The Fair Oaks Voice

Kids News October 10, 1995


Iqbal Masih
Sue Geller Dancers Go Down Under
Entertainment Books Raise Funds for Fair Oaks School

Iqbal Masih


On Saturday September 30th I happened to hear something about a boy named Iqbal Masih mentioned on the Nick News TV show. There was something said about an internet Web page with his story. I missed the World Wide Web address, but I did catch the eMail address of Nick News. So I sent a eMail to Nick News requesting the WWW address of the home page set up for Iqbal. I want to thank Meredith Walker of Nick News for sending me the address:

http://www.digitalrag.com/mirror/iqbal/iqbal.html.

Those people who have access to internet will find 87 pages, 169 images, 4 sound clips and 3 video clips describing Iqbal's life and legacy.

Iqbal was born in Pakistan in 1983 and sold into Child bonded labor at the age of 4 for $12. He was chained to a carpet loom, forced to work 12 hours a day, verbally abused and beaten. He escaped at age 10. Through the Bonded Labour Liberation Front (BLLF) he learned of laws against enslaving children. Iqbal became a powerful speaker and critic of child servitude.

Last year Iqbal won the Reebok Youth in Action Human Rights Award. When he came to Boston in December 1994 to receive his award he visited with 12 and 13 year old students at Broad Meadows Middle School in Quincy Massachusetts. These students were very sad to hear of his murder in April 1995 but determined to act.

The Broad Meadows students have set up a fund to realize Iqbal’s dream -- a school in his village so that every child can be free and educated. The students have written to political leaders in this country and in Pakistan. Senator Edward Kennedy has said "a school in [Iqbal's] name in Pakistan will be a beautiful and fitting memorial and an enduring reminder of the grate cause he brought to the world's attention."

With the aid of Amnesty International and Rick Roth, owner of Mirror Image, Inc. Broad Meadows Middle School has set up a home page on the internet with the title "A Bullet Can't Kill a Dream". See the above address.

The students have set up a bank account and have asked classes to donate at least $12 - the amount Iqbal's father received for selling his son into slavery to pay a family debt. Donations can be sent to:

A School for Iqbal Masih Fund
c/o The Hibernian Savings Bank
Quincy High School Branch
731 Hancock St.
Quincy, Ma 02170



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Sue Geller Dancers Go Down Under



Entertainment Books Raise Funds for Fair Oaks School


Fair Oaks Elementary School is raising funds by selling the Entertainment Book. Each book contains hundreds of "Two-for-one" discounts for fine dining, family dining, fast food, movies, sports activities, special attractions and hotels . . . up to 50% savings on almost everything! The Entertainment Book is now being sold by Fair Oaks Elementary School for $40.00, and a portion of the proceeds from the sale of Entertainment Books will benefit Fair Oaks Students. To order you Entertainment Book, contact the School Office of Fair Oaks Elementary School at 867-2030.

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