Food on the Table, School Within Reach: Life for Relief and Development (LIFE) Supports 142 Orphaned Children in Pakistan

When Basic Expenses Compete

For families raising children after the loss of a parent, everyday expenses can quickly compete with one another. Food may come first, while school supplies, clothing, healthcare or other needs become harder to cover.

Education is already a major challenge in Pakistan. UNICEF estimates that 25.1 million children ages 5 to 16 are out of school, representing about 35% of children in that age group.

LIFE’s Orphan Support Program was designed to ease some of that pressure for children and their caregivers.

142 Children Received Food and Flexible Assistance

During the summer of 2026, Life for Relief and Development (LIFE) reached 142 orphaned children in communities including Kallar Syedan, Farash Town, Mehmood Kot and Dera Ghazi Khan.

Each child received a food package containing staples such as flour, rice, cooking oil, lentils, chickpeas, sugar and tea. Families also received financial assistance that could be used for needs such as education, clothing and other everyday expenses.

The children also came together for meals, refreshments, games and interactive activities, creating space to socialize and enjoy time with other children.

When Support Frees Up Money for Medical Care

For Arooj, the assistance carried particular importance. She and her siblings lost their father at a young age and are being raised by their mother. Arooj also lives with a heart condition requiring ongoing medical care, creating another expense for a family already working with limited resources.

The recurring assistance helped ease some of that pressure, including the financial burden associated with her treatment.

Her story shows how covering one basic need can create room for another. When food or everyday expenses are reduced, caregivers may have more flexibility to prioritize healthcare, education, or other urgent needs.

Support That Reaches Beyond the Distribution

Other children in the program were being raised by mothers or grandparents after losing one or both parents. Caregivers described the assistance as meaningful relief as they worked to meet children's everyday needs.

For LIFE, orphan sponsorship is about more than a single distribution. It is about reducing some of the pressures surrounding a child so there is more room for nutrition, education, health and childhood itself.

Giving Children More Room to Grow

Life for Relief and Development sincerely thanks the donors who made this program possible.

For 142 children in Pakistan, the support helped put food within reach while giving caregivers greater flexibility to respond to the other needs in a child's life.

When families have fewer impossible choices to make, children have more room to learn, grow, and look ahead.