Amir Khan and Oxfam help build schools

It’s not often you hear about champion boxers raising money for the needy, but that’s exactly what British-Pakistani light-welterweight Amir Khan has done for flood-affected communities in Pakistan. In partnership with Oxfam, he’s helped build five schools in areas that lost theirs to the 2010 floods.

We hope you enjoy this good news story from Oxfam GB’s press officer, Jonaid Jilani.

Thanks to the amazing fundraising efforts of boxer Amir Khan, five schools have now been built in flood affected areas in Pakistan. Amir visited Sindh, Pakistan, in 2010 after the country was hit by devastating floods that affected up to 20 million people.

“… I wanted to do more,” said Amir after his trip. “In Pakistan I met so many children. I asked them what they missed the most. They said they all missed their schools. So I decided that the next step was rebuilding schools in Pakistan with Oxfam…”

Amir went on to hold a fundraising event in Bolton in February 2011 to raise money for the schools, and an amazing £102,139 was raised.

This February, with the money raised, five schools have been opened and many children are now happily attending in newly built buildings with new chairs, tables, school books and all the facilities they need.

“When we came and saw the school, we felt ecstatic. The school was really beautiful. It had chairs, tables, everything. We will come and study with passion!” said a girl attending one of the schools.

Kids playing outside their new school. Photo: Raheel Waqar/Oxfam

For these children life is much better. But at least 2.5 million people are still without basics such as food, water, shelter, sanitation and healthcare, which puts them at serious risk of malnutrition, disease and deepening poverty.