HOPE reaches out to Thar drought and famine affectees

HOPE recently took the initiative to help the famine and drought ridden affectees of Tharparker. It was indeed a shock to the entire nation that their fellow citizens are facing such a devastating situation. It was reported that around 175,000 Thari families left their homes and went to other districts such as Mithi to find relief.  Around 135 died (Reports from Mithi hospital) because of various diseases caused by malnourishment, drought and famine. HOPE personnel found out that Tharparkar’s reservoirs were nearly all dry and the shortage of food is critical. It was also reported that the health facilities in the region are far from satisfactory and large numbers of livestock have also perished due to the severe climatic conditions.

HOPE a health NGO in Pakistan, quickly mobilized its resources and gathered information by conducting a basic survey to make sure that relevant materials reach to the affectees of Tharparker. HOPE, an NGO in Pakistan, went to district Mithi to distribute relief materials to the famine and drought ridden Thari families. Around 500 ration bags comprising various items such as dry milk, flour, oil, sugar, pulses and rice were distributed among the affectees. Free of cost medical camps were established where the doctors carried out checkups and distributed free of cost medicines to around 400 patients. 50 Water coolers along with 2000 P&G purifier of water sachets were also distributed among the elderly affectees.

Dr. MubinaAgboatwalla, child specialist in Karachi, was also part of the team which carried out medical camps and distributed ration items. She made sure that ration is distributed among deserving individuals and families.  HOPE is particularly thankful to individuals and organizations that helped HOPE in its efforts to provide support to the famine and drought affectees of Tharparker. 

Relief Appeal For Drought and Famine ridden Affectees of Thar

Around 175,00. Thar families have left their homes, heading towards other districts and around 135 have been reported dead {Reports from Mithi Hospital}. Tharparkar's water reservoirs are nearly all dry and the shortage of food is critical. What is more, the health facilities in the region are far from satisfacory. Large numbers of livestock have also perished due to the severe climatic conditions. Every living soul in Thar, no matter what age or gender,  is victim of this devastating drought and famine, ravaging the area. One can see the corpses of those who have died of hunger and thirst while carcasses of animals are scattered everywhere. Reports received from Diplo, Chhachro, Islamkot, Dahli and Nagarparkar suggest that many poor Thari families were moving to barrage areas along with their livestock. Relatives of the patients admitted to the hospital in Mithi complained that its administration was not providing medicines and they were forced to buy expensive drugs which are out of their reach.

It is reported that many lactating mothers in various parts of the province have been unable to produce milk for their children because of  poor diet, while there are chronic epidemic and pandemic diseases in the province. A human catastrophe looms over Sindh because of poor sewage systems, sanitation conditions, malnutrition and the unavailability of potable water and medicines in hospitals, dispensaries and basic health units. It is not as if the phenomenon of drought in Thar has come out of the blue; the region experiences drought every two to three years. Yet planning ahead for such extreme climatic conditions should have been state's priorities

At the moment what the community requires is dry ration, medicines and clean water. HOPE, an NGO in Pakistan, plans to provide relief in the affected region by providing free of cost medicines, setting up medical camps and distribution of food items. It is an open request to all organisations, individuals and communities to come forward and help people of Thar through HOPE's 

relief activities

It is the need of the hour to learn from this debacle and ensure such catastrophe does not occur again.

A Day spent Well- The Dolphin Show!

Children are always fascinated about going on field trips. “Field trips are a source of enjoyment and relaxation from the mundane routine” says Ahmed, an energetic and excited student of HOPE  school Zia Colony, Korangi.

This year P&G collaborated with HOPE an NGO in Pakistan by sponsoring a field trip to the most famous show in the town “The Dolphin Show”. It could be seen from the smiling faces of HOPE school students that they thoroughly enjoyed the show and were amazed by the maneuvers carried out by the mammals. Students were able to catch the dolphin jumping high, the beluga singing its heart out and the sea lion giving a stellar performance. Saad Amanullah Khan, CEO Gillette joined HOPE School students in this amazing event. Volunteers from HOPE as well from P&G took part in making this field trip a memorable one. 

About one hundred students attended this fun filled field trip. It was an hour filled with exciting and amazing acts carried out by dolphins and sea lions. The children who attended this field trip were from the underprivileged class who could not avail such opportunities on their own. One of the students when asked about the field trip exclaimed “I saw this on the news channel but I never thought I might be able to see this! “. Volunteers kept the students busy and at the end of the show distributed scrumptious lunch boxes to satiate the tired yet happy students of HOPE schools. 

Dr.Mubina Agboatwalla, child specialist in Karachi Chairperson HOPE, an educational NGO in Pakistan, lauded the efforts of P&G volunteers and is thankful to P&G for remembering students of HOPE schools while carrying out their CSR activities. She is of the view that such activities are an essential part of a student’s life. She hopes that other organizations will also come forward and spread smiles among HOPE’s students by giving them opportunities which are only available to the privileged class. 

HOPE students take part in Children's Poster Contest at Japan Fest 2014

Creativity, ingenuity, and innovation are the keys to success in the evolving global economy. To prepare young people for work and life in the 21st century, educators must cultivate students' creativity  says a renowned educationalist Jennifer Henderson.

HOPE has always been supporting activities which bring about the best of its students. Such activities enhance the skills of the students and they feel confident about what they do. This in turn plays an important role in increasing the confidence level of the students and they work hard to hone their skills to compete in this ever evolving world.

Recently students of HOPE took part in a poster making contest. This contest was held by Pakistan-Japan Cultural Association in collaboration with Consulate General of Japan, Karachi and Karachi Metropolitan Corporation at Hotel Avari Towers as part of the Japan Fest 2014. This initiative was held in order to deepen the understanding about Japan among the young generation of Pakistan and promote friendship between Pakistanis and Japanese further. This Poster Contest aimed at giving more exposure to the future leaders of Pakistan to demonstrate their talents and encourage them to express their thoughts clearly through artistic creation.

Students of HOPE, an educational NGO in Pakistan, thoroughly enjoyed taking part in this contest and hope that such events will be organized in future too so that they can show their talent  to others around them.

Dr. Mubina Agboatwalla, child specialist in Karachi lauded the efforts of PJCA for arranging such an interactive event where children were able to show cast their creative skills. Dr Mubina Agboatwalla hopes that PJCA will continue to arrange such activities so as to provide learning opportunities to less fortunate children of HOPE schools. She is of the view that such activities enable students to learn new ways of communication with the masses and become innovative individuals of our country. 

HOPE Team Visits HOPE School and Vocational Center in Muzaffargarh

“None of us got to where we are alone. Whether the assistance we received was obvious or subtle, acknowledging someone’s help is a big part of understanding the importance of saying thank you” Harvey Mackay

NGOs are working towards the betterment of society; however for this purpose different nonprofit organizations perform different tasks to keep checks on the working of its processes. This is not an easy ordeal; a regular and continuous supervision is required to make sure that each job is done according to the required standards laid down by the organization. Sometimes, it is because of this supervision that the field workers of NGOs have to travel in the scorching beam of heat, under the thunderstorms, in the valleys which are spread over mountains to reduce and avoid redundant practices.

For this purpose, HOPE an NGO in Pakistan team visited Muzaffargarh… HOPE an educational NGO in Pakistan which runs under the leadership of Dr. Mubina Agboatwalla, child specialist in Karachi. HOPE has set up a formal school system in Muzaffargarh.  The school currently has 350 students and 15 teachers. There is a computer room and a vocational centre as well. On the first day of their visit, the team monitored the overall performance of the children regarding class participation, confidence, physical health and their ability to comprehend the subject matter. They were also given snacks. On the second day HOPE school arranged a sports day in which Dr. MubinaAgboatwalla, child specialist in Karachi distributed certificates to the position holders. The students were also given sweaters to save them from the cold weather. Third day was the Annual day in which Dr. Mubina Agboatwalla,child specialist in Karachi was made the chief guest. She distributed gift hampers given by Jaffer Public School as a token of love and respect to the less privileged students of HOPE school Muzaffargarh and also gave school bags to the students of HOPE school.

HOPE team also visited Vocational center of HOPE in Muzaffargarh in which around thirty women are learning skills such as sewing, cutting, embroidery etc. This vocational center also has a computer lab which enables the less privileged to learn computer skills free of cost.  This Vocational center was built with the help of generous donation given to HOPE by PARCO.    

HOPE team is particularly thankful to Mr. Safdar Bukhari and Mrs. Iram Bukhari for their unprecedented support which enables HOPE to carry out its monitoring procedures in Muzaffargarh every year.

Regular supervisions have made us able to locate our loopholes and rectify them as much as possible to achieve best possible results. There are trained supervisors at HOPE who have built a culture that values supervision. 

HOPE Celebrates Eid-i-Milad un Nabi

12^th Rabi-ul-awal marks the birth our beloved Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (Peace be upon him).  Religious festivities are the part of Pakistani society; it promotes our religious and cultural values.  For this purpose Eid-e- Miladun Nabi is celebrated with religious zeal and zest all over Pakistan. We celebrate Milad in order to send salutations (Esal-e-Swaab) to the Prophet [May Allah bless him and grant Him peace], give donations to the poor (Sadaqah Khairat) and remember wilaadah (Birth) and qualities of the Prophet [May Allah bless him and grant Him peace]. The Ahl as-Sunnah does not say that one must celebrate "Milad" only on 12 Rabee'-ul-Awwal, in fact it can be celebrated at anytime of the year.

Every year Eid-e-Milad un Nabi is celebrated in schools and hospitals of HOPE to bring religious unity amongst the student and staff members of HOPE an educational NGO in Pakistan .These activities are carried out under the supervision of Dr. Mubina Agboatwalla, the child specialist in Karachi and Chairperson of HOPE. In these Milad gatherings, all the students and staff members of HOPE Zia Colony School and Hospital, HOPE Muzzafargarh School, HOPE Thatta School and Hospital and Informal HOPE Schools take an active part. Students and teachers prepare naats and remember the teaching of our beloved Prophet (Peace be upon him). Remembering the teaching of our holy Prophet gives a sense of forgiveness and satisfaction to the people who are working for the betterment of this society by extending a helping hand towards the poor.

Dr. Mubina Agboatwalla, child specialist in Karachi hopes and prays that May Allah Ta'ala grant us the strength to partake in the mesmerized occasion of Jashne Eid-Miladun-Nabi (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam), so that we may show our contentment and gratitude to Almighty Allah and achieve forgiveness and Bounties of Allah Ta'ala which descend on this auspicious day.

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.