The meeting was hosted at Idara-e-Taleem-o-Aagahi’s (ITA) office in Islamabad on 25th Sept 2010. It was chaired by Ms. Beena Raza, Advisor to the Pakistani Educational Leadership Project. The group discussed the project in detail, including cultural & academic learning.

Mr. Brent Beemer, Cultural Affairs Officer at the U.S. Embassy, Islamabad, joined the delegates. Another honored guest was Mr. Fazle Manan, Director of Education, FATA. Mr. Beemer was very positive about the Project, highlighting the extraordinary length of time the program had run as proof of its success.

“Teachers Devise Plan for Quality Education”, Daily Times, September 27, 2010

“MAPs Finalized to Ensure Teaching Techniques”, Pakistan Observer, September 27, 2010

“40 US-trained Teachers Commit to Work for Quality Education”, The Patriot, September 25, 2010

On August 1, 2010, a group of young and enthusiastic volunteer students belonging to University of Engineering & Technology KPK, Department of Environmental Sciences UoP, and Mr. Khalid Khan, Alum 2009, were gathered at the residence of the undersigned at Peshawar. The purpose of the meeting was to observe the level of devastation of the recent flood and to formulate strategy for any possible intervention from the Platform of Alumni network at Khyber Pukhtoonkhwa. As per plan, a visit was made to a number of villages from District Charsadda and District Nowshera.

On August 3,2010, the first food consignment for 150 families were carried to village Tarnab at District Charsadda and we never looked back. The process continued upto September 20, 2010 during which the following intervention were made by Mr. Khurshid Ahmed, Mr. Khalid Khan, Mr. Zakiullah and a number of other Alumni from 2008, 2009, and 2010.

• Ready made cooked food was supplied to more than 500 families during August 3 – August 20, 2010.
• With the support of ITA, raw food comprising flour, rice, oil, lentils, dates, etc to more than 100 families.
• In collaboration with SHARED Society, the Alumni at Tangi village, provided food packages to 600 families.
• Through donation of Sahar, Sana, Anem and Mustafa (young volunteers form Lahore), the Alumni of 2008 and 2009 distributed 100 unsewn clothes among the flood affected people at Camps of GHS Tangi, GPS Ziarat Kelly, GPS station Kelly.

IDP’s Camp School Network

After observing the situation of IDP’s Children at Camp School, the undersigned decided to open a camp school/healing center at each IDP’s camp. The idea was put before the Program Director ITA, who was kind enough to not approve the idea but also extended support in the form Technical and financial support. Training was conducted for 30 female selected women of Tangi and IDP’s camp and a One – Day Orientation workshop was conducted with them by a six members team sent by ITA from Lahore. The ITA also donated a School Kit (worth Rs. 3700), a hygiene Kit, some Emergency Education books and a number of school accessories including mats, water coolers and other essentials. A next work of 17 schools was identified however, due to management problems, only 08 schools could become operational. The salaries of the recruited teachers were collected from donation by Rotary Club Peshawar, SHARED Society and some philanthropist individuals. The schools engaged more than 750 students of 08 camps while 09 teachers were hired for the said schools. The vulnerable children were not only protected from diseases, social evils but also helped to continue their education even at camps. The schools helped us to collect further support from UNHCR in the form of 20 School tents at their villages after their return from the camps but also motivated a number of girl’s students to acquire education who had never been to a school before.

• Ms. Fauzia Minaalah, a renowned social worker, distributed 500 ready made new clothes among the student of the IDP’s camp school network while also distributed 500 books, written by her, among the students.
• All the camps were organized and supported throughout their stay at Camps while Eid – ul – Daha is also celebrated with them. On the night of Eid Bengals and Hina was distributed among 1000 women so that they may not feel deprived or depressed.

The process is still going on while a number of organizations have been diverted through various linkages for reconstruction and rehabilitation of the Internally displace people and to engage them in activities that may help them rebuild their washed out houses and create livelihood opportunities for letting them come to their normal life.

-Khurshid, 2008 PELI Alumnus

Following is the brief of some activities conducted after the kind visit of Ma’am Baela of ITA and,
later on her trainers to our village:

1. A network of 17 schools was established at the relief camps
involving the children of IDPs as students. The salaries of the
teachers was sponsored by Rotary Club Peshawar New City while the
training and one full school kit along with a number of accessories
were donated by ITA. Eight schools are still operational.

2. Food bags comprising 7 food items sufficient for one month were
distributed among 500 families in Collaboration with SHARED.

3. A full Eid Dinner was served to 200 families on the night of Eid as
well as 700 sets of Bengals along with cones of Hina were distributed
among young girls of the camp. The event was covered by GEO TV.

4. A total of six sewing machines were delivered through lotting among
the IDP’s on the night of Eid sponsored by a friend.

5. New ready made dresses for Eid were distributed among 500 children
of IDPs Camps at Tangi with the support of ITA and Fauzia Minallah (A
renowned social worker of Pakistan)

6. We are in a process to establish 40 water hand pumps at the
devastated villages with the support of Rotray Club Lahore Shaheen.
Survey and feasiblity have been done while the rest is in process.

7. A group of Pakistani American musicians visited Charsadda Camp in
the company of Beena Raza of ITA who not only conducted various
activities but also distributed 700 school bags, Eid Gifts etc among
the IDP’s. The head of the Group Dr. Noaman recognize my school net
work program and pledged for 750 school bags for the children studying
there.

As you know its a long very process since the devastation is of epic
proportion, it will take a long time to restore the situation. We are
planning as well as coordinating with a number of organization
including UNHCR, UNICEF and UN-HABITAT for reconstruction of damaged
houses as this towering task can not only be tackled by the government
or individuals. I am sure that if your moral support and ecnouragement
is accompanied, we would be able to come out of this disaster even
better than before.

Thanks and best regards
–
Khurshid, Plymouth State Alumni 2008

–

Best wishes,

Marguerite