Grace Association Pakistan - Media & Press

The women in the remote rural areas, are mainly confined to household activities. Traditionally they have a very little role in direct income generation for the family. However, it is always felt that if the women also get an opportunity to support the family income, it could provide a great financial relief to the family. For this purpose, Grace Association Pakistan in coordination with Himalayan Green Club Japan established a vocational centre for women in April 2009 at Grace Public School Skardu. The centre was opened to train women of the Astana and neighboring villages in “Cutting and Sewing of Children and Women Dresses” The target women are generally poor and illiterate but it is clear just from watching them that they enjoy not just learning a new skill but the chance to be away from their housework, children and family in a different, supportive and friendly environment.
On completion of the 6 months training course a certification program was organized by Grace Program Office Skardu on November 17, 2009 at Grace Public School. 25 women were completed the training successfully. Two lady Instructors Ms Zakia Nisar Khan and Ms Zeban Muhammad were hired by Grace to train the women in the said course. All the women were very happy on their successful completion of the training.
The lady Instructor Ms Zakia Nisar Khadn at the event said that the trained women will use their learnt skills for their as well as for their family to boost up their economy. It will empower them in the society compare to their past. She thanked Grace Association Pakistan for providing this opportunity to enhance income generating skills for women of their remote villages.
A trainee representing all women said that they are highly interested in learning more skills in knitting and embroidery and many other women of the surrounding villages are looking for admission in this vocational centre. So, Grace Association should continue the centre in winter seasons as well.
Mr. Khadim Hussain Founder and Secretary Grace Association Pakistan stated that "this program was started in coordination with HGC Japan. It was just initiation towards establishing a Technical Training Institute (T.T.I) for women of the area. He further stated that GRACE is taking many other initiatives to make the society aware about the work of women and their important role to develop the society. He added that un-Employment is a global challenge but women can achieve self dependency and employment at their door steps through their skills enhancement. Ms Evelin Nommiste an Estonian Volunteer Lady working for GRACE said; I am very happy here working for women and I want to share my skills with you all. All 25 women were awarded certificates of successful participation in the 6 months training course in cutting and sewing of dresses.

GRACE WATER SUPPLY ASTANA SKARDU INITIATED, November 2009

Grace Association Pakistan begins implementation of the project: GRACE Water Supply Astana Skardu funded by Government of Japan Embassy in Pakistan on November 14 2009. The project costs Rs.7.23 Millions.
The project, which includes social empowerment of women, means gender mainstreaming in water and sanitation project and provision of safe drinking water to 1275 households of the local Astana Bala and Astana Paeen Communities including 667 displaced families from India Pakistan Border Areas during the Wars in 1965, 1971 and 1999.
A meeting of the elders of all 4 project villages conducted at Grace Program Office Skardu to discuss on term of responsibilities and to sign the Memorandum of Understandings. 26 village elders and clergy, local political representatives from all 4 project villages participated in the 2day meetings on November 15-16, 2009. A 9 members Village Water Committee (VWC) has been constituted earlier and the selected members were reconfirmed and verified in the meeting.
The MoU was signed by all village elders including Syed Muhammad Abbas Rzivi former member Gilgit Baltistan Assembly, Mr. Ghulam Nabi Advocate former Technocrat Member GBLA District Skardu and Wazir Ghulam Abbas Member District Council Skardu. In the signed MoU the VWC and Village Elders agreed to provide all unskilled labors for the project as community contribution; permanent water supply connections and required pipe stands for the dislocated populations colonies i.e Brolmo Colony and Gultary Colony. The Elders also agreed for establishment of Women Water Committees one in each project village. It has also been agreed that collection and management of tariff fee Rs.20/- per household per month would be done by the women water committees after project phase out for its sustainability. Capacities of the women water committees would be built by Grace Association through a 7day capacity building workshop to be held in near future.
Grace Association also carried out the social mobilization meeting series in all 4 villages for men and women separately. A Village Water Committee established in Brolmo Colony keeping in view the nature of work and need of the said colony. Members for Women Water Committees in each project village have been selected in the meetings.
The communities decided to start the digging and laying of pipe works when the materials are provided at project sites.
Grace Association is intending to complete 50% of the project works during the winter season because during spring and summer the poor men folk work in the market for daily wages to meet their needs

GRACE Holds Polling Workshops for Women, November 2009

Prior to the Gilgit Baltistan Legislative Assembly Elections 2009, GRACE gave its contribution to the conduction of fair and free elections by holding two polling workshops for women.
The workshops were held on November 10 in Brolmo Colony Madrassa and November 11 in Kwardu Al`Zahra Girls Middle School. The first days workshop was attended by approximately 80-90 village women, the second days workshop had around 40-50 participants.
On previous elections in the region nearly half of the votes cast by women have been declared invalid due to low awareness on proper way to stamp the ballet paper. The most common mistakes made by women in stamping in previous elections have been stamping on the lines and double-stamping. Women are also often being mislead by opposing parties agents to vote for a candidate they did not choose themselves.
GRACE was trying to reduce the number of invalid ballet papers in these elections by showing village women the proper way to stamp their ballet papers. GRACE Public School teachers Aneela, Maryam, Tahira, Samina and GRACE volunteer Ms Evelin Nõmmiste were demonstrating to the gathered women with the help of a stamp and copies of polling cards, how to stamp the card in a proper way. The women also had a chance to practice the stamping of polling cards themselves.
As part of the workshop, women also had the possibility to address their questions and concerns to GRACE. Discussions with village women revealed that the awareness about free and fair elections is very low. Many women go to the polling stations just because it is a tradition and they vote for candidates as advised by their husbands. GRACE sensitized them to voice up for their rights and also for their problems when parties´ representatives come to their villages.
The impact of the workshop was quick and wonderful. The women attended the poling workshop did not make any foul vote this year as reported by the poling station agents while talking with Grace Association members. While during previous election, 20% of the women votes were counted in foul votes at the same poling station.

GRACE Receives US$90262 Grant from Government of Japan for Water Supply Project, November 2009

GRACE received a grant from the Government of Japan for a water supply project to provide safe drinking water through the provision of water supply system to the residents of Astana Bala, Astana paeen, Gultri colony and Brolumo colony in Skardu.
The grant of US$90262 for the project “Female Social Empowerment through 4 Kilometers Potable Water for Displaced People Astana Skardu” was received under the Government of Japan Official Development Assistance program “Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects”. The agreement was signed between H.E Mr. Chihiro Atsumi, the Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan and GRACE Chief Executive Officer Wazir Shamshad Hussain in the Embassy of Japan in Islamabad on November 4, 2009.
The overall objective of the project is to improve the quality of life of the displaced population, particularly women and female children by providing clean drinking water to all of the 12750 populations in the target villages. This will be achieved by the installment of 4 kilometers main pipelines that can fulfill the water need of the entire population of the villages. The provision of safe drinking water at their doorstep will reduce the workload of women and girls, who are currently spending around 5-6 hours every day to bring water from a long distance. Furthermore, it will contribute to the social empowerment of women by mobilizing them in water management committees and enhance their participation in socioeconomic development activities. The anticipated outcome would be increased awareness and involvement of women in home based economic activities and the enrollment of girls in school which will positively impact female literacy, participation and empowerment. Consumption of safe drinking water will also improve the general health conditions of the communities, reducing the incidence of water born diseases, infant mortality and morbidity.
At the signing ceremony the Ambassador H.E Mr. Chihiro Atsumi expressed his great appreciation for GRACE `s efforts to improve the living standards of disadvantaged communities in remote areas of Pakistan and showed his interest to continue working with GRACE also in the future. He emphasized that this project would contribute to further strengthening of the friendly relations between Japan and Pakistan. Mr. Khadim Hussain Founder Grace Association Pakistan and the CEO of GRACE, Wazir Shamshad Hussain expressed their gratitude for Japanese assistance in community development activities in Pakistan, especially in disadvantaged regions like Baltistan. He invited the Ambassador to visit Skardu that he accepted.
The Government of Japan also provided financial assistance for construction of GRACE Public School Skardu in 2008.

South Waziristan IDPs Need Our Help! October 2009

Displacement from Waziristan
On October 17th, the Pakistan Army also launched a military operation in South Waziristan. Communication lines in the conflict area have been cut off since that time. Thousands of inhabitants of the conflict-affected areas continue to flee to neighboring districts including Dera Ismail Khan and Tank in the southern area of North West Frontier Province and are taking refuge in with friends and family in local communities. The UN reports that 100,000 new internally displaced people (IDPs) have reached Dera Ismail Khan and Tank. More than 80,000 people had already been taking refuge in these areas since May, displaced by smaller outbreaks of conflict, including from North Waziristan.

GRACE response

Members of GRACE report that Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from Waziristan can only sustain themselves for a short time with very limited provisions that they have been able to carry with them so that basic relief assistance is required. The meeting of minimum water, sanitation and hygiene requirements is a major problem putting people's health at risk. With the winter season setting in, shelter and heating will also become an increasing concern.

GRACE members in the IDPs camp areas looking to help them by their own resources, however any support from relief the security situations and appropriate security measures are being taken with staff and partners. GRACE has good expertise in the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene sector and have extensive experience working for IDPs conflict-affected areas. Dependent on external support, GRACE has the potential to mobilized hygiene kits, basic family non-food item kits and blankets for 5,000 families. In addition, GRACE hopes to provide safe drinking water to hundreds of IDPs through communal hand pumps, along with sanitation support through latrines, bathing places and washing points.

GRACE Request WHO for Rehabilitation of PWDs in FANA
Daily K-2 - May 23, 2008

Japan funds Grace Public School
Weekly Baad Shumal - May 12, 2008

Grace Association requested Himalayan Green Club Japan for construction of building for this school. Now, Ministry of Foriegn Affairs (MOFA) Japan funds to construct the building and school is constructing under execution of HGC and School Management Committee. School provides basic and co-education to displaced and other deprived children. A signifcance of this school is inclusive education where about 15 children with diverse abilities are getting education inclusively. Grace Association plans to admit more children with disabilities establishing model of inclusive learning friendly environment in the school.