With continuously changing societal dynamics, the nature of challenges and issues are becoming more complex. Amidst the rapid and unplanned urbanization, we realized the need of unconventional programming addressing the complex issues like child labour, water access and social cohesion which are ultimately connected to poverty, lack of education and economic opportunities.
Ensuring Quality Water in Urban Areas (EQUA) addressed the safe drinking water access in densely populated areas of the twin cities Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Lack of safe drinking water was the source for water borne diseases and also the biggest reason behind societal conflicts in urban settlements. Rehabilitation of water supply schemes is benefiting 20,000 households in both vicinities.
Our Channels of Hope (COH) initiative was a successful attempt at addressing the issues pertaining to child rights violation, with the support of faith leaders in Rawalpindi. Embedding faith perspective in behavioural change planning is always critical. After capacity building sessions, faith leaders through sermons and public events discussed child rights protection in the light of Islamic teachings. Community Hope Action Teams (CHATs) comprising of community members, faith leaders and activists were formulated to better guide and aware the masses on child protection and provide one converging point for all stakeholders including the local government.
With women often shunned and their opinions not heard, bringing them to the center stage was crucial to achieve our objective of creating an enabling environment for women in the newly merged districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. 22 female organizations formed in North Waziristan have made their voices heard to prioritize needs and take decisions.
Our Urban Micro Finance Programme successfully crossed PKR 1 Billion mark at the year-end of 2019 in the form of Sharia compliant loans. One of the major highlights’ of this programme is empowering women entrepreneurs. We provide easy access to capital and financial services to women led enterprises for their growth and development. In addition to this, we also provide training and counselling to selected women entrepreneurs.
Further expansion of the programme has also been planned to other parts of the country including KP and AJ&K.
