FOCUS MIRPUR & AJK muslimhands.org.uk | +44 (0) 115 911 7222 CEO MESSAGE Contents S U M M A R Y O F A J K P R O J E C T S 4 E D U C AT I O N & T R A I N I N G 6 I am pleased to present to you the Muslim Hands W AT E R P R O J E C T S 10 Focus Mirpur & AJK Campaign booklet. H E A LT H 14 Formally established only a year ago, the Mirpur Office has already shown encouraging results in F O O D & N U T R I T I O N 16 reaching those in need and improving lives across the district of Mirpur and beyond. E N V I R ON M E N T 18 H O W Y O U C A N H E L P 19 The tremendous success of this office is a testament not only to the dynamic team of young men and women who have worked voluntarily and relentlessly since the establishment of the office, but a credit to the generosity of the Mirpuri community in Kashmir and here in the UK. Moreover, MH Mirpur has from the outset, focused on delivering aid though strong partnerships with grass-roots community groups, the Government and the private sector. Not only does this reduce duplication and wastage – evidence shows that only such partnerships can produce lasting change. May Allah reward all those who have made this work possible. The rapidly expanding Safe Drinking Programme, which has already seen 16 modern water filtration plants installed across Mirpur in less than a year has been the most prominent intervention made my MH Mirpur – however, much good work has been done in the areas of education, medical care and environmental protection to name but a few. This report highlights some of the work already completed. Despite the successes there is still much work to be done, and many of the problems that require immediate attention are complex and difficult. By Allah and with your support we are confident we can make a positive impact. I hope therefore, you will take a few moments of your precious time to read the report and join us in this much needed endeavour. H A D I T H The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ The believers shade on the Day of Resurrection will be his charity” Syed Lakhte Hassanain (Al Tirmidhi) Chairman W A T E R & S A N I T A T I O N Summary Water and Sanitation is another prime focus of Muslim Hands in AJK. MH has Azad Jammu and Kashmir lies between taken initiatives to improve water quality & sanitation standards. longitude of 730 - 750 and latitude of 330 - MUZAFFARABAD 360 and comprises an area of 5134 Square The organization sets targets and indicators to MH School of Escellence meet Sustainable Development Goals Miles (13297 Square Kilometres). 3 MH Model Schools The topography of the area is mainly hilly Techincal Training Center (SDGs)-Goal 3 among sets of SDGs that BHUs,Medical Camps,Rehabilitation Centre and mountainous with valleys and stretch- include sustainable water security, Medical Camps/Dispensary es of plains. Azad Kashmir is full of natural Ramadan Food Program committing to achieve universal access to clean water and basic sanitation beauty with thick forests, fast flowing rivers Qurbani Package Ramadan package/Food Package and winding streams. The main rivers are overarching goal of WASH improvement, Jehlum, Neelum and Poonch. The climate is BAGH Qurbani Package poverty alleviation, maternal & neonatal health improvement as per sub-tropical highland type with an average Winter Response yearly rainfall of 1300 mm. The elevation School of Excellence international standards. from sea level ranges from 360 meters in Ramadan Food Program KOTLI the south to 6325 meters in the north. The Qurbani Package 6 MH Model Schools and VTC H E A L T H C A R E snow line in winter is around 1200 meters above sea level while in summer, it rises to MIRPUR Clinic-Lab and BHU Health is fundamental to human 3300 meters. development. All people, regardless of For more than 22 years, MH is striving to Ramadan Food Program Rehabilitation of 3 Public School social status, consistently rank good health provide quality services to the vulnerable 13 Water Filtration Plants Qurbani package as a top priority, and healthy people are and deprived communities in terms of Ramadan Packages critical to sustaining societies. It is education, safe drinking water, quality Ambulance Service Qurbani Package therefore not surprising that out of 17 health services, betterment of environment Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Plantation(1000 Trees) Rehabilitaion center for physically Disabled and reaching out to the unreached during any Goal 3 directly relates to health. The SDG emergency situations. Street Child Program (Football and Cricket Academies) BHIMBER Goal -3 ensuring healthy lives and Washroom Facilities promoting the well-being for all at all ages BHU Ghazi Gurha is essential to sustainable development. E D U C ATIO N & T R A I N I N G Free Life Saving Drugs at DHQ Hospital Muslim Hands Health initiatives in AJK 3MH Model Schools Muslim Hands is striving to provide includes BHUs, Pharmacies, Eye Camps and 1994 - 2015 general medical camps. sponsored access, equity and quality of Free Eye Camps education services for deprived and poorest H O W Y O U H A V E H E L P E D communities of AJK through its prominent E N V I R O N M E N T Model Schools and Schools of Excellence. Provided 50,000 families with essential food items. Recognising the adverse effects of climate Mirpur Muslim Hands under “Rehabilitate a change, Muslim Hands stepped forward & School Program” influences the public Provided medical treatment to over 3,77,362 beneficiaries proposed to design and develop environment sector schools to rehabilitate, rebuild and protection/climate change programs. This included upgrade the existing ones to improve the Provided almost 50,000+ children with education. activities such as planting a 1,000 pine plants each educational standards. Provided Eye Treatment to year for the local community of AJK. To Under this program MH rehabilitated three 5,174 beneficiaries with 734 provide them healthy environment, the Cataract Removal Surgeries. public sector schools in Mirpur AJK by following objectives were considered: constructing new classrooms, provision of Provided Cleft lip/Palate Repair Treatment to 5000+ beneficiaries • Conservation, protection and rehabilitation of furniture, stationary and uniforms for the with 1372 surgeries. the environment. orphan and needy children . Provided Gynae Treatment to 642 • Improve extreme weather conditions and So far in the last 22 years, 50,000+ children female beneficiaries through Gynae Camps. stabilizing environmental degradation and soil have benefited from Muslim Hands erosion. Education Program in AJK PRIMARY SCHOOL B-2 MIRPUR 12 Model Schools Kotli | Bhimber | Dadyal | Leepa & Patika Muslim Hands is providing quality education services to deprived rural communities in far flung areas of AJK through its 6 model Before schools situated in Tehsil Charhoi and Sehnsa in District Kotli, 1 school in Dadyal, 2 model schools in district Bhimber, 2 in Leepa Valley & 1 in Village Patika district Muzaffarabad. PRIMARY SCHOOL B-2 MIRPUR 3600+ students are given quality education at MH model schools in AJK. Schools of Excellence Rawalakot | Bagh MH schools of excellence in Bagh and Rawlakot AJK are facilitating 550+ students including orphans and needy in terms of After quality education and extra curricular activities. These schools provide following STATISTICS OF SCHOOLS IN AJK value added services to orphan and needy pupils:- • Free education Rehabilite • Free meals & lunch boxes • Free medical check up a school for • Free uniform (twice a year) Educating 43% of children (age 5-16) not in school • Free Transportation (If Required) Orphans & Needy £5000 88% without electricity 40% schools without buildings For over 20 years, Muslim Hands has been striving and community involvement, to construction of to improve both access to basic education and the schools and extra-curricular activities, our schools quality of education amongst the poorest people in have set exemplary standards. the world. Today, we run prominent schools in 18 75% have no drinking water While in our early days we sponsored children to countries catering for 25,000 students in need. go to school, we found that, unfortunately, the Alhamdulillah, every year we are seeing fantastic schools which they could access were often as success stories, not only in academic achievement, deprived as the neighbourhoods in which they were but also in how our school children are using their located. We had limited ability to influence the education to break out of poverty. 73% Schools don’t have toilet facilites schools and improve the educational standards. SCHOOL KIT FOR With your support we have been building more So, in 1997 we began establishing our own schools schools year on year, as well as expanding and and focused heavily on offering a high level of upgrading the existing ones. Here is a brief look £30 education. Fifteen years on, from teacher training at some of those improvements. 19% of schools in AJK operate within a single room 14 15 Livelihoods SUPPORTING AND INVESTING IN In Kotli AJK, we are training 70+ female on sewing and knitting, so they can establish their own SKILLED DEVELOPMENT AND TECHNICAL small scale business on a domestci level. By doing VOCATIONAL CENTERS IS PART OF OUR so they can also help other women by engaging LIVELIHOOD PROJECTS them in their business. We aim to help increase the income of lower This training has helped to drastically increase middle classes by skilled development at out the income of the families, ensuring they are technical training centers.