DIL’s Caravan of Hope

Dear Mr. Siddiqui:

Bravo to both the men and women of DIL and to yourself for bringing this organization to the attention of Chowkies.

Incredible as it seems, 5 years of primary education for a child can be secured for $200. One may sponsor an entire school for $1000.

But how does one ensure that the schools have blackboards, chairs or benches or desks or libraries and most importantly that the children will have books and supplies?

Inshallah, a milk and lunch program will be considered.

Ras,

Thanks for the report on the DIL event on the west coast. Your description of the event reminded me of a similar event we had here on the east coast a month back (this was for SOS, which runs orphanages). Expatriate Pakistanis are certainly doing what they can to contribute positively, even if modestly, for poverty alleviation and education efforts in Pakistan.

Zafar

Is that you??? :-)

http://www.thefridaytimes.com/

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Sir,

Like many of your readers I am completely addicted to the ¡°Diary of a Social Butterfly¡±. It leaves Dallas Shallas for dead. I tried to search your site for past instalments, but was unable to unearth any archives. Can you tell me where to look? Should I keep my hopes up?

Zafar Al-Talib,

Sydney

No. We do not have archives at the moment -- Ed.

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Its a great thing to provide even one child access to education which he/she wouldnot otherwise have, and doing so for many thousand through 185 schools is quite a major effort. Thanks for this and hope to read more on the subject.

I have 1-2 questions, answers to which I couldn`t find on the DIL website.

Any particular reason for preferring nonformal education over formal education? What are thought to be relevant metrics for judging the effectiveness and utility of such norformal education? (just trying to understand, since this issue comes up in India too..)

What are the problems if any about community support for education, such as suppose these children help their parents earn, so first enrollment then drop outs are a problem? Are facts and figures about this compiled by the project monitors or by the NGO-on-the-ground so that new projects can be better judged?

What are general livelihood options among the people targeted by these efforts, does this education enhance livelihood opportunities in the locality they live in or preparedness for pursuing further education?

Ras, good job highlighting causes like this -- makes for such good reading instead of the usual bickering and endless name-calling we do here on Chowk :))

As for DIL, a fervent wish that woh dhadakta chala jaaye. Real tragedy that Pakistani qawaali singers spreading the message of peace should be dumped off planes. The whole way Bush`s America is handling the post 9/11 scene is disgraceful.

Whatever, keep up the good work.

I would love to help DIL out in the UK, or for that matter to expand it`s work in NWFP.

If Ras knows anyway of setting up a line of contact do tell.!

As a long time supporter of CRY (Child Relief and You) and ASHA for education it is wonderful to see similar projects undertaken in Pakistan !! Good luck to them.

hobbyty

You talk about a milk and lunch program. One of my patients last week was a twelve year old with fever and bone pains. Inquiry revealed her to be an orphan, supported by an older brother who earned 2000 rupees a month ($40). They couldn`t afford to buy her a glass of milk a day. Which wouldn`t have bothered me as much (there are enough like her to render people insentient) as when she refused to let me examine her. She thought it was immodest. (Try and imagine if you will a 23 year old pleading with a 12 year old to let him take her temperature and the latter shaking her child`s head in gentle refusal.)

I fervently hope you do come through with that milk and lunch programme.

Sincerely,

Aamir Ansari

Zakkk,

2nd that!

More later.

Umer M

rassaab

“Let us hope that this caravan of hope called DIL finds much wider support amongst the Pakistani Community worldwide”

….amen….

tahmadsaab:

“your description of the event reminded me of a similar event we had here on the east coast a month back (this was for SOS, which runs orphanages).”

….i had the pleasure of volunteering at a sos village in lahore with my school’s social club…it’s a truly amazing organization and is doing tremendous work for orphaned kids….from beautifully decorated dorms and classrooms to well equipped playgrounds to high-tech computer courses to marrying off the kids when they get older, you can’t but leave with a light heart and some hope for the future of pakistan….

Count me in

Rgds

Thanks for some positive feedback.

To contribute to DIL please visit the following:

http://www.4dil.org/html/contribute.asp

You can navigate through the site to find out who to contact and how you can help some poor children in Pakistan in their quest for an education.

The reason for writing such reports is to inform
others of such options and to encourage the people who are actually doing some great work.

Ras

Dr.Ansari,

I would advice you to refer such pts. [who refuse to be examined by a male Dr.] to a female practioner, or if that is not possible, at least have a female nurse in the room.It is after all ethical practice to do so.

Rgds,

sa:)

Ras Saheb,

Sincerity of your initiative is beyond question. As I stated you can count me in, in any way I can contribute.

However, some basic questions remain. Do you really think giving handouts to the needy children will change their lives? You can give a few children basic primary education but you can`t give enough for them to stand on their own two feet and gain a livelihood. You will only raise their expectations for a better future which will make them misfits in their own environment, because they would then expect to compete with the social strata above them, but will fail. That`s the prime difference I have with NGO`s. They give handouts for sustenance but do not attempt to make qualitative change in society.

To transform a society, one needs to study the Agha Khan Rural Devlopment Programme, what it achieved and where it failed. The programme succeeded in providing primary education for all children, eradicated crushing poverty and resulting social evils, provided clean water and living standards in the areas it operates i.e. primarily the Gilgit/Hunza valleys. However the kids when they grow up still drive taxis.

Why is that ? I believe we`re emotional about children and want to help them in all sincerity, however when the same children grow up they lose our attention. We don`t think where will they go after they have had clean water and a primary education. We just turn our attention to the next crop of children. While the earlier ones turn into taxi drivers or waiters for trendy restaurants in Karachi because they can speak English. They actually had so much potential which all went to waste. I expect you know every little child in Hunza speaks English fluently but what good is that if they still have to work as menial labour?

The answer lies in complete social change. The well wishers of the children as yourself and others in your organisation must make attempts in the political arena of Pakistan where if you gain strength, a qualitative change can be made.

Pakistan is not a poor country. Nor is it a weak one. Its only who is running the affairs at the helm. I firmly believe Pakistan is able to not only take care of all its citizens but also raise them to standards which they truly deserve and expect.

We all love our children. To help them, NGO`s is not the answer, political power is; which overseas Pakistanis have never attempted but are immensely capable of doing. Overseas Pakistanis have been looking towards the homeland after they left and miss it, and they say how many wrongs are being done and all that, so they try in any way they can. But let me say its misguided. Overseas Pakistanis must be more involved in the political developments in this country as they are the most patriotic of them all.

Regards

zeemax

very valid points

Amir Ansari

In my opinion, the school milk and lunch program will not fund will become feaseable with donations from persons in the US.

Ignorance, especially, ignorance that is supported by religious obscuritanists is a cancer eating Pakistani society. in my opinion, we cannot begin to make a dent in the hold the obscuritanists have gained, without education.

Zeemax

Will you please give us more details on the Agha khan development model?