News
Gill Family
Prina Wernicke · Jan 2026
The Gill Family
Sara Gill is a 41-year-old widow living in a rural Punjabi village in Pakistan. Her husband died of tuberculosis a few years ago, leaving her with 4 young children aged approximately 10 to 15 years old, and no means to independently support herself.
Employment opportunities in their village are limited, with self-driven agricultural business the predominant method of sustaining an income. In order to assist the Gill family to establish themselves, we are supporting them early in the children's lives, with a view to enhance their future livelihood in a rural village where modern technology has not yet eased the hardship of traditional farming methods or assisted in gaining sustainable profits.
Sara faces the prospect of a future lived well below the poverty line if her children remain under-educated and unable to innovatively navigate the challenges they face economically and socially.
Through Project Hope we are supporting her children to access better quality education in a nearby town so that they can go on to become equipped with the knowledge, expertise, and confidence they need to live meaningful and fulfilling lives above the poverty line.
Project Hope is committed to seeing Sara's children achieve their potential throughout their education from Grade 1 through to University, depending on each child's preferred educational goals.
In 2026, Kashi Gill is enrolled in Grade 2, Ruby Gill is enrolled in Grade 5, Yasmin Gill in Grade 6, and Rohan Gill in Grade 8.
Kashi and Rohan are enrolled in the public boys' school in their home village. Ruby and Yasmin are enrolled in a private boarding school in a nearby town which provides better quality education and resources for female students than the girls' school in their own village is able to offer.
In the table below, current annual costs for the Gill family (based on 2023 costs) are outlined.
2026 Projected Costs for the Gill Family*
| Item | Annual cost in Pakistani Rupees (PKR) | Annual cost in Australian Dollars |
|---|---|---|
| School Uniforms | 2,500 PKR | $13 |
| Clothing and Shoes | 3,500 PKR | $18 |
| Accommodation fees | 8,000 PKR | $42 |
| Travel costs | 2,500 PKR | $13 |
| Medical expenses | 5,500 PKR | $29 |
| School-related costs (includes fees, uniforms, stationery and curriculum resources) | 70,000 PKR | $365 |
| Contribution to daily living costs | 13,000 PKR | $80 |
| TOTAL | 105,000 PKR/yr | $545/yr |
*NOTE: These amounts were accurate as per the currency exchange rate at the time of payments throughout 2025.
Your donation can assist in changing the future of the Gill family to ensure that their potentials are realized and that they do not remain trapped below the poverty line.
Your contribution is greatly valued.
Please note that names of persons mentioned above have been changed to preserve their confidentiality and safety