Spreading SMILES on AJK's mountains - Day 3

To help the deprived community of Kashmir region and extend a helping hand towards the deserving community, HOPE an educational NGO, established formal and informal Schools in AJK. Some of the schools are till tenth grade while the others are Primary Schools.

Azad Jammu and Kashmir is a mountainous area comprising of various districts, located in the northern areas of Pakistan. This area is underdeveloped and in much need of proper health facilities. On the other hand, illiteracy is also prevalent here and if institutions exist, the harsh weather makes it impossible to reach there.

On day 3 of the visit, the team visited the schools located in Chaprian, Dharian and Narhotar where total 140 students are enrolled all together. Chaprian   is 35 km far from the city and 3000 ft above on the mountain, whereas, Dharian is 38 km far from the city and 3200 ft above on the mountain. The team distributed school bags, pencil boxes, woolen caps, pakoray, juice, cake and socks among the children of school. The children were so excited and happy to receive the distributed items; the smiles and happiness on their face was clearly seen. Teachers were also given gift packs.

HOPE- an 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.

With the passion to serve humanity, HOPE reaches out to all those who no one reaches out to and has established several schools on different mountains of Kashmir. These schools are giving free and quality education to the poor children who cannot even afford to have a sweater or a single pair of socks to prevent themselves from cold even in extreme weather. Hence, each year HOPE's team under the supervision of Dr. Mubina Agboatwalla - a child specialist in Karachi, visits the schools in Kashmir and distributes food items as well as warm clothing to the poor children studying there.