Can We Save

Human Development Foundation

2008-05-12T20:10:00.000-07:00

The concept of this great project comes from Dr. Mahboob-ul-Haq the renowned Pakistani Economist whose 5 year development plan was adopted by South Korea and catapulted the nation to prosperity. The organization is run by (A. P. P. N. A) Association of Pakistani Physicians of North America.

INDUS Hospital Karachi

2008-05-12T09:32:00.001-07:00

A project that is providing quality health care for the needy in Korangi, Karachi.

Zindagi Trust (Intro from Shehzad Roy)

2008-04-07T16:30:00.001-07:00

Zindagi (Life) is inspiring. Its inspiration lies in the unique experiences we go through daily. Some of them are sweet and some bitter. We try to undo the effects of the bitter ones by either forgetting them or by extending a helping hand to the ones who are suffering. Its only then that we know how many other hands are there to join in for the cause, its only then that we realize how many more hands are needed.

For my recordings, I have to go to many strange places. One of them was in the desert. I was there with my team to shoot the video for “La Ilaha Illallah”. It was an honor for me to sing the poetry of Iqbal, poetry that talks about the sovereignty of Almighty Allah. During the filming of the video, I learned things about Thar. The most painful for me was the vulnerability of Thar’s children to poverty, malnutrition and poor health. I saw innocent and beautiful children drinking contaminated water from a well where birds and animals were lying dead. I couldn’t believe my eyes. I couldn’t take this image out of my mind. I wanted to help them.

Children are the most beautiful part of all societies. They are the builders of a nation’s future. Their positive energies and combined strength promise future growth, stability and progress in a country. Ignoring children is ignoring our future.
In a developing nation like Pakistan, due to many reasons children are being ignored and do not easily receive the basic necessities of life. For people who somehow overcome this hurdle, no proper facility of health and education is provided. These children are called the underprivileged. Those who have nobody in particular to look after them, but their own selves. They can be beautiful, intelligent and passionate as our privileged children, but are not lucky enough to be born in a home like ours!

As soon as I came back to Karachi, I called upon a few close friends & talked to them about what I saw and how I wanted to do something for them, for “Children” in general. They all showed willingness to help me achieve my goal. I then called upon few other people whom I respect and look upto. Abdul Sattar Edhi is one of them. Edhi sahab honored me not once but twice. First when I requested his appearance in my video “YARAB” and the second time when I requested for his support for this cause.

Gradually with the support of my friends and my fans I was able to launch “Zindagi Trust”. Today ZINDAGI Trust aims to provide basic needs for the children of our loving country Pakistan.

President Shehzad Roy

SOS Chidren's Villages

2008-04-07T16:17:00.000-07:00

SOS Children's Villages is a private social welfare organisation which offers orphaned and abandoned children a new and permanent home. The children stay with us until they are able to lead an independent life.

HISTORY

SOS Children's Villages of Pakistan was established in 1975. It is an autonomous organisation and managed by Board of Governors. The National Office is situated in Lahore and provincial associations have been established in Punjab, Sindh, N.W.F.P, Balochistan and Azad Jammu & Kashmir.The first project was the SOS Childrens Village in Lahore in 1977 and this has been followed by projects in many other cities.The goal is to continue expansion until there are sufficient facilities to reach children all over the country.

HOW IT IS DONE

We are a completely autonomous body in our financing, both for construction of new projects and maintenance of the children through donations from the public. We are proud of the fact that the community has responded possitively to our efforts and Pakistan is the only country, outside Europe, which is self- financing. The cost of running the projects is met through a sponsorship scheme with individuals and corporate groups undertaking to meet the maintenance costs of the children.

For construction of new projects we appeal for the donation of family homes, classrooms etc. All donations are suitably acknowledged. Land for all our projects has been donated by the respective provincial governments.

OBJECTIVES

The SOS Children's Village idea is an important milestone in the development of a modern approach to the welfare of orphans.

The objectives are to:

Provide the children with an environment which is as normal as possible.

Give the children every opportunity to develop to their full potential.

Equip the child with the necessary skills to lead an independent life.

Integrate the orphan child with society so that he does not suffer from lack of anormal family.

PHILOSOPHY
SOS Children's Villages are institutions established to give orphaned or abandoned children a new start in life by providing a substitute for the familiy they have lost. This is achieved by the formation of 'families' which are as natural as possible. The children are given security, support, love and understanding.

The resemblance to a natural family is achieved through four basic principles...

The Mother...
Every abandonded child is given a mother as a permanent contact person. An SOS Children's Village mother knows the same cares, duties and joys as every other mother. She is the head of the family and runs her own household. The Mother gives the children entrusted to her care, love, security and trust- things every child needs for a healthy development.

Brothers and Sisters...
An SOS Children's Village family consits of the Mother and eight to ten children. Natural siblings stay together. Boys and girls of various ages grow up in a family house.

The Home...
Every SOS Children's Village family has its own house which is a permanent home for every child. The SOS houses are designed for a large family with many children. At the heart of each unit is the living/ dining room, the centre of family life. The Mother has her own room and four to five children share a bedroom.

The Village...
An SOS Children's Village generally consists of fifteen family houses and are usually located in attractive surroundings, near a large town or city.

METHODOLOGY
The special feature of SOS Children's Villages is that they are not traditional orphanages; they provide homes for orphans and abandoned children with a warm family type environment. An SOS Village provides children with loving care and instills in them a sense of confidence so that they live normal lives and develop to their full pontential.

Each SOS Village consists of 15 to 20 family houses besides a community hall, administrative office, nursery school, grocery shop, mosque, dispensary, infirmary, workshop, essential staff residences, adequate playgrounds and vegetable gardens.

In each home, 8 to 10 children are looked after by a trained mother. Mothers are selected with great care. They usually are single women, often widows without their own families, and are thus able to commit themselves completely to the responsibility of living in a SOS Village.

A Village Director is responsible for the administration of each Village and is assisted by other well trained staff.

Youth Homes are established in conjunction with all SOS Villages and boys, on reaching adolescence, are shifted there. They receive professional education or technical training, according to their aptitude, and leave the organisation only when they are capable of earning their own livelihood. Girls continue to live in the Village until they are married.

Great stress is laid on giving the children a good education as this is what will make all the difference in their future lives. All children are encouraged to obtain higher education, if they have the necessary merit. Due emphasis is given to religious studies and a mosque is a part of every Village complex.

Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital

2008-04-07T16:05:00.001-07:00

Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre (SKMCH&RC) is a state-of-the-art cancer centre located in Lahore, Pakistan. It is a project of the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Trust, which is a charitable organization established under the Societies Registration Act XXI of 1860 of Pakistan. The institution is the brainchild of Pakistani cricket superstar, Imran Khan. The inspiration came after the death of his mother, Mrs. Shaukat Khanum, from cancer.

MISSION STATEMENT
To act as a model institution to alleviate the suffering of patients with cancer through the application of modern methods of curative and palliative therapy irrespective of their ability to pay, the education of health care professionals and the public and perform research into the causes and treatment of cancer.

FUNDRAISING
Imran Khan made a nation-wide appeal for the collection of funds from a match between Pakistan and India on November 10, 1989 at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore which raised Rs. 2,902,600. This was followed by a series of more than 50 successful fund raisers held throughout the world. Pakistan's win under Imran's captaincy in the 1992 cricket world cup in Melbourne helped fundraising efforts. He was able to collect one and a half million pounds in just six weeks after the World Cup when the same amount had taken 2 years to collect earlier. He donated his entire prize money of 85,000 pounds for the project. In 1994 when the project required more financing for the ongoing construction, Imran Khan launched a mass contact campaign in which he toured 27 cities in the country and collected Rs. 120 million. During the entire campaign for the construction of the hospital, over a million individual donors from ordinary citizens to the rich and famous pitched in. Everything from cash to jewelry and valuables was donated.

SOURCES OF FUNDS - PHASE I
Donations 67%
Credit and Loans 33%

EXPENSES - PHASE I

Pak Rupees

Land and Building
231,000,000

Medical Equipment
314,000,000

Ancillary Equipment
132,000,000

Total
677,000,000 PKR
22,200,000 USD

MAKING OF THE HOSPITAL
Designing and execution of the master plan was overseen by Dr. Nausherwan K Burki MB, PhD, FRCP, FCPS, FCCP, of the University of Kentucky Medical Center, Lexington, Kentucky, USA in collaboration with an international team of cancer physicians and research workers. Designing and architectural services were provided by Arrasmith, Judd & Rapp, Architects in Health Planning of Louiseville, Kentucky, USA. Architectural details were handled by Messrs. Nayyar Ali Dada & Associates of Lahore. Local engineering was performed by Messrs. Progressive Consultants, Lahore. Ground was broken in April 1991 and the hospital opened its doors on December 29, 1994.

DIL (Developments in Literacy)

2008-04-07T15:58:00.000-07:00

Our Mission
Developments in Literacy (DIL) is dedicated to providing quality education to disadvantaged children, especially girls, by establishing and operating schools in the underdeveloped regions of Pakistan, with a strong focus on gender equality and community participation.

Our Vision

No child in Pakistan, no matter how poor or underprivileged, should be denied access to quality education. All children should have equal opportunity to reach their full potential and contribute toward the socio-economic betterment of their communities.

How We Started

In 1997, Pakistani expatriates from Southern California launched DIL to give back to their country of origin. Acting on the advice of Pakistan’s foremost social thinkers, we undertook the task of trying to improve the state of education in Pakistan’s, primarily in the underdeveloped, rural areas.

DIL grew over the years and quickly spread by opening chapters in New York, San Francisco, Washington D.C., Houston, San Diego; Toronto and Ottawa, Canada; Singapore and the United Kingdom. Today DIL is operating 150 schools in all four provinces of Pakistan and educating over 13,000 students.

What We Do

DIL establishes, adopts and operates primary and secondary schools in Pakistan for underprivileged children, particularly girls. DIL manages 149 schools in partnerships with seven non-governmental and non-profit organizations, and DIL directly operates 23 schools.

DIL is committed to raising the standard of education in all of its schools by:

Providing ongoing teacher training.

Improving school construction and environment.

Establishing libraries and computer labs.

Building the capacity of the field staff.

A system of credible monitoring and complete financial transparency has been maintained since the inception of DIL. Projects are monitored by experienced DIL staff who visit the project sites on a regular basis to gauge the progress of the schools. These monitoring efforts are particularly critical for identifying and meeting the needs of the teachers for ongoing teacher training. In addition, the partner organizations are required to monitor and reports on the progress of each school on a monthly basis.

All DIL accounts are audited annually by reputable accounting firms both in the United States and Pakistan.

The Citizens Foundation

2008-04-05T07:47:00.000-07:00

TCF is a professionally managed, non-profit organization set up in 1995 by a group of citizens concerned with the dismal state of education in Pakistan. It is now one of Pakistan’s leading organizations in the field of formal education. To date, TCF has established 455 purpose-built schools nationwide with an enrollment of about 55,000 students. TCF encourages gender diversity by ensuring 50% female enrolment and a full female faculty over 3,000 strong. TCF also has a dedicated Teacher Training Center in Karachi for the ongoing training of its faculty and provides logistical support to all its teachers. Over 4,500 jobs have been created in communities in which TCF operates.

It is the mission of TCF to remove barriers of class and privilege and to make the citizens of Pakistan Agents of Positive Change. We believe that access to basic education is the right of each individual and not a privilege. Apart from following the regular curriculum, we focus on the character building of students to equip them with high moral values and confidence.

To achieve our goals, TCF is constantly surveying education-deprived locations in Pakistan to extend its network. Each new location is appraised through an extensive land survey, assessment of population, income level, number and standard of existing schools in the area, demand for new school units, availability of an accessible site to build a school, qualified teachers in the area and a number of other criteria.

TCF is registered in Pakistan as a Company limited by guarantee under section 42 of the Companies Ordinance, 1984 and its accounts are audited by M/s Taseer Hadi and Co. (KPMG). TCF is ranked amongst the top five scoring organizations certified by the Pakistan Centre for Philanthropy (PCP) and has received high non-profit (NPO) governance rating of GR-8 by JCR-VIS Credit Rating Co Ltd.

TCF TODAY

As of 2007, we have 455 School Units:

343 Primary School Units
112 Secondary School Units

Highlights:

A network of 455 purpose built operational school units nation wide
An enrollment of upto 55,000 students
A balanced gender ratio; close to 50% female students
Created over 4,500 jobs of which more then 3,000 are female faculty positions
A teacher training centre in Karachi currently providing 4 weeks of entry-level training to about 904 teachers and annual developmental training to all teachers, throughout TCF network
High non-profit governance rating of GR-8 from JCR-VIS Credit Rating Co. Ltd
Gained certification from PCP (Pakistan Centre for Philanthropy).
TCF is amongst the highest scoring organisations certified by PCP to date.
Raised public awareness about the dire illiteracy problem in Pakistan

TCF VISION

TCF believes that the lack of literacy is the root cause of poverty. There is a direct correlation between the average life expectancy at birth and the adult literacy rate. People who have learned to read and write are more attentive to hygiene and health, less fatalistic and are more likely to turn to a doctor in time of need. Part of the solution to problems in the developing world lies in education. Hungry people need to be fed, but also need to be able to earn their own living. The sick need a cure, but must also be taught to avoid the unhygienic practices that make them ill. The age old adage, prevention is better than cure, needs to be re-taught and adhered to once more.

Education can make the difference between temporary alleviation and long-term solutions.

In terms of priorities, teaching the basics of literacy will always come a poor second to feeding the hungry, housing the homeless and healing the sick. But illiteracy as an hindrance to development needs to be acknowledged if long-term economic and social changes are to be affected.

DEFINITION

Definitions of what level of reading and writing ability actually makes a person 'literate' vary, but according to The World Christian Encyclopedia, literacy is "the ability to read and write, as measured by the percentage of the adult population who can read and write their own name and a simple statement. A higher level of competence is required for functional literacy."

The term 'functional' literacy is used to describe a meaningful level of literacy that can be put to practical use. This might mean people becoming aware of their basic rights, participating in community life, learning everyday skills, expressing themselves or achieving a measure of self-reliance.The priority for women's literacy is understandable, not simply on the grounds of this inequality, but also because of women's special responsibility in passing on knowledge to future generations. Teaching women to read and write helps to improve the well-being of the entire family, reduce fertility rates, ensure a greater emphasis on education for their children, balance family dietary and sanitary conditions and boost their status within the community. Education for women is, therefore, a social necessity.

"Educate a boy and you educate one person. Educate a girl and you educate a nation."- Ibn Badis, an Algerian Muslim Reformist.

THE BENEFITS OF LITERACY

Literacy saves lives

Education of parents has greater total effect on child mortality than any other factor. One year of a mother's education has been associated with a 9% decrease in under 5 mortality. Teaching mothers to read can lead to a decrease in infant mortality of up to 50%.Literates place higher value on the education of children. Adult education encourages children's education. Children who live in an illiterate environment tend to forget what they have learned. Literacy means easier access to political and social arenas.People who can read are better able to get involved in the society of which they are a part.

Literacy enables better money management
People who cannot read are more likely to be fooled or taken advantage of
Literacy enhances self-esteem and confidence
Literacy increases access to better paid jobs
Literacy means greater productivity on a national scale
In a recent study, a 20-30% increase in literacy produces a 8 -16% gain in Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
Literacy encourages later marriage and smaller families

Imran Khan - Pakistan's Captain?

2008-03-24T20:57:00.000-07:00

Imran Khan is a legendary cricketer who is idolized not only by Pakistani's but cricket fans all over the world. He set out on a mission to establish a cancer hospital for his country-men when he realized that there was no hospital that could provide state of the art care for cancer patients in Pakistan.

After he announced his project the donations started pouring in. He was able to mobilize students to sell donation tickets. Those who were able to collect a thousand rupees had the pleasure of meeting the legend in person. I cannot forget the happiness on my young brothers face when he came back after meeting a true Pakistani hero and legend Imran Khan. I do remember that before the deadline my brother was worried that he will not be able to finish selling all the tickets. My father not a wealthy man bought all the remaining tickets.

Shaukat Khanum Memorial hospital provides state of the art care to all regardless of socioeconomic status and has gained high repute for its excellence in providing care to the needy.

People are indebted for the great service this hospital provides.

Imran Khan has proven time and again that he not only he was the captain of our Cricket team but is a captain for 'Pakistan'.

Edhi Foundation

2008-03-23T22:34:00.000-07:00

Edhi established his first welfare centre and then the Bilqis Edhi Trust with a mere Rs. 5000. What started as a one-man show operating from a single room in Karachi is now the Edhi Foundation, the largest welfare organization in Pakistan. The foundation has over 300 centers across the country, in big cities, small towns and remote rural areas, providing medical aid, family planning and emergency assistance. They own air ambulances, providing quick access to far-flung areas.

In Karachi alone, the Edhi Foundation runs 8 hospitals providing free medical care, eye hospitals, diabetic centers, surgical units, a 4- bed cancer hospital and mobile dispensaries. In addition to these the Foundation also manages two blood banks in Karachi.

20,000 abandoned babies have been saved

40,000 qualified nurses have been trained

50,000 orphans are housed in Edhi Homes

1 million babies have been delivered in Edhi Maternity Centers

Edhi is to Karachi what Mother Teresa was to the poor of Calcutta. Edhi and wife Bilquees have spent a lifetime working for people and their welfare work to date remains unparalleled in Pakistan. They are both very private people who shun publicity. They have had little formal education, and are totally committed to the cause of helping the poor and needy.

The Dawn of Edhi Foundation

What started as a one-man show operating from a single room in Karachi is now the Edhi Foundation, the largest welfare organization in Pakistan. The foundation has over 300 centers across the country, in big cities, small towns and remote rural areas, providing medical aid, family planning and emergency assistance.

Born in 1928 in Bantwa , Gujarat, India , Edhi’s family belonged to the industrious Memon community. From a young age his mother taught Edhi to be kind towards others and to help the poor. In 1947 the family migrated to Pakistan and settled in Karachi. That was a time of great emotional trauma and social and political upheaval. Edhi became involved in social work and began working with welfare organisations and soon started his own dispensary, providing medical aid to the poor. He bought his first ambulance, an old van which he called the "poor man’s van" and went around the city providing medical help and burying unclaimed bodies. His van became his advertisement and soon he came to be known for his work with the poor. As a consequence, donations started pouring in and his operations expanded, employing additional nurses and staff. It was here that Edhi met his wife Bilquees who was a trainee nurse at the dispensary. They were married in 1966. Bilquees became the ideal wife for Edhi, totally committed to welfare work.

Edhi established his first welfare centre and then the Edhi Trust with a mere Rs. 5000 [$1000]. The Edhi Foundation grew as people began to recognize its humanitarian aims. In 1973 when an old apartment building collapsed in Karachi, Edhi’s ambulances and volunteers were the first to reach the scene and start rescue operations. From then, on, through the troubles in Karachi and all over the country, Edhi’s ambulances have been rescuing and taking the injured to hospitals and burying unclaimed bodies. They go to places where even government agencies hesitate to venture.

The Edhi Foundation is the first of its kind in South Asia that owns air ambulances, providing quick access to far-flung areas. Whether it is a train accident or a bomb blast, Edhi ambulances are the first to arrive. The foundation relies on the support of its 3, 500 workers and thousands of volunteers who form the backbone of the organisation

Edhi's Founder

Despite the growth of the foundation, Edhi remains a very down to earth person. Dressed always in a grey homespun cotton, he has a hands on approach to his work, sweeping his own room and even cleaning the gutter if need be. Apart from the one room, which he uses for his living quarters, the rest of the building serves as his workplace in Mithadar, a locality of old Karachi that is full of narrow streets and congested alleyways. Adjoining their living room is a small kitchen where Bilquees usually prepares the midday meal. Next to it is a washing area where bodies are bathed and prepared for burial..

When Edhi is not travelling to supervise his other centres, a typical day for him begins at five in the morning with Fajr prayers. His work starts thereafter answering any calls for help, organizing and meeting people in need while afternoons are spent at various centres and hospitals all over the city. In the evening he dines with hundreds of poor at his "langar" [free community meals common among Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs] at another Edhi centre in the city. His Fridays are invariably spent at homes for the destitute children where Edhi personally helps bathe the ones who are physically handicapped, before joining them for Friday prayers. Occasionally, when he is able to, he also takes them out for picnics.

Assets of Edhi Foundation

In Karachi alone, the Edhi Foundation runs 8 hospitals providing free medical care, eye hospitals, diabetic centres, surgical units, a 4- bed cancer hospital and mobile dispensaries. In addition to these the Foundation also manages two blood banks in Karachi. As with other Edhi services, employed professionals and volunteers run these. The foundation has a Legal aid department, which provides free services and has secured the release of countless innocent prisoners.

Commissioned doctors visit jails on a regular basis and also supply food and other essentials to the inmates. There are 15 " Apna Ghar" ["Your Homes"] homes for the destitute children, runaways, and psychotics and the Edhi Foundation states that over the years 3 million children have been rehabilitated and reunited with their families thorough the Edhi network.

The foundation also has an education scheme, which apart from teaching reading and writing covers various vocational activities such as driving, pharmacy and para-medical training. The emphasis is on self-sufficiency. The Edhi Foundation has branches in several countries where they provide relief to refugees in the USA , UK , Canada , Japan , and Bangladesh . In 1991 the Foundation provided aid o victims of the Gulf war and earthquake victims in Iran and Egypt .

Vision Of the Foundation

Edhi plans mass campaigns against narcotics, illiteracy, population control and basic hygiene. Edhi's wife Bilquees works in the areas of maternity centre management. She runs 6 nursing training schools in Karachi , which provide basic training courses. These centres have so far trained over 40,000 qualified nurses. Some 20,000 abandoned babies have been saved and about a million babies have been delivered in the Edhi maternity homes. Bilquees also supervises the food that is supplied to the Edhi hospitals in Karachi . The total number of orphans in Edhi housing is 50,000 and Edhi's two daughters and one son assist in the running of the orphanages and the automation of these institutions.

Edhi's vision is to create an institution that will carry on his life's work and survive for a long time to come. His dream is that of a Pakistan as a modern welfare state, which provides a safety net for the poor and needy while providing basic health and education with vocational skills. A welfare state Edhi feels is the only way to tackle Pakistan 's myriad social problems. He hopes that one day, Pakistan will be a model for other developing countries.

In 1985 Edhi received the Nishan-e-Imtiaz from the Government of Pakistan and in recognition of their services the Government of Philippines awarded Edhi & Bilquees the Magsayay award.

The Edhi Foundation refuses to take any aid from the Government, thereby maintaining its independence.