Manzar Family Fund (MFF)
Manzar Family Fund (MFF) has sponsored various projects under our Education, Health and Sustainable Environment programs for nearly a decade. To promote education among the less privileged communities, the sponsored projects of MFF have included HDF schools in Rahim Yar Khan, Karachi, Mardan and Tando Muhammad Khan Regions where the current enrollment has reached around 1600 students.
Furthermore, in 2017 the MFF funded projects which increased access of people to safe drinking water. The projects include installation of water filtration plants in Rahim Yar Khan and Tando Muhammad Khan Regions. A water filtration plant has been successfully installed in a Government High School in Rahim Yar Khan, while installation of the other in Madina Colony is still in progress. Moreover, installation of a filtration plant at a HDF Secondary School in Tando Muhammad Khan is also currently in progress.
HDF Swat Relief Initiative (SRI) Project
The second phase of the SRI project began in June 2013 and is scheduled to be completed by June 2019.This year, the capacity level of the project staff was further developed through trainings in social mobilization, human resource and procurement, reporting formats and advocacy. More seminars were held to raise awareness among the population about issues, such as dengue virus and nutrition. Healthcare services were provided to around 2,000 families during 2017. 90% of children were immunized, 100% of women had antenatal and postnatal checkups, while skilled birth attendants successfully handled 98% deliveries. Under this project, the infant mortality rate of the area has been reduced to 18/1000 live births and the under-five mortality rate to 22/1000 live births. Moreover, no maternal death was reported during 2017.
Ghazi Minara Project
Started in 2014, this project in Sheikhupura has been sponsored by individual donor Dr. Shahid K Chaudhary.
The CHC under this project has been equipped with relevant facilities for its smooth and proper functioning. The center has initiated preventive healthcare and treated 2,356 patients up to 2017. Two infant deaths out of eighty nine live births were reported during 2017. In addition, strong coordination with community and health groups regarding preventive health care activities in the area has been developed. Mobile medical camps were held to extend outreach and facilitation to the community, particularly for mother and child healthcare. Also, the three installed water filtration plants have been effectively meeting the people’s need for clean drinking water.
The solid waste management system developed for households is being executed successfully. Waste bins have also been placed to ensure proper disposal of solid waste. A “Street Cleaning” campaign was launched as well to ensure cleanliness in village streets and in the sewerage channels.
The VDOs have been focusing on developing their youth’s future. Community meetings identified unemployed youth by mutual consultation of the VDO members and provided them with technical trainings. Over the course of the year, targets of Village Development Plans were achieved by the VDOs. Capacity building of the VDOs was also carried out. This included disaster management training with Rescue 1122, Basic CMST and Advance CMST.
Nazar 2020
Nazar 2020 was launched by the late HDF supporter, Saqlain Khan, in 2017 to help level the playing field and provide hope for a brighter future for kids with vision impairment. Today his wife, Alia Khan, is continuing the partnership with the Human Development Foundation and is looking forward to expanding the program to ensure equitable access to eyeglasses throughout Pakistan. Nazar 2020 program aims to improve the quality of life and learning for kids by providing better vision care in schools across Pakistan.
In 2017, HDF donor Saqlain Khan rallied four friends to support the initial Nazar 20/20 pilot project. Their visit to Pakistan included testing nearly 1,000 students in grades 6-10, revealing alarming results. During the initial round of eye exams, 24% of students received immediate glasses to address visual impairments, while 6% were referred to a charity hospital for further assistance due to more complex impairments.
Recognizing the life-changing impact of the program on these children, Khan realized the widespread need for assistance among students. He advocated to the HDF board for the inclusion of the Nazar 2020 program in their outreach initiatives.
By 2019, during Khan’s subsequent visit to Pakistan, 7,000 HDF students underwent vision tests, with approximately 25% receiving glasses on the spot. Additionally, 2,500 students from non-HDF schools were tested, resulting in the provision of over 400 pairs of glasses and referrals for 125 students to a local hospital.
In 2021, Saqlain and his wife, Alia, signed an MOU with HDFPK to establish an endowment for the Nazar 2020 program. The income generated from this endowment enables the continued operation of the Nazar 2020 program. Currently, the program has partnered with the Education Department in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) region to involve 97 government schools spanning primary, middle, and secondary levels, encompassing a total enrollment of 10,183 students. To date, the Nazar 2020 program has screened 17,000 students in 112 schools.
As the Nazar 20/20 program's impact continues to expand throughout Pakistan, it's crucial to recall its humble beginnings. Saqlain Khan emphasized the importance of initiating noble causes, stating, "If you have an idea, especially one aimed at a noble cause, just begin. People will step in to support you."
Indeed, countless lives have been forever transformed.
Muhammad Sheikh Village
In 2018, the Washington D.C. Network took a leap of faith by adopting the Muhammad Sheikh Village which is in the district of Tando Muhammed Khan.
With donations raised in 2018 and 2019, the
network installed 40 hand pumps, built 40 latrines, created a village of
cleanliness program, provided preventative healthcare, rehabilitated the ghost
government school and most importantly purchased a piece of land for the future
HDF Primary School in Muhammad Sheikh Village.
The primary school will educate 253 children between the ages of 5-9-year-olds and prepare for the arrival of 424 children who are 0-5 years-old. The new school will have 6 classrooms, a computer lab and a playground. It will also have a boys and girls bathroom, a water-filtration system and a boundary wall. The water filtration system will be built into this boundary wall, allowing students to access clean water on the inside during the day and the community members to access clean water on the outside.
Once the remainder of the funds have been secured, construction can begin on the school. The network is hoping to open the school in the fall of 2020. Anyone who would like to contribute towards the construction of the school or would like to adopt a child for the 2020 academic year can contact the HDF office at info@hdf.com.
The installment of this new school is only the
second step in the five-year journey to making a healthy community. The final
objective is to achieve these six goals by 2023:
1. Reduce
poverty in the village from 40% to 20%.
2. Improve
literacy rate from 20% to 100%.
3. Increase
child school enrollment from 55% to 100%.
4. Increase
safe drinking water from 20% to 100%.
5.
Improve proper sanitation systems from 40% to
100% for households.
6.
Improve nutrition for children and mothers and
100% immunization.