Human Development Foundation

Monthly Progress Report - July 2003

1. GENERAL HIGHLIGHTS

• HDF-Chief Operating Officer attended a launching ceremony of "Human Development Report-2003" by UNDP. Mr. Shaukat Aziz "Finance Minister" was the Chief Guest. There was a large gathering of about 1,000 including Senior Officials of Government, NGOs, Notables and Media. It was a good opportunity for HDF official to meet and interact with important personalities of Government as well as Non Governmental Organizations.
• COO, PM-Health, PM-CPI and PO-P & R attended a seminar on "Healthy & Educated Woman leads towards a Prosperous Nation" arranged by SHELTAR international (Society for Health, Environment, Literacy And Rehabilitation). Mr. Shaukat Aziz (Finance Minister) and Nilofer Bakhteyar (Advisor to Prime Minister) also attended the seminar. The seminar was quite informative and useful. It not only provided an opportunity to gain/refresh knowledge but also to interact with other like minded organizations.
• Program activities suffered due to heavy losses of monsoon rains in the country including HDF program areas. Damage occurred to school buildings and other program activities like DO meetings and credit recoveries etc also got affected/disturbed especially in Shamsabad Region. HDF regional teams paid special attention to help people in this situation and tried to keep their morale up. The renovation of some damaged Schools has been carried out in Shamsabad Region by Students and Parents. Timely action of our Regional staff and community in Zhob averted damage to Badinzai Delay Action Dam.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

• One of our partner "Khushalibank" has agreed to provide an additional funding of Rs. 82,500 to HDF. This additional amount will be provided due to the inclusion of additional members in the existing/previous DOs formed by HDF in year 2002-2003 through its social mobilization process.
• During his visit to Shamsabad and Karachi Kachi Abadi Regions PM-Credit & Enterprise Development conducted orientation sessions/discussions with the regional staff on topics like: "Concepts in Social Mobilization and Rural Development", "Weaknesses of DOs and desired corrective measures for Program Sustainability" and "Essential elements of our Credit Policy". The participants shared their experiences about the social change process and presented examples of DOs where attitudinal and economical changes have occurred. Participants also developed indicators for DOs maturity and sustainability.
• PPAF approved Rs. 4.34 million credit line for Quarter 4 (June-August 03). The amount has been transferred to the regions for disbursement to DOs.
• A representative from "Islamic Relief" visited HDF to study its micro credit program (Morabaha). Islamic Relief is also working in the surroundings of Rawalpindi (only in few areas) for poverty alleviation by using the same "Morabaha" system. The representative was highly impressed by the success and scale of HDF Credit program and requested HDF to arrange a one day briefing session for their entire staff.
  HDF Lahore Region started negotiations with "ASASAH" (a local NGO) to start its micro credit program in the HDF program area. Efforts are being made to develop healthy partnership between the two organizations.

EDUCATION

• HDF Shamsabad Region organized a 6-days teachers' training on "Adult Literacy" for 20 teachers from SAWFCO (Sindh Agriculture Forestry Workers Conservative Organization). It is for the first time in the history of HDF that a training has been imparted outside HDF on commercial basis. Such activities will be made regular feature of our programs in the future.
• In view of the upcoming International Literacy Day (September 8, 2003) Education Cell has initiated "Posted/Photography competition on Adult Literacy". The competition is being arranged to highlight the importance of Adult Literacy in the development of the country. The regions will organize Literacy exhibitions at the regional level and the education cell will arrange an exhibition at the National Level in Islamabad. Government and Non Government Organizations will be invited to participate.
• Through its program "SELF" (Sustainable Economic Literacy for Females) where the female enrollees of Adult Literacy Centers are provided with an opportunity of concessional loans for the establishment of enterprises, HDF has succeeded to develop Literate Entrepreneurs. In Mardan Region 7 females have taken the credit under this package, and are running their businesses successfully.
• Till now Mardan Region has successfully completed courses on "Adult Literacy" in 11 centers, where 128 learners (82 male and 46 females) were graduated. It is interesting that 25 learners who graduated from Adult Literacy Centers have joined the regular classes of TMF (Tameer-e-Millat Foundation) and Prime Minister's Program of Schooling.
• In the reporting month of July 2003, the result of first term examination of 6th class has been announced which was 92%. The second term examination will take place in the last week of August 2003.

COMMUNITY PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

• Till end of July 2003, 112 Community Physical Infrastructure Projects were initiated among which 109 ( 96 Hand Pumps, 10 Watercourse Linings and 3 Link Roads) have been completed and 3 (1 Delay Action Dam, 1 Link Road and 1 Watercourse Lining) are in progress. Total cost of 112 initiated projects is Rs. 8,105,139 with PPAF contribution of Rs. 6,233,838 and Community contribution of Rs. 1,871,301 (either in cask or in kind). These 11 projects benefited about 1,910 households with 17,432 population comprising 8,367 male and 9,065 female members. It is expected that with the completion of said projects approximately 2,259 acres of excess land will come under cultivation.
• HDF-Shamsabad Region received 15 Hand Pumps from UNICEF. These Hand Pumps will be installed in HDF-Child Friendly Schools of 15 different Villages.
  HEALTH
• Vaccination Camp was arranged at Community Health Center in Shamsabad Region, where 299 persons were vaccinated.
• Vaccination including EPI and TT of WRA has been started at Community Health Centers of Islamabad Region. This vaccination will be given through Govt. Vaccinator with the permission through Basic Health Unit (BHU) Union Council Chirah-Islamabad.
• Regional Health staff assisted the Polio team (on polio day) in the program areas of HDF.

LINKAGES

• Orangi Pilot Project is the well known and most successful micro credit program in Karachi Kachi Abadies. Keeping this fact in mind, contact has been made with Mr. Zaheer Araian (Chief Executive Lodharan Pilot Project and Ex-Credit Specialist Orangi Pilot Project). He agreed to brief our Karachi Kachi Abadi Regional staff about special considerations and implications of micro credit in Kachi Abadies.
• Contact has been made with "Oxfam Pakistan Education Program Coordinator" to visit HDF Education Program and its Child Friendly Schools, so that avenues of possible collaboration can be explored.

VISITS/VISITORS

• Lt Gen (Retd) Muhammad Maqbool (Board Member) visited the Karachi Kachi Abadi Region. He discussed all aspects of HDF programs with particular emphasis on financial management and micro credit policy and gave very useful suggestions.
• Chief Operating Officer & PM-Education visited Islamabad Region to see the progress of ongoing activities.
• PM-Engineering visited Rahim Yar Khan Region to monitor the progress of Community Physical Infrastructure Schemes.
• PM-Enterprise Development visited Sahamsabad and Karachi Kachi Abadi Regions to discuss/monitor the activities related to Economic Development Component of HDF.
• Some honorable guests also visited the Karachi Kachi Abadi Region and encouraged the Regional Staff e.g. Mr. Yawar Nansey, Mrs. Tasneem Nansey from USA (Donors of HDFNA) and Ms. Zahida Hina (Prominent Writer)
• Regional staff of Karachi Kachi Abadi visited the Orangi Pilot Project (OPP). The basic objective of the visit was to get familiarized with the Sanitation, Credit, Health and Education Programs of OPP.

DISTINGUISHED FEATURES OF HDF-NCHD COLLABORATION

• For the visit of its Board members NCHD selected only that area in Mardan where HDF is working. The same area was also selected for Credit Disbursement.
• NCHD also started its Enterprise Development Program in area where HDF as its partner . Initially 15 entrepreneurs have been identified and have been provided a comprehensive training on entrepreneurship. Some entrepreneurs have established their own businesses, while others are in process.
• Unlike the first phase, NCHD decided to provide Adult Literacy Trainings with 100% contribution of the community members. HDF opened 26 Adult Literacy Centers in its assigned area. These Centers have been opened on 100% contribution from the communities. Furthermore the influentials were also requested to contribute money, and a fund of Rs. 9,500 was collected for Adult Literacy Centers.
• For quality improvement and also to control the drop out rate, NCHD decided to impart two days training to all the teachers of feeder schools. Before teachers' training HDF called a meeting and assessed the exact needs. The identified needs were communicated to NCHD for special focus during the training.
• NCHD and its POs are continuously working to develop local volunteers. HDF held meetings with Union Council Coordinators to promote volunteerism and achieved good results.

SPECIAL EVENT OF THE MONTH

• An inauguration ceremony was arranged for CPI on July 19, 2003 at Zhob Region. Representatives from Radio Pakistan Zhob and area Nazims were also invited. District Nazim Mohammad Shafiq Mandokhel was invited as Chief Guest. On this occasion a small function was arranged by PTA (Parents Teacher Association) to show the six months performance of the Child Friendly Community School Shaikhan # 1. Children of the School presented Phonics, Poems, English and Urdu Alphabets and National Anthem. Chief Guest was inspired by the HDF Education Program and performance of the School. He announced a grant to construct one room School and Rs. 5,000 cash for School management Fund. The entire program was broadcast by Radio Pakistan Zhob in its local transmission.