Chronicles of HOPE Team Visit to Kashmir

Mesmerizing snow capped mountains, fast flowing River Jhelum and Neelum, beautiful fruit trees and streams, all together make Kashmir a natural wonderland. But despite all this magnificence, the people of Kashmir are deprived of a lot of blessings of life. HOPE, an NGO in Pakistan has made an effort to provide educational facilities for the less privileged in this region and as also created employment opportunities for the underprivileged population.

The HOPE Team led by Dr Mubina Agboatwalla child specialist in Karachi, began their journey in the mountainous regions of Kashmir for monitoring the HOPE schools in AJK and KPK on the 22^nd of November 2013.  The team visited three schools on the first day of their visit. These schools were located in the remotest areas, 10,000 feet above sea level at Chapprian, Dharian and Kohri. Currently, there are around 300 children who are studying in these schools. Warm clothes, sweaters, gifts and school bags were distributed among students. Biryani packets and juices were also distributed among the students of HOPE schools to satiate their hunger during this harsh month. It took the monitoring

team around four hours from Muzaffarabad to reach these schools. The team had to walk for an hour and a half to get to these schools as there are no roads to accommodate a vehicle.

On the 2^nd day of the Kashmir visit, HOPE team visited three schools which had a total of 400 children belonging to impoverished families. The students dressed in uniforms presented tableaus and songs. Gift hampers, given by the students of Jaffer Public School comprising stationary items, were distributed to the students of HOPE schools in Kashmir. In addition to that, one hundred school bags and food items were distributed to students located in Nagra, Garridupatta, Malsi, Dhanibaklan, and Hatyanbala. On the third day of their visit the team visited schools in Saryaan and Prahour, Hatiyanbala covering around 250 students mostly girls who get quality education in the remotest corners.  Sweaters, socks, woolen caps, school bags and gifts were distributed and sumptuous lunch boxes were provided to the children.

HOPE, an educational NGO in Pakistan is ecstatic to see its students in the mountainous regions of Kashmir studying despite the harsh weather conditions. Dr Mubina Agboatwalla child specialist in Karachi and a born philanthropist is of the view that providing basic necessities to the underprivileged class is obligatory for those who have the capacity to help.