A 12-year-old Pakistani boy's dream of opening a school in his country for poor children has been realised through the efforts of students from countries around the world -- including Bermuda.

Child rights activist Iqbal Masih told students in Boston shortly before he was murdered that he wished there was a school in his village where he was born "so that every child can be educated''.

That school has now been built in Pakistan and over 200 children are enrolled in it, said Amnesty International spokeswoman Phyllis Caisey.

Iqbal was sold into bonded labour in a Pakistani carpet factory when he was four-years-old for the equivalent of US$12 by his family. Six years later he escaped and began speaking out against child bonded labour.

In December, 1994 he was awarded the Reebok Youth in Action Award for his work in helping to free other children from bonded labour.

While in Boston to receive the award, Iqbal spoke to students at the Broad Meadow school in Quincy, Massachusetts.

He told them: "My dream is to have a school in my village of Muridke in Pakistan so that every child can be free and educated.'' Four months later -- after two years of freedom and numerous death threats -- he was shot dead while cycling in his village of Muridke in the Punjab province.

After his death in April, 1995, the students at Broad Meadow began raising money for the construction of Iqbal's dream school and started "A School for Iqbal Masih Fund''.

This spread across the US and to Bermuda. Interested participants were asked to donate $12 or more. The amount was symbolic as it was what Iqbal was sold for and how old he was when he was shot dead.

Now the school is open following the efforts of students and others in the US, Bermuda and more than 20 other nations which raised $143,200.

Warwick Academy, Bermuda High School and Saltus students joined the campaign and, along with a few individual donations, helped raise $1,350 for the cause.

This made Bermuda one of the largest contributors outside of the US, noted Ms Caisey.

Requests for proposals were sent out to almost 300 non-governmental organisations worldwide in an attempt to find one to build the school.

Twelve proposals were submitted and the organisation selected was called Sudhaar. It is based in Lahore, Pakistan.

They built and opened the school which enrolled 278 of "the poorest of the poor children'' aged 4-12 in Kasur City, said Ms Caisey.

Iqbal's case is the focus of Amnesty International's Action Group One which meets monthly in Warwick. Those interested in getting involved can contact Amnesty International at 236-1120.

IN SOLEMN MEMORY -- Iqbal Mahir