What we have done?
Pakistan ranks very low in all human development indices. In addition, women have an inferior position in that patriarchal society. Poverty and ignorance are at the root of many of Pakistan's problems. It is known that primary education and primary healthcare are essential foundations in reducing poverty.
In partnerships with Pakistani civil society organizations, the Foundation has helped establish:
- 11 permanent self-sustaining primary co-educational schools with an enrolment of about 3,500 students. One more school is planned. All teachers are women. We help build one new school every year. Land is donated by the local community. Each school costs about $80,000. All schools follow the Government approved curriculum.
- 11 one-room one-teacher co-educational primary schools meant for the extremely poor. All expenses are paid by the Foundation. Each school costs about $1,200 a year to operate. About 300 students are enrolled.
- 1 out-patient medical clinic where about 80 patients per day receive treatment at very low fees.
- 2 one-to-three-room vocational training centres in which young girls and women learn traditional needlecraft and sewing. This training helps the invisible household economy. It requires about $6,000 as capital cost to establish one such vocational school, and $1,000 per year for operational expenses.
- 190 half-fee scholarships worth $2 per month for primary school students. Half of the recipients are girls.
- 2 primary school libraries. Each library costs approximately $1,000.