JOINING FORCES TO PROVIDE BOOKS TO CHILDREN IN PAKISTAN

Houston, Texas.- Rotary Books for the World Project, The Second Wind Foundation, and the Hashoo Foundation, and  Rotary Club of Islamabad Margalla signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) during the Rotary Books for the World Booklegger Summit held in January 2011, joining forces to provide needed books to girls and boys in Pakistan.

Under this program books, educational materials, and other material are donated without charge and shipped to participating parties at various locations in the world.

The books are a charity donation by USA and Canadian citizens to aid literacy efforts in Pakistan. Second Wind and Rotary Books for the World is the network by which these donations are transferred from the donors to the Hashoo Foundation and the Rotary Club of Islamabad Margalla, who agree to distribute the books to the selected schools and institutions across Pakistan without charge.

Many adults and children have limited access to books due to their scarcity in Pakistan . Most poor Pakistani children and young adults want to learn English to improve their education and help their families break the vicious cycle of poverty. These books will bring positive changes, hope and encouragement to all who use them.

Cristal Montañéz Baylor, Executive Director Hashoo Foundation USA, Charlie Clemmons, President Second Wind Foundation and Barbara Clemmons, Secretary Second Wind Foundation

According to Cristal Montañéz Baylor, Executive Director Hashoo Foundation USA, “the books donated by Rotary  Books for the World Project will be a great resource for both students and teachers. These books will help promote literacy and education in Pakistan at the same time encourage intercultural awareness, collaboration, and understanding. These factors underscore a positive relationship between the US and Pakistan at time when the two countries continue to develop their strategic alliance.”

Promoting Literacy and Education in Pakistan

On April 26, 2011, Rotary Books for the World Project and The Second Wind Foundation shipped a forty-foot ocean freight container filled with approximately 20 tons from the Port of Houston destined to Pakistan.

The Second Wind Foundation has the administrative and financial responsibility for the Rotary Books for the World Project.

Video Clip Part 1                                      Video Clip Part 2

 

Books for Children in Pakistan               Hashoo Foundation Education Programs    

Link to video                                         Link to video

 

The Books Arrived!  -  Update from Hashoo Foundation Pakistan

Islamabad, Pakistan.- On June 30, 2011, the container carrying  thousands of books arrived in the Dry Port Islamabad. The Hashoo Foundation team was thrilled to receive the diversity of books including used school books, children’s reading books for girls and boys of all ages from toddlers through young adults and university textbooks.

Dr. Zahoor, Hasho Foundation Health Manager and member of the Rotary Club of Islamabad Margalla, said “we started sorting and categorizing the books on Friday, July 15, at the Umeed-e-Noor building with the help of 15 volunteers. The President, Ex Chairman and BOD members of the Rotary Club of Islamabad Margalla visited the site and inspected the books and education material. In the next two weeks, we plan to complete the sorting and make a joint action plan for distribution of books. We will report on the progress of this important program as it develops.”

The books will be distributed among the Hashoo Foundation Education  Programs, including Umeed-e-Noor - a center for girls and boys with multiple disabilities, other schools, institutions, colleges and universities.

“The future of any country lies in the education of its people. Quality education and literacy are greatly valued as the means by which individuals and communities can improve their lives and play an important role in reducing poverty and conflict risk in developing world,” expressed Ali Akbar, Hashoo Foundation Country Director.

Hashoo Foundation Education Programs 

Hashoo Foundation has established 13 primary schools throughout Pakistan that offer quality education to 1,563 enrolled students (66% male and 34% female) in very poor areas.  These schools are a viable alternative in the absence of public schools in these remote areas. 

More than 300 girls and boys with special needs are enrolled in Umeed-e-Noor. Our Youth Development Centers host 347 youth females and males who are getting access to quality education and learning soft skills, and our Human Development Centers provide vocational and professional training to over 8,000 young men and women.

Bahadur Shah, Parent of a Hashoo Foundation’s student in Reyonti, Murree, said, “It is hard to believe that there is still no Government school close to our village. The Hashoo Foundation School is a true blessing for our family, as we watch our kids blossom in this remote area which is still probably, unknown by many.”

 

# # # # #

Hashoo Foundation USA is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization leading the way in human development and poverty alleviation by implementing viable economic development, educational and capacity building programs. Hashoo Foundation is also focused on the needs of children with disabilities and provides care and support services to unprivileged and vulnerable members of society.
http://hashoofoundation.org/

Rotary Club of Islamabad Margalla
http://www.rotarydistrict3272.org/tag/rotary-club-of-islamabad-margalla

The Second Wind Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization which is the financial and management arm of the project. Trucking cost from the donor's site to the warehouse, from the warehouse to the port, the purchase of the containers, and the shipping are all expenses to the project. The project is funded by Second Wind through grants from the Rotary Foundation, donations and private grants-of-aid.
http://www.rotarybooksfortheworld.org/SecondWind.html

Books for the World
The USA effort has spread well beyond Texas in its tenth year. Rotary Clubs in sixteen states have contributed to the project. The number of the shipments over the years has increased from three per year to three per month. February, 2006 saw a dramatic increase in shipping capability when Mclean Cargo Specialists started hosting the shipments. McLean was a professional Freight Forwarder owned by Rotarian Angie Jimenez. Problems with paperwork which had troubled the project from its beginning have been solved by McLean. Mr. Jimenez has sold his business in 2008 and the new owners did not wish to donate their services as Mr. Jimenez did.
The Project is now hosted by Exel Corporation in its La Porte, Texas location. We have learned that a professional warehouse and shipper are necessities for the transport of donations-in-kind. Volunteers are absolutely necessary to make the project work but supervision of loading the containers and processing the paperwork needs to be professionally done. The Rotarians of District 5890 and 5910 have provided a reservoir of volunteer help at repackaging the books for optimum loading and shipping. Click here for information on the preparation of books for shipping.  The Rotarians at the Wisconsin and New York collection sites are particularly good at preparing the books for shipment.    http://www.rotarybooksfortheworld.org/USA.html

Books for the World Video
The Books for the World Project has distributed books to qualified institutions for over a decade now. More than 6 million books have been distributed.  

                                               Together we make a difference!

 

KUSUM WARSI’S REFLECTIONS - 2006 YOUTH AMBASSADORS TRIP TO THE NORTHERN AREAS OF PAKISTAN

A Life Changing Experience

Click to see more pictures

Youth Testimonials and Reflections. Working With HOAP Changed Our Lives…

Kusum Warsi
(…) “By working with HOAP and its affiliates, I learned how I can help people with my time, my mind and my smile.
The best way to help the oppressed is to work with HOAP. I highly recommend other youths in the US, Pakistan, and other countries to find ways to make things better in the world. The smallest change can make the biggest difference. And that I believe is HOAP’s main goal”.

Being born in Pakistan, people would think that I knew a lot about the country and its culture? But, the sad thing is that I didn’t, until I went to Pakistan over the summer to work with HOAP. At first, I really didn’t know what to expect once I got there, but it did surpass anything that I had ever thought it would be. Our first stop was in a tiny town called Besham, which wasn’t impacted very much by the earthquake, but still felt its effects. In Besham, we stopped at a prosthetics center. At the center, they tried to help people who needed legs, arms, etc. with the lack of supplies that they had.

Another stop we made was in Gilgit, which was a gorgeous little town, and the environment was a lot better than in Besham. They had many schools, “mini” hospitals, hotels, etc. In my opinion, I would label Gilgit as an up and coming city, in the middle of the mountains. While in Gilgit, we visited the HOAP’s Women Empowerment Center. At the women’s center we watched a cultural performance [a very interesting learning experience] including dances, comedy shows, dramas and etc. After the women’s center, we visited Zeena Health and Welfare Center, an orphanage, where we met many little children who threw us yet another culture show! The kids were delightful! After our stop in Gilgit, we went to Hunza, which had such gorgeous scenery. In Hunza, we went to a school for a few days and met with many girls and taught them English (grammar)/Math/Science (Health). We talked to a lot of the girls on a personal level, and listened to several of their stories. After Hunza, we went back to Islamabad.

From there we went to Karachi to the Broadening Horizons Youth Conference for a week. There we met many people from all over the country plus many others, including Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, United Arab Emirates, and many others. I learned a lot about other cultures and the differences and the similarities that we shared. It was a great experience. There were many other stops that we made, but it would be a very long paper to read because there’s so much to tell!

Many people ask me about this trip, and it’s hard for me to put it in words about how much I learned and the things that I gained by traveling to Pakistan. By working with HOAP and its affiliates, I learned how I can help people with my time, my mind and my smile. Being a student in the US put me at an advantage but also a disadvantage on this trip. By living in the US, for a lack of better words, people are spoiled. In Pakistan, you have to work for survival.

The best way to help the oppressed is to work with HOAP. I highly recommend other youths in the US, Pakistan, and other countries to find ways to make things better in the world. The smallest change can make the biggest difference. And that I believe is HOAP’s main goal.

ANNIE RUPANI’S REFLECTIONS - 2006 YOUTH AMBASSADORS TRIP TO THE NORTHERN AREAS OF PAKISTAN

A Life Changing Experience

Click to see more pictures

Youth Testimonials and Reflections. Working With HOAP Changed Our Lives…

Annie Rupani
(…) “That night when I went back to my hotel room, thoughts of the children consumed my mind. The experience made me thankful for what has been given to me. I finally understood what my parents were talking about when they spoke of poverty and how I take for granted the privileges and opportunities that are presented before me. This memory will stay in my heart and push me to do everything in my ability to make others aware of the poverty and destitution on the other side of the world. I believe my efforts, though minimal in the fight against poverty, have helped some people in the world”.

My life has fortunately been blessed with many opportunities that have helped shape who I am. These opportunities range from the extremely materialistic to some of the most intangible. While the material aspects such as financial stability and security have contributed to my development, I have been most impacted by the intangible. My trip to my homeland, Karachi, Pakistan, in the summer of 2006, drastically affected my perspective on life and helped me grow emotionally.

As my family and I arrived in Pakistan after a series of long flights, I first noticed the physical discrepancies from other, more developed nations; for instance, perfectly cemented highways and sky-scrapers are a luxury nowhere to be found in Pakistan. The second and most prominent difference I noticed was the disparity in the quality of life. While America boasts a strong middle class, in Pakistan the population is made up of two social classes. While, the first class consists of a very small and wealthy population, the other is made up of those who are amongst the most economically challenged in the world. This second group, of an estimated forty-two million people, faces an almost helpless battle to survive. However, even more disturbing is that the disparity between the classes is growing; the rich are finding more opportunities while the poor are finding it even harder to survive.

Seeing the streets flooded with the underprivileged from the lower economic class truly impacted my perspective of the world. While strolling along sidewalks lined with the most expensive houses, I would surprisingly notice beggars huddled around the front gates. The poor would jaywalk to cars and beg for money without fear for their lives, despite the utter chaotic traffic conditions. Additionally, I saw many people living in tremendously unsanitary conditions without adequate knowledge of the health risks they might encounter. What added to this painful sight was that the wealthier countrymen of Karachi were completely unsympathetic to the disparity of the unfortunate population. Not only have these disheartening characteristics of Karachi, Pakistan taught me to appreciate what I have, they have made me passionate about an extremely vital international concern: poverty.

AREEBAH AJANI’S REFLECTIONS - 2006 YOUTH AMBASSADORS TRIP TO THE NORTHERN AREAS OF PAKISTAN

A Life Changing Experience

Click to see more pictures

Youth Testimonials and Reflections. Working With HOAP Changed Our Lives…

Areebah Ajani
"I can't wait to grow older and once again return to Pakistan in hopes of helping the people there and bringing some of their vibrant culture and warm charisma to the West".

In the summer of 2006, HOAP provided three lucky girls from Houston Texas, Kusum Warsi, and Annie Rupani and I, Areebah Ajani, the opportunity to travel to the Northern Pakistan areas of Hunza, Gilgit, Shandoor, and Gupis, to not only serve as volunteers but to immerse ourselves in a fascinating cultural exchange. By traveling with HOAP officials to different HOAP sponsored facilities such as adult learning centers, prosthetics centers to help earthquake victims, and many schools, we were able to see the fresh new programs HOAP is developing to educate and mobilize the bright and talented people of those remote mountainous areas. Also we got the chance to use the skills we've acquired with our education in the West to spend two days teaching at a secondary school in Hunza. I personally taught English. It was a fantastic opportunity to interact with the many bright kids and see how many similarities we share. We also toured some of the Aga Khan Health facilities.

One of the most rewarding experiences was visiting Ceena Health and Welfare Center, an orphanage in Gilgit. We were entertained by the many talented kids there and had lots of fun learning the traditional dances. After a two week tour of the Northern Areas we traveled to Karachi to take part in the Aga Khan International Leadership Conference in Clifton. Once again we engaged with international youths from many different countries to discuss problems faced by an increasingly globalized world in need of leaders and proactive communication.

Those three weeks were one of the best experiences of my life and one I will keep with me in all my future endeavors.