This school is in Nowshera Virkan a town of around 50,000 people that lies in the District of Gujranwala. The area is known for the quality of the rice it grows. Unemployment and underemployment in the area is high, especially among minorities. The parents of the children who do have jobs often work as labourers in fields, brick kilns and factories whilst others undertake other manual work such as cleaning the homes of the more affluent and sweeping the streets. A few have their own business selling fruit or making clothes. Most rent the homes they live in.
The school began in 2015 and is run by the Rising Star Trust. Two teachers were living in Nowshera Virkan but teaching in a school in a village a few kilometres away. Each morning they would travel to the school and bring children with them. It was decided it would be more cost effective and efficient to teach the children in their own home and thus Rising Star school was born.
The school started with 57 children and in the beginning, they were effectively being taught on the open roof of a house. There was a demand from other families to send their children to the school and a building was taken on rent. The school has 2 toilets, 4 classrooms, an office which doubles as a classroom and a veranda. There are now 125 children in 7 classes studying up to Class 5 (Primary School level). At this point the children are encouraged to continue their studies in the local Government School and many do so. Rising Star is the only school that caters for the Christian minority in the town. The benefits of attending the school, apart from receiving an education include:
- It affords a degree of security for the children who sometimes live in challenging circumstances.
- The children gain confidence, courage and dignity.
- The children learn social values and how to become better citizens.
