Impression of a Visitor to the Karachi Project

By Naeem Qureshi

I visited the Khokharabad Kachi abadi School in Karachi during my recent visit to the City. I spent about an hour at the school and met the teachers and the health care workers. I also met the Preisident of the micro funding organization.

The school is housed in a house rented from a local member of Development Organization. There were three classes with about 50 students. The students sat on mats, which I was told was provided by the Parent Teachers body. I asked several questions of the students. I was impreseed by the zeal and enthusiastic response of the students. There was a gleem and hope in the eyes of the students. The emphasis I noticed was on practical aspect of learning similiar to what you would have in an american school.

I was happy that the emphasis was on self help of the community and the school will be self financed and functioning on its own after a period of five years.The residents of the area are taking real ownership of the school.

My time at the school was the most uplifting experience of my visit to Pakistan. I feel that my contribution is making a real difference in the lives of the children.

I did notice that there was an unguarded water pump in the school. A child may loose his or her fingers if the belt on the pump is not protected. I suggested to the school to provide a metal protection shield on the pump.

My other suggestion is that all contributors to HDFNA should be paired with children benfiting from their contributions so that ones can see whow lifes of childern are being changed for the better by their effort.

I also met with some of the receipient of the micro credit. Some these receipients have increased employment and had higher income. I was told that the recovery rate is over 98%.