Atiya Khan - Vice Chair – HDF Board of Director
August 27, 2008

Believe It Or Not

HDF Launches Free Knowledge Access For All in Pakistan

The Human Development Foundation (HDF) is launching an innovative initiative about knowledge dissemination in Pakistan: education, literacy, business skills, community mobilization, basic health skills, and vocational skills.

The new project HDF is launching in Pakistan is called Digital Study Hall (DSH). DSH uses digital video to disseminate targeted knowledge and skills training. The best practices of experts in different fields are captured on digital video, and these DVDs are provided to schools and other institutions.

The best part is that these videos will be made available on the Internet for anyone to download, free of charge.

I am proud to tell you that, within the next few years, this new initiative will bring about a revolution in knowledge dissemination.

The best experts and teachers not only use the most effective teaching methods in a culturally relevant context, but also inspire students, get them excited about learning, expand their horizons, and provide better economic opportunities.

Great teachers are usually available only to a few fortunate people who can afford to pay high tuition rates. DSH video will expand and democratize their reach to much larger audiences, thereby massively increasing their impact.

The DSH model will have dual benefits of being:

1) An effective student study aid
2) A teacher training aid

The first HDF pilot program of DSH will cover four (4) topics:

1) Children’s Education
2) Basic healthcare training (example: basic hygiene)
3) Social mobilization (example: how to train and educate communities in     self help)
4) Vocational training (example: basic plumbing skills, electrician skills)

This first step may seem modest, but it is a critical step toward HDF’s developmental goals.

Such an achievement would mark a milestone in the history of Pakistan and would sow the seeds of a revolution in knowledge attainment opportunities for the people of Pakistan.

Yes, all this by HDF, the organization that ten years ago introduced the idea of an integrated model of development in the rural areas of Pakistan With your support and the hard work of the people carrying out the projects on the ground, HDF has been successful.

Imagine the impact it will have on our future generations, who will be getting the best education possible. This project will allow them to compete with the rest of the world and advance rapidly, helping our country leap ahead of other developing countries.

I am so excited about this project, and I hope that you now are too!

GO HDF!

If you like help financially or with your time & specific expertise, then please send an
email to: helpdsh@hdf.com.

If you are a blogger or press person and like to get more information then please:
Email to Shahid Khan: skhan33@gmail.com
Call Shahid Khan: +1.650.740.5527