Our Story
Diya is more than just an organization; it’s a beacon of hope, born from the visionary dream of Mohtarma Kaneez Fatima, whose wish to see every child in her community receive education ignited the founding of Diya in 1988.
Today, Diya’s succession continues through her son Noor Abid and stands as a testament to the collective efforts of over 2,500 generous donors who support more than 50,000 deserving students annually, empowering them to complete their education and transform their lives.
The name “Diya,” meaning lamp in Urdu, symbolizes the light of knowledge and hope that the organization strives to spread across the world. With a commitment to eradicating poverty through literacy, Diya has provided over 600,000+ merit scholarships valued at more than US$ 10.5+ million since its inception, enabling talented yet financially distressed students to pursue their educational aspirations.
Driven by the belief that education is the key to a brighter future, Diya continues to illuminate paths and pave the way for the less privileged to become extraordinary change-makers. Our journey is one of resilience, dedication, and unwavering commitment to building educated and prosperous societies.
Mission
Merit scholarships for talented, most deserving, and financially distressed students, with a mission to enable them to pursue their academic objectives and hence defeat poverty.
Our Values
Characterized by passion, determination, and selflessness in the pursuit of your vision
Devoted to maintaining transparency and accountability across all levels.
Priority for the financially distressed students across Pakistan, on merit, regardless of their ethnicity, religion, or gender.
Delivering measurable results that demonstrate the impact made by each one of us.
Financial Information
Diya has maintained a complete record of its financial affairs since its inception. Following are the year-by-year financial statements for all our supporters.