The story behind the program, who it serves, and how each lesson is designed.
Tareeqa started in June 2023 as a free science tutoring effort for deaf and hard-of-hearing students in Gujranwala. It was founded and is led by Waleed Ahmed Syed. We partnered directly with Bibi 'N' Baba School, a school in Gujranwala recognized since 1986, so the students we teach through its deaf and hard-of-hearing unit are genuinely deaf and hard-of-hearing rather than a general classroom. That direct partnership is why the program is built around what these students actually need, instead of guesses about it.
Every lesson is visual and hands-on. Instead of a lecture, students work through simple chemistry experiments and planting activities that teach by direct observation.
We set problems so a small group has to work through them together, building understanding instead of memorizing it.
Students work in small groups on set problems, discussing and testing ideas until they arrive at understanding themselves.
Beyond teaching directly, I recruit and direct other tutors so Tareeqa runs as a team rather than one person's effort. That's what makes it possible to hold a fixed, free weekly schedule, and it's why the number of students we reach has grown over time instead of through one-off events.
Founder & Lead Tutor. Grade 12 at LGS Gujranwala, and completed a basic sign language course. Outside Tareeqa, Waleed works as a sustainability engineer, building tools that turn waste into clean energy for overlooked communities. Tareeqa applies the same idea to people: finding worth that's been written off and building a way to use it.
Tutor on the weekly chemistry and planting sessions. Grade 12 at International School Lahore, and completed a basic sign language course.
Tutor on the weekly chemistry and planting sessions. Grade 12 at LGS Gujranwala, and completed a basic sign language course.
Tutor on the weekly chemistry and planting sessions. Grade 11 at International School Lahore, and completed a basic sign language course.
Rather than leaning on headcount alone, we log each student's grades before and after every term, and that change feeds directly into how we measure outcomes. The proof of the program's work comes down to three records:
More on how this is compiled is on the Impact page.