ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT
2015 - 2016
Tahera Hasan, Director, Imkaan Welfare Organization, with the girl gymnastics team of Khel
MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR This has been a year of great challenges for us at Imkaan with the development and consolidation of various projects that have taken off the ground simultaneously, and are at different stages of growth. With Sehat Ghar falling into a smooth pattern of functioning we are left with the task of creating awareness in the community for health issues. Our objective is with our outreach and health awareness program to reduce the number of patients that come to the Mother and Child Health care Centre. Most of the diseases or ailments that the patients come with are preventable if they are armed with the knowledge of how they occur and what they can do to ensure that they don’t happen. It’s about changing attitudes and mind sets and the same happen over a period of time and through constant engagement. To us success will come with the reduction of patients and an overall healthier community. The setting up of the diagnostic lab has assisted in the early detection and treatment of diseases as it is available to the community members at their door step. Imkaan Ghar has during this year placed three infants for adoption with their forever families. This is a program that is close to my heart and aims to set the wheels in motion for a progressive and wholesome approach towards the process of abandonment and adoption. We ensure to the best of our abilities the welfare of not only the child but also the adoptive parent. Imkaan is unique in its post adoption services as we are always available to our forever families for guidance and support. Each child that is placed by us has a special place in our lives and we are concerned with their continued welfare. Khel – A learning and Recreation centre was set up with the aim of taking children off the street into a safe nurturing environment where they can be children and given space to learn and grow at their different pace. Khel has been a project that has been a minefield of challenges and at the same time has gone to reinforce to us that patience and nurturing can bring about a positive change in the behavior of young children thus impacting their learning capabilities and general behavior patterns. The same is a filter down process into the community at large. To us children are the greatest vehicles of change and an investment in them is an investment in a brighter tomorrow. E-guard is one of the projects that we have struggled with even though for the short duration that is was functioning it made a difference to the environment. The challenges have ranged from environmental to the lack of availability of sanitary workers. We are revisiting the same to put a mechanism in place that is effective and durable. I would like to thank the donors for their faith in us and to the team at Imkaan for being passionate about what they do. We hope that the coming year can bring about further the changes we believe in.
TAHERA HASAN
Mission Statement No child’s life shall be curtailed by the circumstances of his or her birth because each one deserves absolute love and infinite opportunity to grow. Registered in 2012 under the Voluntary Social Welfare Agencies (Registration and Control) Ordinance, 1961, Imkaan Welfare Organization has been working towards the well-being of underprivileged communities and children at risk in Karachi, Pakistan. Imkaan Welfare Organizations projects are established focusing on the needs of children and women in education, health, sanitation and overall wellbeing.
Objectives: •
To believe he or she has a right to not only live, but to do so with meaning and dignity, is what Imkaan endeavors to instill in the heart of every child.
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Providing and ensuring quality healthcare, education, and recreation to all children;
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To ensure that no child is murdered or left to fend for his or herself under extreme conditions, we offer support prior to, during and after adoption;
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We aim to establish a network of prenatal and neonatal clinics in order to provide qualified support and healthcare to mothers and mothers-to-be. These will function to decrease infanticide as well as infant mortality rates, by educating women and their communities on how to reduce risks to their own health as well as to their families; before, during, and after delivering.
OUR PROJECTS Sehat Ghar A Health Initiative
Khel A Learning & Recreational Centre
E-Guard A Solid Waste Management Project
Imkaan Ghar Shelter for Abandoned Babies
IMKAAN 2015 - 2016
SEHAT GHAR A HEALTH INITIATIVE
A project dedicated to create healthcare initiatives for the underprivileged communities that Imkaan Welfare Organization works with. Under Sehat Ghar, Imkaan has established a mother and child health care center in Machar colony. Catering to a community of 3000+ families with each family having 9 members on an average, objectives of clinic under Sehat Ghar are as follows: • • • • • •
Free of cost healthcare to women and children; Pre-natal and post-natal care to expectant mothers; Cater to neo-natal care of newborns; Create awareness regarding seasonal diseases, symptoms and their possible solutions. Educating women, enabling them to make informed decisions about their lives, health, and families during pregnancy, childbirth and motherhood. Provide health care support through various medical camps.
IMKAAN 2015 - 2016
Sehat Ghar in 2015 – 2016
With continuous support from the stakeholders and the community, the clinic in Machar colony has been treating patients for seasonal diseases and those that plague the community regularly. Majority of the cases treated by the clinic staff have been related to skin diseases such as scabies, respiratory infections, malnourishment in women especially those pregnant, blood pressure and diabetes in the elderly population.
Sehat Ghar in the financial year of 2015 – 2016 has conducted and established the following: •
ESTABLISHMENT OF DIAGNOSTIC LAB: Within the premises of the clinic in Machar colony, a diagnostic lab was established where blood test for various disease can be conducted with ease within the community.
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TBAS REFRESHER COURSE: Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) or dais were trained by the Imkaan staff in 2014 regarding safe birthing practices. The same group of TBAs were given a refresher course where they were able to discuss cases of normal delivery with the Imkaan staff. Safe delivery kits were also introduced during the session and were made available at the clinic for TBAs to purchase when necessary.
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COMMUNITY AWARENESS MEETINGS: Community awareness meetings are an integral part of any community project that is being implement. Through Sehat Ghar the community outreach team with the doctor are able to raise awareness regarding diseases that are more rampant in the community. These meetings also allow the team to talk about the importance of immunization and family planning.
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RENOVATION OF MATERNITY HOME: The maternity home will allow women to consult with lady health workers who can guide them regarding safety measures and nutrition throughout their pregnancy. Monthly ultrasounds will help them track the progress of their child and will allow the diagnosis of high risk pregnancies at an early stage. Consultations with gynecologist and with the lady health workers will also initiate a process of learning and awareness regarding their own health issues and those of the family. Deliveries in a safe and sanitized environment with trained doctors and midwives aims to reduce the risks to both mother and child. •
FREE MEDICAL CAMP: Conducted at the Begum Hajra Government School, the medical camp was able to provide medical support to 600+ patients in a span of 6 hours. The camp was sponsored by Urdu 1 and supported by Humanity Initiatives who provided doctors to volunteer at the camp.
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BASIC EYE TESTING TRAINING TO SCHOOLS TEACHERS: With support from Dr. Behroze Hashim, the clinic team and teachers from other schools were able to understand the basic eye infections that can occur in children and adults. The community children also suffer from lazy eye syndrome and therefore early detection can help the child to recover quickly without any long term affects.
IMKAAN 2015 - 2016
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CHALLENGES
The lack of awareness amongst the community members makes it difficult to treat ailments without the use of antibiotics. Malnourishment is a primary issue in children due to which their growth is stunted and related health problems occur. Iron deficiency is a common problem in women. Complications occur in illnesses due to lack of timely treatment of the same due to lack of awareness and understanding. Evening clinics for women and children are non-existent making it difficult for those who work in the morning. Clinics for men are not established leading to most visiting unqualified doctors (quacks) for ailments. There is a need for an ambulance service for the community. Eye camps with focus on corrective surgeries and cataract surgeries is a requirement for the community. A health examination of school going children is needed under the school health initiative. Registration and training of traditional birth attendants from other communities within Machar colony is needed.
IMKAAN 2015 - 2016
KHEL KHEL LEARNING&&RECREATIONAL RECREATIONALCENTRE CENTRE LEARNING
Khel is designed to provide a physical space for recreation and learning to the children of Macher Colony, Karachi; free of judgment, restriction, and prejudice. The space is tailored to provide stimulus for intellectual, physical, and emotional growth; with provision for recreation, learning, leisure, and rest. The children of Macher Colony are mostly employed in shrimp peeling and in their free time can gravitate towards gambling, drug abuse and other anti-activities. On the streets around the Colony, one can witness childhood thrive against all odds in makeshift toys; boxes, wheels, balloons, and guns. The cost of broken toys and broken children is high. In the absence of State and municipal support, and parents occupied with making ends meet, Khel aims to shoulder the responsibility and safeguard the children’s right to enjoy their childhood. KHEL AIMS TO: • Enable self-awareness and self reliance • Encourage fraternity and brotherhood • Engage developmental faculties • Nurture individual expression • Nourish emotional growth • Facilitate physical development • Propagate hygiene and self care • Promote lateral thinking
IMKAAN 2015 - 2016
Khel in 2015 – 2016
Khel was established for the children of Machar colony who are working at night in shrimp peeling factories or are not enrolled in schools due to lack of funds or lack of interest due to the kind of punishments that are meted out by the teachers in government/private schools. Since its establishment, Khel has provided opportunities to learn and play in an environment where children can be children.
Khel in the financial year of 2015 – 2016 has conducted and established the following: •
DEVELOPMENT OF CURRICULUM: Khel is a learning and recreational centre which promotes the concept that play and education go hand in hand. Keeping in the mind the concept of Khel and the need of the community, the management team created a curriculum that focuses on informal learning through educational aids and incorporating play, art and education.
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IMPLEMENTATION OF ART CLASSES: Fostering creativity increases the chances of developing mentally, socially, and emotionally. With the children in Machar colony already working at a such a young age and not having any other outlet to be just children the art classes at Khel have provided an opportunity for kids to be creative and improve their emotional health.
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FORMATION OF GYMNASTICS TEAM: The children of Machar colony were able to form a gymnastics team with the help of coach Furqan Raja. The one of its kind team for machar colony has been training and learning the basics of gymnastics. As an added progression we now have a girls gymnastics team in the training process. These children will eventually be able to participate in local and national level games.
CHALLENGES • • • •
Parent approval for admission in the sports component has been difficult especially because of the fear of getting hurt during gymnastics or football. Parent approval for the girl child to play sports or games from certain members of the community has been noticed. Creative avenues where children from the community can engage in activities outside Machar colony need to be either designed or through collaboration with other organizations Implementation of the education component and a development of a vocational training component is necessary.
IMKAAN 2015 - 2016
E-GUARD A SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT PROJECT
One of the most serious environmental issues across the globe is solid waste and the lack of procedures and facilities to manage it. Besides generating viruses and disease, generic solid waste also causes water pollution and produces methane gases. All these hazards loom far larger in Pakistan for its gross mismanagement of waste materials. Although 60% of household garbage is green and 25% recyclable here, all of it is dumped indiscriminately together. Through E-Guard a solid waste management programme in Machar Colony, Imkaan Welfare Organization will be able to cater to about 1,000 homes within the community we work with. The project is being implemented in collaboration with Dr. Akhtar Hameed Khan Memorial Trust who have already initiated low-cost and self-sustainable waste management programmes in Rawalpindi, Sialkot, Mangora, Manshera, Gilgit, Islamabad, and Muzzafarabad, which assist the local municipal services in the primary collection and segregation of solid waste.
IMKAAN 2015 - 2016
E-Guard in 2015 – 2016
A community like Machar colony needs projects like E-Guard to be implemented in order to clean the streets and the environment that the community is thriving in. With support from the AKHMT, the project implemented but for it to become a self - sustaining model the projected needs to be tweaked according to the financial situation of the members of the community.
E-GUARD in the financial year of 2015 – 2016 has conducted and established the following: •
Since the initiation of E-Guard the major problem faced by the team was to hire sanitary workers who are willing to collect garbage door to door every day. The weather in Karachi, Pakistan can become tedious as during the summers the temperature can be very high making it difficult to cater to each household.
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Disposing the solid waste in a place like Machar colony can be a task as the city’s garbage is also disposed there. The only place that solid waste can be disposed in by dumping and creating landfills.
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With the onset of rain storms and no proper sewage system in place, rain water becomes stagnant in every street possible in Machar colony. Such situations made it impossible for sanitary workers to pull hand drawn carts in each street as the streets are either filled with rain and sewage water or mud.
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Keeping in mind all the above problems that we have faced, the management team decided to halt the project and revamp the implementation process.
IMKAAN 2015 - 2016
IMKAAN GHAR SHELTER FOR ABANDONED BABIES
Primarily a shelter for abandoned babies, this is where rescued infants are placed to receive round-the-clock monitoring and care. All children placed in Imkaan Ghar also undergo thorough medical examination with registered practitioners so that a complete and comprehensive health evaluation can be provided to their eventual adoptive families. Detailed dossiers on the health needs of each individual child who stays at Imkaan Ghar are maintained so their adoptive families may be better prepared to meet their specific needs adequately. Whilst these children are tended to at Imkaan Ghar, both physically and emotionally, potential adoptive parents are screened and prepared by Imkaan’s own qualified team of clinicians and social workers, to eventually receive them into their homes. Our lawyers work closely with those seeking to adopt, to ensure due diligence in the legal process. They also advise prospective parents on pertinent matters such as setting up a trust fund for the child or children they adopt. In our effort to find every abandoned infant a safe home and loving family, we realize that some may not find accommodation easily due to being innocent carriers of contagious to life-threatening diseases. In such cases, Imkaan is committed to finding sponsor families to help subsidize the child’s living costs whilst he or she continues to be cared for at Imkaan Ghar itself.
IMKAAN 2015 - 2016
Imkaan Ghar in 2015 – 2016
Imkaan Ghar was able to place 2 children up for adoption during the financial year of 2015 – 2016. Each child went through a thorough medical examination details of which were disclosed to the selected family who were willing to adopt. The extensive interview process included an interview with the management team and a final interview with the director of the organization. The adopted parents are then supported by the team to do all the legal paperwork for finalization of the guardianship process.
IMKAAN 2015 – 2016 IN NUMBERS
SEHAT GHAR CHILD OPD
FEMALE OPD
FAMILY PLANNING
8494
6776
955
VACCINATION
2630
KHEL – A learning & recreational centre TOTALNO.OF CHILDREN
69
BOYS
GIRLS
31
38
E-GUARD
IMKAAN GHAR
NO.OF HOUSEHOLD
NO.OF CHILDREN 3
300
IMKAAN 2015 - 2016
OUR DONORS SUI SOUTHERN GAS
WALI MASQATIYA
CRESENT STEEL & ALLIED PRODUCTS
SOHAIL MASQATIYA
HAJI MUHAMMAD BENEVOLENT TRUST
AZRA SANA
SHAHEEN AIR LINE
UMAIR TABANI
NOUMAN ANSARI
KARIM MASQATIYA
ALIYA CHINOY
MASQATIA CHARITABLE TRUST
AYESHA NOUMAN
SHERYAR ASHRAF
SHAZIA ANUM
SHAZIM ASHRAF
ABBAS TAHIR
RAZA ALI
RASIKH ISMAIL
PITTSBURG STUDENT ASSOCIATION
HASSAN ALI
BILQUIS ASHRAF
SAIMA ZAIDI
SANAM CHAOUDHARY
GAYTRI SPIVAK
ZUBIA MOTIWALA
MUNAWER IQBAL
RUKAIYA ADAMJEE
AAMAN KARMANI
AFSHEEN IBRAHIM
AAYAZ AHMED
AYSEHA SIDDIQUE
ERAM SULTAN
KHURRAM NAWAZ
ALIA IMRAN
NAGIN ANSARI
SHERYAR ASHRAF
MUHAMMAD ALEEM KHAN
BILQUIS ASHRAF
AMNA ZADHI
AYESHA SIDDIQUE
ENGRO FOUNDATION
GOHAR GUL
UMBER SIDDIQUI
SYED SAMIULLAH
SOPIA AHMED
SOMAIYA AYUB
KHURRAM KASIM
WAHID MASQATIYA
SEHR PIRZHADA
ADEEL
AMBER HAROON SAIGOL
IBRAHIM
HIRA C/O ZAWAR & YAKJA
AMBER HAROON SAIGOL
AHSAN TANVIR ANJUM FARAZ ANSARI PARAGON PRODUCTION PVT. LTD HORIZON MEDIA PVT. LTD. SHAHID KHAN AFRDI FOUNDATION KANWAL KAZMI TANYA MIRZA SHEMA MUSTFA ZULIKHA MASKATIA KHURRAM QASIM KIDS AND CO. KOMAL SYED SHAHEEN AIR UZMA RAFIQUE SABA RASHID DALIYAH AND EMRE ASHRAF CLOVER SCHOOL MARIUM ASHRAF AFSHEEN JUNEJO AISHA MALIK KHAWAJA FARJAD NABI ASRA KHAN
BOARD OF GOVERNORS
Ali Zahid Rahim
IMKAAN LEADERSHIP
President
Tahera Hasan General Secretary
Harris Khalique Vice President
Kiran Aman Joint Secretary
Rahid Sami Treasurer
Rasikh Ismail Member
Sabiha Beyg Wahedna Member
Talat Aslam Member
Yousuf Jamil Ansari Member
Dr. Shehla Naqvi Member
MANAGEMENT TEAM
Tahera Hasan Director
Parvez Akhtar Field Manager & Community Coordinator
Umme Hamdani Manager Communication & Coordination
HELP IMKAAN DELIVER LASTING CHANGE
YOUR GIFT TODAY CAN HELP CHANGE THE WORLD TOMORROW Donations to Imkaan Welfare Organization can be made directly to our bank account as indicated below: Imkaan Welfare Organization Muslim Commercial Bank Khayaban-e-Saadi Branch Current Account No: 0595026121003100 Branch Code: 1451