We manage our investments and engagements in various sectors via cross-divisional teams and strategic partners tasked with developing, monitoring, and managing our portfolios including:
1. Education – A Basic Human Right
The SDG-4 states access to quality education for all. Education is the only source to develop and strengthen marginalized communities to fight poverty, reduce unemployment and be aware of to demand all basic rights. HDF in connection is contributing while intervening in several projects including formal, non-formal, vocational and other education supporting projects in Azad Kashmir
Article 25-A, Access to education is a fundamental right for the children ageing 5-15. In order to move towards sustainable and inclusive development, it is most important to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.
HDF with the Government education department and other stakeholders and donors is striving to ensure access to inclusive and equitable quality education for the communities who do not have access for decades.
1.1. Annual Status of Education Report (ASER)
Remarkable research addressing the quality of education in Pakistan and AJK, since 2010. HDF is a partner of ASER in Azad Kashmir. ASER seeks to fill a gap in educational data by seeking to provide a reliable set of data at the national level that is comprehensive and, at the same time, easy to understand.
As an outcome, each year 15 thousand children are assessed and 600 public and private schools are visited for assessment. Finally, the report is compiled and shared with stakeholders.
1.2. Education Awareness Campaign
Along with research HDF also mobilized and aware of the community through different projects and activities. Theatres have always played a vital role in strengthening any awareness campaign. Dramas and street-based theatres have a unique impact on the masses. HDF has completed a street-based Theatre Project in 4 districts of AJK. Muzaffarabad, Hattian, Neelum and Bagh.
In 4 districts of AJK hundreds of people directly received our message. And thousands of people indirectly got the message.
As a result of this theatre activity, we formed committees in villages that taken the responsibility to take initiative and steps to enrol out of school children.
Other prominent activities include enrollment campaigns, headteachers training on a budget, TEACHER APPRECIATION in which above 1000 teachers in 8 districts were awarded appreciation certificates on their best performance.
Media Campaign for Education in which radio and live TV talk shows were held to highlight the issues of education.
1.3. Safe internet & school outreach program
The object was to empower girls and boys to use Information Communication Technology (ICT) and the Internet responsibly in a safe manner. It should also promote responsible and safe online behaviour of children through building their capacity in self-protection online through play-based interactive awareness sessions and modules.
A fantastic outcome, 70,000 children and 2300 teachers male and female were aware of the usage of internet and in save manners. See Projects
2. Primary Health-A Fundamental Right
HDF believes that besides Education, health is also a fundamental right to live happy and healthy. In order to address key issues in health and access to basic health facilities, HDF is contributing to ensure access to basic health facilities by marginalized communities. In order to address the mentioned issues and fill the gap, HDF serves the communities and ensure access to basic health facilities in different manners.
HDF has extensive experience in the health sector and has great capabilities while having qualified doctors, trained paramedical staff, volunteers, the latest equipment, and instrument at its panel when required. This always enables HDF to deal with emergency situations including cloud bursts, which was experienced in district Neelum. HDF medical camps, provision of medicine, and several other contributions made possible to that HDF is a well-known organization among communities across State, especially in rural districts.
2.1. BCC project for reducing the spread of HIV and AIDS
HIV Aids is considered a very dangerous disease having no effective cure. HDF create general awareness through different IPC innovative strategies to make people aware of HIV and AIDS, through the involvement of media.
In this regard, HDF held a street base in the community to aware people of this disease especially the youth in district Mirpur of AJK, due to this awareness-raising theatre hundreds of youth got a direct message.
2.2. Medical Camp
HDF has been organized quarterly medical camps in far-flung areas of AJ&K with the coordination of partner organizations. In these camps, HDF has worked for the provision of medicines, assistive devices and medical assistance to vulnerable people especially widows, children and disabled people in different villages of Districts Muzaffarabad and Hattian Balla. About 2500 patients were treated and benefited through medicines and assistive devices.
2.3. Teacher training Health & hygiene
Handwashing awareness campaign/program that focuses on taking the message to children through their teachers from their school. The target was aware the teachers and then teachers share the activity from 2 to class 6th in public and private schools. The project was run in 4 phases from 2013 to 2015. As a result of this training, the teachers of 931 schools of the above-mentioned districts were invited to their home districts. Approximately 2100 teachers were trained and 70,000 students were benefited from this program. See Projects
3. Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET)-Helping Themselves
Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) focus on the acquisition of appropriate skills, abilities and competencies as necessary equipment for the individual to live in adapt to the real work situation and contribute to the development of his society. It assists all young people to secure their own future by enhancing their transition to a lot of opportunities after school.
HDF besides formal education, looking to the situation and unemployment, it is most important to promote TVET and encourage the women and youth to see their career in the sector.
HDF since 2008, is contributing and developing such skilled human resources who may exhibit their skills in the market and may easily get space for livelihood. With its SMART approach offer such skills to the youth which are in high demand in local as well as the metropolitan market.
3.1. Community Based Livelihood Recovery has equipped 120 young females to cope with financial issues.
3.2. Mobile Crane Operator Training has equipped 100 males. Due to this skill beneficiaries are earning in different projects and also abroad.
3.3. Skill Development Centre (SDC)
This project provides stitching technical skills to females. The skill not only saves money for females but it’s a source of earning. Females can share the financial burden of their father, brother or husband.
18 mobile centres were established in which 34 batches were run. The project was run in different villages of district Muzaffarabad. Skill Development Centre has equipped the 825 girls and 100 sewing machines were distributed to the most deserving trainees which are able to sew not only their family clothes but also can earn by sewing clothes from outside. See Projects
4. Child Rights-Why They Matter
Children and young people have the same general human rights as adults and also specific rights that recognize their special needs. Children are neither the property of their parents nor are they helpless objects of charity. They are human beings and are the subject of their own rights.
HDF strongly believe that child is an individual and a member of a family and community, with rights and responsibilities appropriate to his or her age and stage of development. It recognizes the fundamental human dignity of all children and the urgency of ensuring their well-being and development. It makes clear the idea that a basic quality of life should be the right of all children, rather than a privilege enjoyed by a few.
HDF through its interventions (Mass Enrollment of OOSC) with the Government of AJK to challenge “Child labour” which can result in extreme bodily and mental harm, and even death. It can lead to slavery and sexual or economic exploitation. And in nearly every case, it cuts children off from schooling and health care, restricting their fundamental rights and threatening their futures.
4.1. WORK ON THE RIGHT TO EDUCATION (ARTICLE 25-A)
HDF voluntarily took initiative with Alif Ailaan for approval and implementation of the law at the AJK Level, and run an awareness campaign. HDF also involved politicians, civil society, Media and many other stakeholders in this campaign. HDF also take part in community mobilization. Politicians also realize that RTE is a need of time. For this purpose, we organized awareness programs with civil society, conducted parents meetings, teachers were sensitized our volunteers has run this campaign in all 10 districts of AJK. Organized community sessions and meetings with the government as well as with the opposition.
Due to tireless efforts, we were able to make pass the resolution of the right to education from the legislative assembly with the joint consensus of all parties. Now the draft of the bill has been prepared and soon it will become law.
4.2. Orphan Sponsorship and Caring Program
HDF also provide its volunteer services in orphan sponsorship & caring program in which HDF Enrol orphans up to 18 years. With the help of donors. We not only support the orphans but also organize extracurricular activities like games and tours to fresh their minds and thinking. We enrolled 37 orphans at the start. This enrolment reached up to 114 children. Maximum of them now delisted due to marriage, age factor and jobs. Orphans Grant & Career Counselling has benefited 27 males to start their own business. Under Orphans Girls Marriage Program, 13 girls were married and facilitated with a complete package of dowry. See Projects
5. Food Security and Nutrition
Agriculture is the primary source of income for the majority of the population in Pakistan. Despite the overall surplus of food production at the country level, food insecurity and malnutrition are deep-rooted, chronic challenges in parts of Pakistan. These issues have been further exacerbated by man-made emergencies and natural disasters that have led to the loss of food stocks, standing crops, seeds and livestock, as well as price shocks. These factors significantly reduce vulnerable populations’ ability to produce or access sufficient and nutritious food supplies.
HDF has been extending assistance to households facing food insecurity in the State. HDF, therefore, provides food and nutrition assistance in emergencies in the form of large scale food distributions to allow households to meet their basic consumption needs for a minimum of one month.
5.1. Ramzan Package
In the month of Ramadan, we distributed Ramadan and Eid packages among the orphans and also a package of clothes for Eid. Each year we do this activity at the start of Ramadan with the help of different donors and partners.
5.2. Qurbani Program Since
Introduced a new idea to sustain the orphan in more efficient way. We identify the neediest orphans from registered orphans and they were selected to give goat with a goat child. This activity was done in three phases. In first phase we gave goat to our married orphan girl, after successful results 2 more orphans were given goat. At the end 10 children were distributed goat with a goat child.
As result of one year many families were successfully look after the goat and they get benefit like milk and birth of new goats.13 orphans were given goat at different time. See Projects
