Dar-ul-Sukun originated as a centre for the physically and mentally challenged people. It was founded on 17th February 1969 by a Dutch nun, Sr. Gertrude Lemmens who came to Pakistan as a visitor in her full youth. She was so much touched by the pathetic condition of mentally and physically disabled children spotted on street corners and in/around the city garbage tubs that she chose to devote her life for the care of such children in Pakistan.
Sr. Gertrude started her very mission with eight children and by the passage of time, in the main center alone, this number has now increased to more than 230 special people founded on street corner, brought in by social workers, police and relatives. Dar ul Sukun is Sr. Gertrude’s brainchild and dream. However, a team of six sisters worked with selfless love and affection to turn it into a glaring reality and a brand name in the field of philanthropic work in Pakistan. These dedicated sisters include Sr. M. Mathilda Pereira, Sr. Ruth Lewis, Sr. Angela, Sr. Immaculate and Sr. Agnes.
Since Sr. Gertrude’s demise on October 27th, 2000 after a short illness, Sr. Ruth Lewis has assumed the frontal role for carrying on the mission of Dar ul Sukun.
Overtime, Dar ul Sukun has grown into a large organization with network of homes mainly in Karachi city and around the country. Programmatically, in Karachi alone, the scope of service has expanded into various dimensions including work for socially displaced girls and women, senior citizens, education and skill scholarship for poor students and family adaptation scheme etc. A new initiative, Quetta center for parentless and displaced children started operation end of 2007 while restructuring of twenty-year old Lahore center meant for polio affected girls is underway. In terms of physical infrastructure development, the construction of a new modern building of Dar-ul-Sukun main centre was completed in 2004.