Central Asia Institute (CAI) raises funds for Pak-Afghan education development
DALLAS: The social welfare organization Central Asia Institute CAI that has established several schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan held a fund raising dinner today in a local hotel in Dallas.
The function was attended by hundreds of prominent persons including the Hollywood stars and civil award recipients from Pakistan government.
The famous Hollywood actress Jean Davis said that it was only through education that the social vices can be eradicated. She said that ignoring someone was biggest enmity. As such, it was necessary to help the downtrodden and underdogs of the society.
The founder of the organization said that his mission was that through education he should make the oppressed people as the best citizens of the society.
He said that at present troops from 45 countries was stationed in Afghanistan. If compared it means that 2,60,000 coalition soldiers were braced against 35,000 Taliban.
He asserted that through war peace can never be brought about. It was therefore necessary that the money spent on war should be diverted to education. If so is done, it will bring about a revolution in Afghanistan.
On this occasion other speakers also expressed their views. Those who spoke included Michel Raddy, Danny penny, Naeem Randhawa, Bapsi Sidawa, Sadia Ashraf and others. They praised the services of the CAI founder that it was a big honor for America that he as American received Pakistan’s biggest civil award.
The guests were presented books of Greg Mortenson that are necessary for the troops positioned in Afghanistan and the officers of the foreign Relations Committee to read. The GEO TV film Khuda key liay was also presented to the attendees of the function.
In the end, a group of musicians consisting of both Pakistani and American singers sung Qawwali. The function was attended by the popular leaders and businessmen and from other walks of life.
Originally Published by Geo News
Institute of Women Development Chitral (IWDC): IWDC is sustainable capacity building institute working only for women community especially for deprived, depressed and economically marginalized segment of society. In this institute illiterate and educated girl, women and poverty ridden members of community are enrolled and professionally developed in the arts of sewing, designing, cutting and other relevant disciplines which have market demand in present day. Trained candidates of this institute works in various organizations as master trainers establish their own business and their dependency on male counterparts diminishes. Those candidates who can’t afford purchasing kids and financially weak to establish their own business support are provided to them by IWDC so that their non-accessibility to finance could not impede their professional skill. Poor of the poor are identified and focused and brought at par with others. No fee are collected from the candidates learning skills from the institute but the whole operating cost of the organization is collected by selling products prepared by the trainees of the organization. Main office and training centre located at Chitral and outreach of the organization is limited to the catchment area while the capacity building is needed in every nook and corner of Chitral as the only source of women emancipation from economic dependency and vulnerability. To bring all potential and desired candidates in the net of skill development IWDC embarked upon ambitious plan of women capacity building in district Chitral. The plan is to provide training and skill development of the girls/women living in scattered valley of district Chitral.
Poverty Reduction/alleviation Project: Poverty reduction through women economic empowerment by income generating projects is the core aim of the organization. As it has been realized that most vulnerable segment of our society are women community. Their total percentage in whole population is 52% while their participation in economic activities is only 5%. Remaining 95% women are dependent on their male counter parts for their livelihood and dependency results decrease in per-capita income and poverty as well as some social issues. Female literacy rate, and education is increasing yet the link between education and income generation is un-satisfactory and un-helpful due to defective/unproductive education system in the area. Mostly educated girls look for traditional jobs in the market and owing to limitation of vacancies majority of them are unemployed and extremely prone to poverty line.
IWDC realized the grim situation and started mega capacity building program for women in local crafts so that women participation in production sector is enhanced as well as tradition of cottage industries is also ensured in the area. After completion of the training the candidates are provided with training kit and certificate so that the trained candidates work as trainers at village level and this circle continue till engagements of all women community in business and income generating activities. So far 60 candidates (Girls) attended the training/courses offered by IWDC and they are earning income from the products manufactured by them.
Usually products like, Sweater, Baby dress, artistic work, and Bead work and other handicrafts and embroidery are manufactured by the trained women. These products are sold and the women producers earn income which decrease women dependency ratio and poverty level. IWDC office located at proper Chitral and mostly, candidates belong to surrounding village’s avail of the opportunity. Accessibility to outreach areas is not possible on the basis of financial constraints and logistic support.
IWDC aspire to inculcate all the potential candidates in the net of capacity building program but due to resource constraints the long-run goal of the organization has not been realized. There are candidates from outreach areas deserving the training program but their accessibility to the center results financial burden for IWDC. Hence neglecting large population from opportunity due to resource constraints will be serious betrayal with the destiny of the target group is poverty stricken deprived and disadvantaged women community of Chitral.
If the women community spread in surrounding villages of Chitral is inserted in the program it will cost a sum of Rs1.25 Million plus volunteer services and contribution. But the benefit of the project would be of magnificent in terms of poverty reduction, women empowerment, decreasing dependency ratio of women community and comprehensive participation of women in economic development as well as production sector. Through economic development and financial stability we can contribute in many constructive social, political and harmonious changes and stability in the area. Number of beneficiary is 400 including potential women from surrounding villages and continue for future.
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