Citizens and state officials collaborate for a cause

A report envisaging the role of the Sindh Home Dept’s collaboration with NGOs highlighted relief activities.

KARACHI: A report envisaging the role of the Sindh Home Department’s collaboration with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and volunteers for flood relief was prepared by the Consultant on Home Affairs, Sharafuddin Memon. It highlighted relief activities conducted by NGOs such as the Women’s Development Foundation, the Rotary Club of Karachi, Happy Home School and Murshid Hospital.

Volunteers from the Women’s Development Fund and the Rotary Club are running four literacy centres for adult women and an informal school for young children at a camp for flood survivors in Hawke’s Bay. Over a hundred women and twenty five children have already been admitted to the educational programme. Besides basic literacy skills, the curriculum includes a personal care and grooming component and tutorials on searching for employment.

Students from Happy Home School raised funds, bought books and stationery and volunteered as teachers in relief camps around Hawke’s Bay and Sher Shah. The school’s administration provided support and training and its sports staff facilitated physical education programmes in addition to the regular curriculum.

Volunteers also initiated a health and hygiene programme with the assistance of the Home Department. Inhabitants of relief camps received personal hygiene kits including soap, combs, toothbrushes, toothpaste and other essential toiletries. The paramedical staff of Murshid Hospital assisted children, who were taught to wash their hands and maintain personal hygiene.

The report was sent to Sindh Home Minister Dr Zulfiqar Ali Mirza and foresaw a continued collaboration between the government and volunteers.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 27^th, 2010.