interested, in this relationship with karim, therefore wanted to know the opinion of his friend karim, who was not in the position to decide it quickly, because he had dreamed about his daughter highly. He could not refuse, because of his friendship, and justified himself, saying that now both are too young, therefore better to wait for a few more years. He was surprised on how the days had passed so quickly. He was sad to feel that he would miss her one-day, soon or later.
Two years later Hasil khan died. Karim remained grieved for a long time. Zerbali was suffered in the very young age. Now karim wanted to make zerbali and his mother to forget it.
When two years passed after the death of Hasil khan, one day the uncle of Zerbali came to karim, from behalf of Zerbali’s mother’ with a massage of the marriage of zumbul with his nephew Zerbali.He added, if it was made possible, it would help Zerbali to start his life with hope again. Karim had no question to refuse because he had considered it, his prime responsibility to fulfill the promise, which he had made with his friend Hasil khan rather great opportunity to support the family of his friend.
The wedding of zumbul was arranged with great affection. The people thanked karim for his very respect for his friend. Zerbali was very pleased over his merriage, and started life with great care of his wife zumbul.the whole family, including the mother of Zerbali was well wisher of zumbul, and never showed any weakness in taking care of zumbul The mother-in-law always Wished to see her happy. She was more carrying her daughter-in-law rather herself.
Thus four years passed like five seconds, zumbul was happy with her husband, she supposed that house as her heaven. Zumbul was not given any chance to miss her parent’s family. Every time she was send too many gifts from behalf of her parents, and others in the family. In brief life of zumbul was a bed of roses. Where the flowers groom, one day the cold breeze also blow. Suddenly life took turn here.
After six years of the merriage, a day also came, when her father karim came under the anger of the ruler of the time. He lost every thing, what he had achieved due to his close friendship with nobles and to his closeness with the ruler. By the time people also changed their perception towards the suffered family. Whenever he went to visit to some place, a packet of people used to be his accompany, as his courtiers and friends. Now nobody was ready to greet him while passing by. Karim was distressed, and disappointed by the behavior of those, for those, he was once, very repectable. Even Zerbali and people of his family took away themselves, and showed their back, and never bothered to know about karim. Zerbali was also changed. Once he used to visit his father in-law at least once in a week. Whenever due to some reason, he could not go to see his father-in-law, sending gifts to his wife’s house was usual. Now Zerbalibali, not only stopped sending guifts, but also, never visited Karim. The mistrust, and hatred started prevailing towards karim’s family from behalf of his close relatives. Even zumbul could not visit her father’s house ever. Karim first time missed his daoughter, and also zumbul was getting frustration, due to have been missing her parents since long time. She had realized that the members of Zerbali’s family had lost interest towards her. Their dealing with her had come to the formality, and she was feeling every thing opposite of her perception. Zerbali led the situation towards the worst due, to his being disorder, in every regard, because he was all an all in his family. He had lost his father two years ago, and nobody was responsible for his actions. Whenever some body tried to advice him, that made his mother annoyed.
Before Zerbali, and his mother used to listen, and act upon, what Zerbali would suggest, this time it was not like this, rather Zerbali and his mother started arguments. That made Zerbali more upset now. In The result Zerbali could not continue his studies, and left the school. His job was to round in the village, for all the time. During this time he joined the company of useless people. By passing time somewhere, he started coming lately to his home in the nights.
When zumbul realized that her husband has got the habit of coming his home, in the late hours, she told her mother in-law. Her mother in law rather to control her son, blamed her, to be impudent. O, karim; s daughter, better to control your tongue. Who are you to blame my son? She uttered all the words, she could remember. She kept on coursing, see your face in the mirror; nobody would compare you with my son. You are nothing .For the first time in her life, she heard these words from her, mother in-law. She was not able to control her tears. She straight went in to the house and laid herself on the cut and was inundated in thoughts. No body had spoken such words to hear before. What had happened to these people? That why they had gone crazy about her, that she had spoken these unexpected words to her. While she was thinking about the bed fortune, which had come to her. She happened to see in the dream; a big python was going to attack on her, saying that it would not let her go. Suddenly she was awakened, what she sees, Zerbali, worried in anger, saying that karim’s daughter, why you have complained to my mother about my misdeeds.

Zerbali started beating her, while she was not fully wakened. She felled down and lost her conscious, Zerbali left her alone, unconscious and went out. When she came in conscious, she remembered each and every thing. She did not believe, that her loving husband would treat her in this way. They both had grown up, playing together, and had great love and respect for each other. She did not know the reason, of the misconduct of her husband Zerbali. She considered it her own mistake, and committed not to say any thing, against the temper of her husband. She made a poultice of flour and used her shawl as bandage and came to her bedroom. No body was willing to speak with her. She took a cup of tea, and sat with her mother-in-law for some while, but she was not going to attend her. When she was despaired, decided to go in to the house and take rest again.
The next day when zumbul wakeup, she found every member of the family turned as her enemy. No body was greeting her, and never treated her as a member of the family.
Zerbali left her helpless, and never greeted her. The days passed in this way. The house was like as prison to her, and she was being treated as a person, who has committed great sin recently. The nights became darker to her, and days, as the days of the hell.
Soon after her beautiful face started fading, and she lost her charm like a flower loses its color, when cold wind blows in the late autumn. Though she was living with many people, but always felt herself all alone. She had no accompany, but her tears. Whenever any thing pained her, appeared in her eyes in the shape of tears. She found no way out except to shed her tears, for satisfaction.
One day when karim, realized that no one paid a visit to him from his daughters house, decided to visit himself to visit his daughter. When he saw his daughter, he didn’t believe that it could be his daughter. A feeble and weak zumbul was waiting for the days to be released from the ruthless claws of Zerbali. Karim was surprised to see her condition Karim asked that what had happened to her. She said, nothing, but was ill for some time. When karim asked from the mother of Zerbali, she was not interested to say any thing.karim was realized by the sarcastic way of dealing for the first time.
O old women, why have you mad this condition of my daughter? But Zerbali’s mother replied each question in the way, which gave clear idea to karim that he had lost the respect, which he had since the days of his fried Hasil khan.
After few days the news spread in the village, that Zerbali felled in love with a young girl in the village.zumbul was helpless and more worried. Hearing the news, karim took his daughter to his house. After a couple of days Zerbali happened to marry the girl, who was his beloved. Karim was completely upset on what Zerbali proved himself. He found all his longings died. According to the tradition and custom of the area, Zerbali tried to make his father-in-law karim agree, but karim was too hard to come down to compromise. According to the tradition a hoarse was presented to karim for the compensation of the insult, but karim refused, saying that He would not ride on the horse of humiliation. He send a massage to Zerbali that he would not give any harm to Zerbali for the sake of the honor of his friendship with his friend Hasil khan, but his daughter would stay with him for ever, and no any family relations would remain ever.
Zumbul passed five years with her family, but these five years seemed five centuries. Though she had received love and affections from her parents, but it could not heal her wound. though she was served in great care, but day by day her health broke down, and finely zumbul’s days of life remained in number.
Zumbul had lost her days, and nights in disappointment from Zerbali .By the time while Zumbul was dieing, Zerbali was in rejuvience.each. Each day was the day of Eid. Zumbul was not any more existing in his life. But where there is peace and tranquility, one day the cold wind starts blowing. Time came when one of the daughters of Zerbali died due to cholera. The death of his daughter brought a tremendous impact on his health. The people tried to make him forget this incident.
One night what he sees in the dream, was telling his story to a sant.the saint replied, Brother when your daughter dies it makes you so much worried. Have you ever thought about a person? Who is nearly to death due to you? Zerbali woke up, and found himself guilty and remorseful from the way he had treated his wife. When he remembered all that he felt himself unfaithful, and started hating himself. He had treated his wife unjustly, and missed his daughter, therefore could not forget and forgive himself, therefore suffered from frustration day by day.
One day morning he woke up and took the way to his wife’s house without informing any body in his family. When he reached the house, saw many people in graveyard near the house. Some people were leading to karim’s house. On his asking, some body told him that karim’s daughter zumbul died last night, and was buried there. A close witness told the story, while dying she had only one word, Zerbali, and one of her eyes didn’t set till the last. Hearing this Zerbali felled down, and a sudden vomiting of blood made him unconscious. When woke up, found himself on her bed. All his relatives were gathered around his bed. He said in lower voice, where is zumbul? Then again lost his sense.
The days started passing in this way. Whenever he came in to conscious, asked about his zumbul,then lost his sense.
There was no cure of his disease. One day when he came in to his sense, he saw, his mother sat near the pillow of him, weeping. He looked at his mother for a while and said mother what can you get now? You spoiled me by your own. Now I cannot be recovered, and I don’t need to be recovered. If I die soon my soul might find my zumbul soon, and I may get satisfaction. He never come to sense again, and the material affairs did not let zumbul and Zerbali to get together, now got to gather spiritually in the eternal peace.

Situation in Chitral

2007-04-10T07:47:00.000-07:00

Modern researchers on climate say that global warming has caused climate changes. The dire consequences are unexpected rain fall, and snow fall, would bring disaster in different parts of the world. The recent snowfall in the whole chitral district has brought great disaster in the area, taking lives of more than 40 peoples, including children and women. Houses were demolished in different places, and people are reported to be dead in various villages, but the most tragic event was the disaster of village wasich, in torkhow tehsil. It happened when a big piece if avalanche came over the village, which is comprised twenty-six households. That happened in the middle of the night. No any support was made possible from behalf of the govrnment, and any other organizations. The bed weather and continuous rain was the cause of every thing. A heavy rainfall, and than snowing, has destroyed the roads to very where. Than a sever earthquake did the work. The electric wires were broken, and it may take at least three weeks to release the electricity to the whole area. The road to chitral town is blocked in two places. The stones have come down to the road, and somewhere there is no sign of it, but due to the modern machineries it is expected to be released within within a week again.
We tested the hundred years old time. We found even no candles in the bazaar. No carouseen oil was available. Even no diesel or petrol is available. The snow was more than 30 inches.
According to the aged people, such a heavy, rainfall, following the snowfall had never been happened, in the month of April. This happened when people had not enough fooder, for the animals. The cattle houses were wet and the roofs sat down. The houses are usually made on mud, thus life was in risk. Many people survived from such a situation.
After two days, the AKRSP helicopter, and the pack army helicopter started flights to the damaged areas, and helped the effected people.

At least each household was affected in this very panic situation. Now every thing is expensive to buy in the bazaar. The electric line has been mended up to booni, and we are lucky to have electricity again.
The weather in booni is very lovely. We have apricot blossoming in booni now. The wheat crops are green and fresh.again.

Letters from starsland Grammar school to their friends in the Potlmend school uk

2007-03-19T00:14:00.000-07:00

Dear friend
How are you . we hope you are in good health. To day in this letter we want to tell you about your questions.
1. how many people live in booni?
Ans there are more than 8thousand peoples live in booni. In each houses there are 10 to 20 members lived together. The populition of booni is increasing day by day to a very high degree.in the case the land become decrease.The people of other pleases come in booni for education and for job. In this way the population is increase.
2 does it have a main centre?
Ans yes booni is main center of sub division mastuj which is situated in the north of booni. It is 60 km away from booni.booni has too many villages. In booni there are many schools, hospitals ,offices like blso , akrsp. There are many private schools for grils and boys. There are also post office.other people out of booni like mastuj parwak awi etc comes to booni for seeking knowledge and for jobs.
3 how for is booni from the nearest town and what is the name of the town?
Ans chitral is the nearest town of booni. It is 75 km away from booni there many villages situated between booni and chitral. Chitral is a very beatifull place with high mountains. It has a large number of population.
4 how to people travel in the valley ?
Ans in 50 years ago the ancient peoples used to use or ride on horses and donkey for traveling. But now a days man has able to discover such kind of vehicles which changed the style of traveling. Now a days peoples used such kind of vehicles like car, bicycle, motors, and buses which make the condition of peoples well. Due to such kind of discoveries man can able to travel faster.
5 How long does it take to get to the nearest big town?
Ans it take tow or three hours to get to the nearest big town because there is no tilted roads.
6 what sorts of jobs do most of the people do in booni ?
Ans there are many sorts of job most of the people do in booni. People of booni work in every fields of life.some are doctors, some are teachers some are bankers some are shopkeepers.
7 does every body who lives in boni work there?
Ans no the all people of booni does not live in booni. Some are works in big cities for the purpose of jobs. We can give you a surprise that the people of booni also worked on foreign countries.

FROM ASLIMA . RAHILA, MAHPARA.

Dear friends
Hello
How are you?
To day we want to tell you about your questions.
How does the land effct s farming in the area?
The land effects farming due to increase in population,and the land decrease and due to building more houses in every year effects farming in the area.
What crops do we grow?
Our village soil is very fertile ,that is why every kind of crops are grown in the area.
Are certain types of farming carried out in certain part of the land?
Yes cetain type of farming are carried out in certain parts of the land.
What does a typical house in booni look like?
A typical house in booni look a square.It has one big funnel in the middle of a roof and has one door. It is made up of mud breaks ,stones and wood. The walls are supported by at least ten pillers. It has a wood store inside the house, sitting place in the center, cooking in the center, and in both sides of the house are beds for sleeping.
What are the houses made of?
The houses are made up of mud breaks ,woods .stones and cement some times.the roof is made of wood and tins.the floor is mud ,or cemented.
Do all the houses in booni have an electric suply?
Yas all the houses in boni has electricity, no house have been seen without electricity.
How is electricity made?
There is a hydro electric power station in Reshun village14 km down to booni. The power station is made by german company in the recent years, it provides electricity to the wole chitral district.

Thank you
From waseem, hyder and sabir hussain.

Dear friends
Hello
How are you?
To day we want to tell you about your questions
How often does it snow in booni?
In winter season there often snow in booni. When it snow the weather become very cold. In this season we wear warm cloths. In one month snow falls three or four times.
When does it usually snow?
It usually snow from december to february.in this month snow falls too much. Then after,from march to may the rain is starts. In 2004,october we get snow too much. In this year our houses,trees and all thing has been destroyed.
How much snow do we get?
We get snow about three to four feets. Every area covered with snow and the sun disapp ear.
How does the snow effect peoples live in booni ?
The snow effects many peoples live in booni very badly. In snowy season we have to face many problems. In this weather the water can not come in our tap because of cold weather. Snow effect the road also and the vehicles can not travels in this times.
What are the tempeature like in summer?
In summer the temperaure is above 35-degree centegrate in summer every things become green. Every people like this beacause of it beauty. In summer every things are rippen. In this the tourists come here and enjoy it beauty.
What are the tempeature like in winter?
In winter the tempeature is about minus 0 to-3 degree centegrate. In winter we eat dry fruits.in summer time we have to collects all things for winter,e.g, fruits, woods andmany other things.

From ;Shaista, Nadia and Rukhasana

Dear friends
HELLO
how are you.
Today we are writing you the answers of your questions.
How does the land effect farming in the area?
In every year the population of booni is increasing and the land is decreasing, and too many houses builts every year in booni due to decreasing of land, thus the land effect farming in the area.
What crops are grown in the area?
In booni every kinds of crops are grown, because the soil of booni is fertile and plenty of water is available in booni. The main crops of booni are rice, wheat, maize and kidney been etc.
Are animals kept by the farmers, if so what sort?
Yes, the farmers of booni kept many kinds of animals, for example, goat, sheeps, cows, bullocks and horses etc.
Are certain types of farming carried out in certain parts of the land?
Yes certain types of farming carried out in certain parts of the land. If the soil is fertile then we can get good crops from the land.
What does a typical house look like in booni?
In a typical house of booni there are three or four rooms. There are four pillar in the house to support the roof. In the middle of the roof is one big funnel.
What are the houses made of?
The houses of booni are made of many things ,such as the walls are made of stone and mud bricks, the roof is made wood and tin, and the floor is made of cements.
Do all the houses have an electricity supply?
Yes, all the houses have an electricity supply, because there is an hydro electric power station in Reshun. A village near booni.
How is the electricity made?
We have an electric power station in Reshun, in this power station , there is abig tubine, with the help of water the turbine produce electricity.

With thanks
Safdar Ali, Mir sahib jan and siraj Ali

Dear friend
Hello
How are you?
In our letter we are going to inform you about the wheater
How often does it snow in booni?
In booni the weather is very cold in winter. In the first week of December its begin to snow. Its keep snowing till February. In three months electricity is not available in our houses.in these three months we have to face many problems.
When does it usually snow?
Its often snow in winter season , for example, December, January,and February.
In these three months it snow very heavely, and in the month of march it began to rain and our houses began to leaking . in our village our houses are made of mud and wood so that our house are leaking in raining weather.
How much snow do we get?
We get three to four feet snow in winter season. in winter season we can not come to school and our school remains close for two months.
How dose the snow effect people lives in booni?
The snow creates many problems for the people of booni. Snow perishes our crops. We have very poor electric line so that electricity is not available in winter. in winter season the roads are blocks, due to heavy snow fall we have to face many problems for traveling from one place to another. cold effect many diseases ,such as fever and flue.
What are the temperature like in summer?
The temperature in summer is very beautiful, and mind blowing. the temperature in summer is 30 to 35 degree. the summer season is very hot so that the wet clothes become dry within five minutes, we enjoy the summer season as compare to winter season.
What are the temperature like in winter?
The temperature in winter season is cold and breezy. the temperature in winter season is minus 0 to minus 15 degree centigrade.

Good bye
IMRA ,SHAHILA AND SUHAIL

Action Research in the stars'land school booni

2007-03-09T20:45:00.000-08:00

Action Research plan

By syed Muzafar Hussain

Problem: why do class 7 students not have good reading habits?

Reading is considered one of the central dimensions of the learning process. We learn from our environment, books alongside other learning materials. All these resources contribute to the enhancement of our knowledge. Many school teachers have observed that students do not adopt particular reading habits. There is a lack of awareness about the many important benefits of reading, especially regarding the improvement of their knowledge.

Overview
I teach social study and English in class 7, I also noticed the same situation in my class, therefore to find out the root causes of this problem I selected class 7 students in my school for my research study. My aim was to trace out the reasons for a lack of interest in reading, thereby allowing me to improve the learning habits of my students.

Aims and Objectives
The purpose of this study is to explore the techniques required to motivate class 7 students to adopt, both directly and indirectly, the types of reading habits that will have positive benefits for their education in the most broadly conceived manner. There is a need for great attention to be invested in this important educational issue. As educationalists we hope that the students will realize the importance of the benefits of reading for the enhancement of their knowledge and understanding. Students should adopt reading habits with the aim of enjoying reading rather than conceptualizing it as a burden

Significance of the study
This issue is not a central issue only for my school, but for schools across the Chitral region. If strategies are successfully applied in my school which brings positive changes to the behavior of my students, then the findings of the study can be useful for other schools in chitral as well, not least because it has been a common issue in most of the schools in the area. It will not only enhance my own understanding but other teachers can also be helped related to the same issue.

Research question
 How can I help students of class 7 in my school, improve their reading habits?

Subsidiary questions
 What type of activities are the students engaged in to enhance their reading habits?
 Why the students do not have reading habits?
 What strategies can be helpful to develop the reading habits among the students?

Methodology

This study aims to develop reading habits among the students. I think the best way to achieve this target is to deploy action methodology. First, I shall make plan, act accordingly, observe it and reflect on tenuous points during my research.

Action
I shall make groups of different students and assigned them various reading activities. I shall give them books to read at home and ask them to write down some interesting points from the books. Students will be encouraged to collect informations from the books they have read. Students will be allowed to select books of their own interest. Use of the library will be open for all. Students will not only be given task to do at home to improve their reading, but at school they will also be taught different techniques including, reading practice, sessions to discus the content of the given text and cooperative learning method will be adopted in order to encourage the students to become good readers.

Sampling
The research study will be carried out in my own school named stars’land Grammar school Booni. Research will be conducted on the students of class 7; the whole class will be involved in the process. The main factor to choose this class is - this is the most senior class in the school, withen three years time will their secondary exam and take admission in the high secondary classes, therefore the habit of reading will be helpful for them if it was adopted early age.

Entry Negotiation
Field work will be started after negotiations with the students of class 7th. I shall also share my research plan and research schedule with them and take their signs on consent forma for the research purpose.

Data gathering tools
I shall use the following tools for the data collection purpose.
 Observation
 Interviews
 Field Notes
 Reflective Journals
 Document Analysis

Observation
I shall observe the students reading skills, one before each study and at least five times after implementation of the plan. I shall observe the class twice in a week.

Interviews
I shall take interview from each student, one before the implementation and the rest after the action plan. The interviews will focus on the reading set to the students, their understanding of the texts they have read, and importantly the modes of enjoyment they experience during the reading of the books.

Field notes

Field notes provide important information. Thus, students will be observed when reading their books in the class and the actions of the students will be noticed and noted down.

Reflective journal
Teacher’s personal not book or diary can be used to reflect on field notes in order to find out proper ways for the revise plan, thus, all teachers involved in the process will be asked to keep a personal diary during the course of the project. This would also help while writing the report in the end of the research period.

Document analysis
Weekly and monthly tests will also be conducted in the schools: these tests will be designed to explore the level of understanding of the students. I shall analysis those documents in order to their validity as data.

Data analysis procedure
Data analysis will be a continuous process through out my research study. I shall go through this data in order to find out the results of the action taken during the study.

Ethical considerations
The whole research plan will be discussed with the research participants. I shall not disclose any details concerning my research participants. During this period of the research the data will be used for the research purpose only. Instead of real names pseudonyms of the research participants will be used.Concent forms will be filled and signs of each of the research participants will be taken.

Time line for action research

S.No Activity Time line Remarks
1. Entry negotiation The 2nd two weeks of march 2007 Students, parents and staff will be informed about the research study.
2. Reconnaissance 15 march to 30 march 2007 An interview will be conducted in order to know about their activities at homes. Time table will be managed for their activities at home.
3. Data collection process march15– 2005 to 15th april-2007. During this period lesson planning, action, observation interviews, discussions field notes, document analyzing and strategies will be applied.
4. Data analysis and writing. April 16 – 2007 to 1st may 2007. After 16 april 2007 data will be analyzed, and report writing will take place. The first draft will be shared with the concerned supervisor in PDCC.
5. Submission of Action Research Report. 1st may 2007. Final paper will be submitted in PDCC.

Welcome, dear reader.

2007-02-14T06:28:00.000-08:00

Jam has been operational for almost a year now, and we thank everyone who has helped and expressed an interest in this time.

We have already raised a significant sum of money through the sale of rugs from Booni and Parwak here in Scotland (e-mail for details or watch this space for online catalogue), from running a café at a local market in Kippen, the sponsorship of participants in sporting events, and a number of personal donations. These funds will provide Star’s Land with a library and science facilities.

What a difference we can make with a relatively little money by supporting Star’s Land and we are looking forward to making much more difference in the future.