Hope Center / Gender Equality

Human Friends Organization has been constructing Hope Centers and Community Centers in the Christian dominated areas of Pakistan since 2016. The basic purpose of establishing such Hope Centers is to provide a communal place where the community can gather to utilize their time and energy in a productive manner. HFO provides construction material for such centers; whereas, the local community/congregation provides the land for the construction of these centers. After completion of the construction of the hope centers, an MOU signed stating the transfer of ownership to the local community. These centers are being used imparting education and skills.

KINSHIP

In our country number of Orphan, Semi Orphan and Street Children are found. Due to the deaths of HIV/AIDS/drugs affected persons, Re-marriage of widowed / divorce women, absence of love and security in the families, Family disputes, Unwanted pregnancy of Trafficking / Sexually exploited girls; these orphan and street children are left without care and support. These children are involved in rag picking; pick pocketing and participating in anti-social, criminal activities. Therefore, we envisage mainstreaming these children in the national building by providing care, support and protection in our KINSHIP HOUSE.

Goal:

Mainstreaming the Orphan, Semi Orphan and Street children in the national building by providing care, support & protection through shelter, food, and education is our goal.

How will this project solve this problem?

We have been identifying orphans & street children, pre-viewing, counselling & providing Lodging and boarding facilities for all inmates. We are arranging teaching facilities in nearby schools & providing home tuitions, health check-up, medicines, one set of books & 2sets of uniform every year. This proposal covers 50 orphans & street children. Every child is being provided with nutritional diet, indoor & outdoor recreation and play facilities and training in crafts and hobbies.

Potential Long-Term Impact

This project has potential & impact full in main streaming of orphans & street children. Their basic needs are met & they will get new life through gaining knowledge, vocational skills & life skills. They will get love & affection as if their parents provide. Their confidence level will increase & become good asset to the community. They are developed physically & psychologically & made as good & productive citizens. They will inspire by philanthropy & show humanity towards the community.

Project Message

Being inmate of this orphanage, I regained my birth. I obtained nutritious food, quality education resourceful life. I got love & affection through my colleagues & organizers in the orphan home.

Project Objectives:

• To provide orphan / semi orphan / street children, a childhood that they never experienced and help them to become useful members of the society.
• To encourage orphan / semi orphan / street children to kindle their potential by providing creative opportunities
• To make available a secure place where orphan / semi orphan / street children can play and enjoy their childhood.
• To provide basic education to orphan / semi orphan / street children.
• To provide such welfare services like free lodging, boarding, health and recreation
• To provide basic literacy and facilities for those who wish to study further
• To select and prepare for a vocation in order to live on their own legs
• To accomplishing physical, intellectual and aesthetic development of the child

Project Activities:

• Identification of orphan / semi orphan / street children
• Pre-view of the incoming orphan / semi orphan / street children problem/difficulties
• Emotional acceptance of the child
• Teaching facilities for basic education
• Teaching facilities for vocational courses and crafts.
• Lodging and boarding facilities for all inmates.
• Recreational facilities.
• Primary health.

WOMEN EMPOWERMENT / GENDER EQUALITY

From the last 11 years, HFO has been working for women empowerment in the remote areas of Kasur District. In Pakistan majority of women is uneducated, unskilled and considered as a burden on the family. The work of women that is being performed at home is not acknowledged by the men dominated society. The unfortunate feature of violence against women is its acceptance by majority of women as a regular part of their life. When HFO started this project, five villages were selected initially as targeted areas and we worked in 25 villages so far. In this program three types of groups have been established;

Women group

Community members group

Leaders’ group which comprises of political leaders, religious leaders and CSO’s.

Meetings with these groups have been arranged to achieve our goals such as gender equality, human rights knowledge, socio economic empowerment of women and freedom for women so they would be able to make their own decisions. HFO with the help of Group members and volunteers worked on a grass root level to raise awareness among women regarding women rights. Different activities were arranged such as seminars, theatres, dialogues, training of CSO’s and Trainings of Political and religious leaders in order to build the capacities of men and women of the targeted areas in close coordination with all the stakeholders. The members of the community in general are being capacitated with knowledge about women rights, human rights, women empowerment and violence against women through seminars and theatres. women & men are taking active part in all activities and have taken ownership for the program.

HFO has trained activists, teachers, social & political leaders and enhanced their capacity about women empowerment. This year HFO has started a new project, which is about peaceful coexistence in the Kasur District and with the help of existing groups we established new groups and working with them for peace promotion. We organized various activities like, trainings on conflict resolution, dialogues and sessions on human and women rights.

HFO will continue its efforts to sensitize the communities at large in realizing the importance of women for creating a just society.

Number of Beneficiaries catered in Women Empowerment Project

Year       Sewing Machines             Workshops and Sessions              

2007       10          490        

2008       10          351        

2009       10          502        

2010       10          362        

2011                       437        

2012                       515        

2013                       509        

2014                       482        

2015                       542        

2016                       421       

2017                       554        

2018                       225