HOPE Team Visits Home School in Kashmir & KPK (DAY 1)

 

Every year HOPE pays a visit to its projects in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). Which include its HOME Schools and MCH Center.  These projects are directed by Dr. Mubina Agboatwalla – A Child Specialist in Karachi. HOME schools have an important role in educating children who have largely been ignored in Pakistan. These schools provide young children a chance to receive basic primary and secondary education. It also creates an employment opportunity for educated girls in the community, who can teach in these schools and earn for themselves and also support their families.

HOPE has several MCH Centers Established in KPK which are located in the areas of Mansehra and Garhi Habibullah, KPK. While 2 MCH Centers are located in Langarpura and Chikkar AJK.

In AJK & KPK, the provision of health care has traditionally been a government responsibility. The poor health situation is partly explained by the authorities’ neglect of communities living in rural areas. Other problems include poverty and low levels of education, especially among women.

The MCH is free of cost like every other MCH of HOPE. It is operated by a qualified Lady Health Visitor (LHV), a dispenser and a maid. Treatment for men, women and children are being provided free of cost. HOPE MCH at Muzaffarabad is a ray of light for such an underdeveloped area.

Dr. Mubina Agboatwalla and her staff from HOPE - An NGO in Pakistan, visited these health centers to monitor their progress and ensure that they are functioning as they should. This year, they visited AJK in during the end of 2024, when the weather was cool and pleasant. In fact, it was the best time to visit AJK to blow off the heat.

HOPE – A Health NGO in Pakistan distributed cooked meals, clothes and blankets among the patients at the MCH Centers and the locals residing in the vicinity.

HOPE Team Visits its Home Schools in Kashmir (DAY 2)

Each year, the Team of HOPE – An Educational NGO in Pakistan, travels to the Northern Side of Pakistan which consist of its the home schools located in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). These home schools were established with the intention to cater the population living in Kashmir who have no access to schools or education nearby.   HOME schools have an important role in educating children who have been overlooked in Pakistan.

These schools provide young children a chance to receive basic primary and secondary education. It also creates an employment opportunity for educated girls in the community, who can teach in these schools and earn for themselves and also support their families.

In such rural and mountainous regions, informal schools are essential for educating children who are unnoticed. These schools give young students the opportunity to get a foundational education in both primary and high school. Additionally, it gives the community's educated girls a job opportunity, allowing them to teach in these schools and make a living for themselves and support their families.

Approximately 800 plus students receive education in these Home schools. The team visited its three schools of Muzaffarabad district, Malsi (primary school), Nagra Gari Duppatta (secondary school) and Dhani Balan (primary school). These isolated regions are unreachable, and it is challenging to get to them due to the snow-covered mountains and intense winter weather.

Dr. Mubina Agboatwalla – A Child Specialist in Karachi, along with her team members personally distributed, school bags, lunch boxes, uniforms, books, water bottles and stationery were also distributed among school children. Furthermore, trophies and prices were given to the students and teachers who were the best performers and position holders. Various programs and shows were performed by the students. Different programs were held in which students presented skits and welcomed the guests.  At the end of the event HOPE – A Health NGO in Pakistan distributed biryani among the students of HOPE Home Schools. 

The children of AJK are receiving quality education, which they did not have access to before, thanks to all of HOPE's efforts, and these yearly visits inspired them to reach their full potential and improve their quality of life.