quarterly newsletter by innovative ... - ido.org.pk · ido is a non-profiteering, non-political,...
TRANSCRIPT
Issue: 01 April 2015
Quarterly Newsletter by Innovative Development Organization (IDO) 23-A, Garden Housing Scheme, Main Samungli Road Quetta, Web: www.ido.org.pk, e-mail: [email protected], Phone: 081-2834642
IDO is a non-profiteering, non-political, non-ethnical and non-governmental organization working in Balochistan since 2003 in the sectors of Governance,
Education, Gender and Development, Water and Sanitation and Development of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT).
-
IDO is also the implementing partner of UNHCR in the project based on
providing refugee and host communities of District Quetta with clean and
potable drinking water through the construction of new and renovation of
existing water supply schemes. The project is expected to successfully fulfill
the long outstanding needs of people in focused areas. IDO is thankful to
UNHCR for considering its past expertise in similar projects and appreciates
the commitment of UNHCR to meeting the needs of refugee and host
populations.
UNICEF is implementing the Strengthening and Institutionalization of
Education Management Information System (EMIS) project in collaboration
with the Education Department, Government of Balochistan and with the
technical support of Innovative Development Organization. IDO is thankful to
UNICEF for recognizing its technical capabilities in the implementation of ICT
projects and also gratified to the Education Department for extending full
support and cooperation.
s
Innovative Development Organization (IDO) is implementing the Education,
Skills and Protection project in sub-urban areas of District Quetta with the
partnership of Catholic Relief Services (CRS). Through ESP project IDO is
successfully facilitating education for Afghan and Pakistani Children, while skill
component of the project is enabling both Pakistani & Afghan women to
increase their household income. The ESP project has also been successfully
building the capacity of community elders, Police officials and doctors to
prevent and respond on gender protection issues for the wider community
wellbeing.
Education Management Information System (EMIS)
Education, Skill and Protection (ESP) Project
Catering to Water Needs of People (CWNP) Project
Title Photo: Zarmina, a student of educational center 2 established for Afghan refugee children
Photo Credit: Khumais Raza, our featured volunteer of the quarter
Strengthening and Institutionalization of Education Management Information System (EMIS)
Supported by UNICEF and implemented by the Education Department, Government of Balochistan, the EMIS is a step
towards revamping the planning and management systems of the public sector education system in Balochistan. IDO is
playing its role as the technical partner of UNICEF and has extended full technical support to the Education
Department, Government of Balochistan in devising of data collection tools, training of data collection teams and data
entry personnel and setting up of data entry labs in all 31 districts of Quetta. IDO has also set up the EMIS website
(www.emis.gob.pk) which facilitates informed decision making for education managers and provides lots of helpful
information to the general public. The EMIS website was inaugurated by the Honorable Chief Minister of Balochistan,
Dr. Abdul Malik Baloch.
IDO teams have successfully trained 1725 data collectors nominated by the education department on data collection
tools and procedures of data collection. Moreover, IDO teams facilitated the education department in training of 207
nominated data entry operators in all districts. All data entry labs are functional and data entry is in progress.
IDO is confident that the efforts of all partners in the implementation of EMIS project will result in a dynamic and
modern education planning and management model facilitating informed decision making and evidence based planning.
Updates from January to March 2015
Staff at Innovative Development Organization has been providing technical
support to Education Department, Government of Balochistan, in the
strengthening and institutionalization of the Education Management Information
System (EMIS). Our staff members have provided support in training of
government nominated staff and provided technical facilitation in setting up data
entry points in all 31 districts of Balochistan. Moreover, IDO has continued
providing education, skills and protection to Afghan Refugees residing in sub-
urban areas of Quetta. Various activities have been conducted to enable
refugees, particularly women and children, in our focused areas to avail
educational opportunities and to enhance their skills in order to boost their
monthly income. IDO has also initiated the implementation of a new project
focusing on the provision of clean and potable drinking water to refugee and
host populations in District Quetta. The project staff is on board and
implementation of activities is underway.
The staff at our office has been very busy also in the relocation of our office and
the Display Center of Hunnermand, a self-sustainable initiative of IDO to
capitalize skills and enterprise livelihoods of skilled artisans living in the urban
slums of Quetta. Our new office is on main Samungli Road Quetta and the new
Hunnermand Display center is located at Shah Towers Quetta. IDO also joined
the UNHCR Livelihood Working Group to work in mutual commitment with
other organizations to improve livelihoods of marginalized groups.
There is a lot more to read about our projects and organization in this
newsletter. We hope you will enjoy reading and give us your valuable feedback.
Happy Reading!
Honorable Member Provincial Assembly Mr.Ghulam Dastageer
briefed about EMIS after inauguration of Data Entry Cell Noshki
A picture from training session of data entry operators at data entry
point in District Kech, Makran Division
QUOTABLE QUOTE “That’s what I consider true
generosity: You give your all, and yet
you always feel as if it cost you
nothing.” – Simone de Beauvoir
Volunteer Profile – Khumais Raza
Our featured volunteer for this quarter is Khumais Raza. Khumais is a freelance
photographer and a motivated social worker. He has worked on assignments
focusing on student literacy and education in mother tongue. Innovative
development Organization is thankful to Khumais for taking out time from his busy
schedule to take some awesome pictures featuring in this newsletter.
Editor: Hamid Baqi
Sub-editors: Zafar Khan and Zara Syed
Photo: Artisans at work in a skill development center established in the Education, Skill and Protection Project
Photo Credit: Khumais Raza
The ESP Project – Revival of Skills and Restoration of
Livelihoods Maidama, a 48 years old widow, mother of two children, is the sole
bread winner of her family since the death of her husband. She has
been residing in Arbab Gali, Turkuman Colony for the last 8 years.
When she started to earn money using her traditional skills of weaving,
she knew only basic Killum, a local traditional weaving. With basic
Killum skills, she started making products to sell. She had to visit buyers
in her neighborhood and had no access to or knowledge about the
larger markets which severely restricted her chances of income
generation. She hardly managed to earn a living. Selling products and
taking orders from markets in a community that is male dominated and
has barriers mobility of women was very hard for her. Unable to
support her family‟s day to day financial needs, she had pushed herself
into depression.
Once she came to know about IDO skill center through a neighbor,
she visited the center. She was briefed about the skills training and
how it would improve her crafting skills. She got enrolled in the skill
center. The skill center not only helped her improve her skills in
making quality products through different capacity building trainings
such as finishing and designing training, group management and basic
business and marketing trainings but also provided her an opportunity
to showcase her skills at various exhibitions and exposure visits
organized by IDO across the cities of Pakistan. This also developed her
linkages with local and national vendors. Maidama has not only
established her own sustainable livelihood now, but is also facilitating
her other group members in improving their financial status by
involving them in the completion of orders she receives from vendors.
“After the training and linkage development, I am earning
twice as much a month and looking forward to further
increase my capacity and my monthly income.”
Karachi Exposure Visit for Women Artisans
In order to achieve the goal of increasing income of under privileged women, CRS and IDO train artisans in a bid to improve
the quality of products being made and channelize them to the right market by instilling a sense of modern color
combination, innovative design and ultimately making the products compatible to the market trends.
However, all the efforts would stall if there are no linkages between skilled beneficiaries and vendors considering the cultural
barriers whereby women are not granted an easy access to market. In order to ensure maximum profit for the artisans; the
project focuses on developing strong linkages of artisans and vendors through local and national exposure visits.
In this connection, a six-day national exposure visit (from February 16-21) was conducted to Karachi; which is not only the
center of trade, economic activity and banking but also home to the country‟s largest corporations including textiles, fashion,
advertisement and arts and culture. 7 trainees who visited Karachi were taken to the business centers of Zainab Market,
Bolton Market, Bori Bazar and Tariq Road which are famous for procuring raw material, cotton garments and other general
goods.
To introduce the beneficiaries to the current trend and designs, they were taken for a visit to Boutiques at Park Tower,
Dolmen Mall and Atrium Mall. The shopkeepers and boutique owners showed tremendous interest in Khamak and Balochi
work. Our artisans received orders worth PKR 20,000.
Reflections of our Partners in Welfare
Syed Azeem, Community Teacher “The education skill and protection project implemented by
IDO has opened new avenues for education to Afghan
Refugee children. Children now have access to education
and there is a general increase in the parents’ awareness.”
Muhammad Yahya, CMC Member
“As a member of the Center Management Committee, I feel that not only has the ESP project provided education to our children, but a number of other activities such as skill development and awareness about human rights are available for men and women.”
Ms. Farzana, Teacher, Jehlum Karez Middle School
“IDO conducted for us a session on joyful learning. This training helped us understand quality education and rolling it out to all our classes. Since the inclusion of fun learning activities, our students are taking more interest in learning new concepts and do so with ease.”
Abdul Nabi Khwajakhail, Principal GBMS Ahmed
Khanzai Quetta
“IDO has not only trained our teachers on joyful learning
but the formation of Parent Teacher Committee is also
helping us keep a check on student absenteeism and drop
out.”
The schools established by IDO in the ESP project provide a lively and joyful learning
environment to the children. The classes have a print-rich air to facilitate learning
through visual aid and the teachers have been trained on imparting education using
teaching techniques which include interactive learning and teaching methodologies.
Photo Credit: Khumais Raza
The Hunnermand Display Center
The Hunnermand is an initiative by IDO to capitalize skills and
enterprise livelihoods of marginalized skilled women. The Hunnermand
provides sustainable income generation opportunities for its registered
artisans along with the facilities of finishing, packaging, tagging and
marketing of products.
Recently we shifted the Hunnermand Display Center to its new location at the Shah Towers
Quetta (Shop No. SF4). The new location is in the city center providing us opportunities to
showcase the handicraft of our artisans to a larger audience. The Hunnermand display center
is a forum to develop linkages between our artisans and the buyers.
Please visit the Hunnermand display center and place an order or two if you like.
Fresh News from Past
One Room Shelter Project
Innovative Development Organization implemented the one-room shelter project
(August 2011 to February 2012) funded by UNHCR in response to the devastating
floods which wreaked havoc upon the people of district Jaffarabad, Balochistan.
Two years after the completion of the project, our staff visited Dera Allah Yar where
IDO constructed 300 of the 1000 shelters to see how the lives of beneficiaries had
shaped up after the project.
Mai Jada, 73 and blind, continues to live in the shelter constructed for her in the
project.
“We lived a satisfied life in our mud house before the vicious floods ran through it
leaving us only land. All of us were devastated. In a hope to find shelter we went as far
as Quetta.”
She recalled how the Deputy Commissioner and some people from IDO had identified her and had approved a shelter to be constructed for her use.
She remembers how the news had filled the life of her family with „a new soul‟.
2 years after the project, Mai Jada and her mentally disabled son Naseebullah continue to live in the shelter, the construction of which was only
possible with the support of UNHCR.
„Our life is a lot better compared to what it was after the flood. It is something God has gifted us through some God fearing people.‟
IDO thanks Sami Zarkoon and Ali Nawaz Marri for their volunteer work to cover this story.
Balochistan Education Programme Notes from a Teacher’s Diary – By Khalid Khan
Innovative Development Organization (IDO) implemented the Balochistan Education Programme
focusing on improving access and quality of education for children in Balochistan. With the
support of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Save the Children, the
programme, amongst other interventions, constructed 105 Early Childhood Education Centers,
upgraded 35 schools and provided missing facilities to 105 schools. IDO was assigned to carry out majority of the programme interventions. Months after the completion of this 5 year
programme, here is what a teacher thinks about the ECE center constructed in his school and its
far reaching impacts.
Through the Balochistan Education Programme, an Early Childhood
Education Center was constructed in our school. We received
training on teaching our students and the classroom was equipped
with joyful teaching and learning materials.
The construction of this room gave rise to the early childhood
education concept in our village. Prior to this project, parents
admitted their children to school at the age of 7, but now children
aged 4 or 5 are joining our school. This is saving every child 2 to 3
precious years of education.
Ahmed Ullah ECE Teacher
Previously, children were taught using the traditional and rather outdated teaching
methodologies, but introduction to the concept of early childhood education has
provided children and their parents an exposure to a modern and new way of
education. Parents in our village preferred sending their children to private schools, but
our public school has surpassed private schools since the construction of the ECE
center. Parents now prefer sending their children to our school! Using the teaching and
learning materials I can now help my children understand new concepts easily. The
Balochistan Education Programme also focused on promoting better health and hygiene
which has also raised awareness in parents and students about staying healthy to keep
abreast with the pace of life in this modern age.
Ahmedullah is a teacher of Early Childhood Education (ECE) class in Government Boys Primary
School, Killi Malik Abdul Ali, Kuchlak, District Quetta, Balochistan.
Rehana‟s Artwork
Rehana is a 9-year-old girl who studies at a community school supported
through the Education, Skill and Protection project. In her artwork, she has
precociously interpreted how the ESP project has provided her more than just
a school. She has drawn how her mother has been enabled to support the
family through improvement of her embroidery and sewing skills and provision
of a toolkit. Overall, Rehana seems quite happy with her life!
How to Volunteer for IDO?
All our readers and their friends are encouraged to join IDO as volunteers. How do you do that? Well, it is simple. Write us an e-mail at [email protected] giving your name, location and area of interest. We are currently looking for volunteer dress designers who can help our skilled women artisans blend their traditional skills of
embroidery with latest fashion trends. Here is your chance to make a difference to someone’s life. Will you take it?
Catering to Water Needs of People – A Case Study by CWNP Team
Innovative Development Organization (IDO) has recently initiated a project aimed at catering to the water needs of the refugee and host populations in district Quetta. This case study is an effort by the
CNWP team drawing attention to how the targeted population are currently meeting their drinking water needs.
Killi Malik Saifullah, located almost 33 kilometers away from Quetta city, is one of the worst affected villages of district Quetta regarding access to clean drinking
water. In the inception phase of CWNP project, IDO team visited the area and observed that women and children fetch water from nearby unsafe and open
agriculture water channel traversing the village. It was observed that due to low literacy rate and awareness, people were unaware of appropriate health & hygiene
practices, and were consuming muddy and contaminated water. It was also observed that animals drink the same water from upstream of the channel which makes
the village residents more vulnerable to disease.
In response to catering the need of clean drinking water through installation of solar powered water supply in targeted area, IDO planned to initiate mobilization
sessions to orient communities regarding project activities and outcomes, the communities welcomed the intervention proposed by IDO and appreciated UNHCR
and IDO for addressing their need.
Mr. Haibat khan, a resident of this village stated: “We were excited to hear that IDO is extending assistance for the solar powered water supply scheme at our
village. Our women and children have to walk one kilometer to fetch dirty and turbid water for domestic use. I cannot imagine how happy we all would be after
receiving water facilities in the courtyard of our houses. I am happy to hear that Solar Powered Water Supply will be installed because current electricity shortage
would have made it difficult to fulfill the community needs and sustain the project”.
IDO has also taken other measures for the sustainability of the project. A Community Organization and Operation and Maintenance committee have been formed
and sensitized. These committees will be responsible for the overall repair and maintenance of the scheme. Community is willing to contribute if the scheme needs any repair and maintenance work.
Current source of drinking water in village
Feedback and Comments
We will be glad to receive your feedback and comments about our newsletter on: [email protected]
Glimpses – Training of Police Officials on Response to Gender Based Violence
Like us on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/IDO.Quetta