First Presbyterian in Iowa City marks 25 years of giving to Pakistan schools

IOWA CITY -- First Presbyterian Church of Iowa City this weekend will be celebrating 25 years of support for Christian schools for boys and girls in Pakistan.

Veda Gill, executive director of the Presbytery Education Board in Pakistan, will be at the church, 2701 Rochester Ave., for a donor luncheon at noon today and for a presentation and reception after church at 11:30 a.m. Sunday.

Gill will show a video about the school and share thank yous from the children who attend the school.

First Presbyterian is hoping to raise $188,000 this year for the first phase of a building project to add new classrooms and an administrative section at the Pasrur Christian Girls School. The overall project and fundraising goal is $434,036.

First Presbyterian Church has agreed to sponsor construction of a K-3 school building to replace a 150-year-old condemned structure where students have been learning in hallways and open-air porches.

“This building, which houses our primary school girls, is no longer fit for purpose and poses a risk to the children’s safety,” Gill said. “We must replace it as soon as possible. ... The new bloc we envision will provide a safe, modern, and nurturing environment for 250 girls.”

For 25 years, First Presbyterian and other central and Eastern Iowa churches and individuals have sponsored the construction of eight boarding schools for impoverished girls and boys from rural villages around Pasrur, Pakistan, in the Punjab region.

Gill’s visits to Iowa have resulted in more than 2,000 scholarships for the students’ education. The PEB runs 25 schools in Pakistan, including four boarding houses and eight village schools for boys and girls, preschool through high school.

“Our 25-year partnership with First Presbyterian’s Pasrur Group in Iowa City has been a divine blessing,” Gill said. “Through God's grace, we have transformed the lives of thousands of children in Pakistan, offering them an opportunity for a brighter future through education.”

Individuals or organizations wishing to donate to the school fund can mail checks -- write “Pasrur Building Fund” or “Pasrur Scholarships” in the subject line -- to First Presbyterian Church, 2701 Rochester Ave, Iowa City, 52245, or donaet at firstpresiowacity.org. Friends of PEB administers the scholarships.