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Founder's Message
WELCOME TO THE GRASSROOTS ASSOCIATION FOR COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT !!!
For a long time now, Pakistan has been facing a number of chronic social, political, economic and environmental problems which have caused many challenges in the development of; education, health, poverty reduction, gender empowerment, population control and the mainstreaming of marginalized and deprived communities and groups. Degrading social and cultural values, derailed youth and disappointing performances by social and economic indicators are representative of a state of disillusionment on all fronts of development efforts undertaken so far, while natural disasters and the degradation of the environment are also emerging as some of the pressing issues that need to be addressed by means of empowering communities at a grassroots level. Unfortunately, the UNDP “Human Development Reports” for 2007 paints a bleak picture for Pakistan if things do not change soon.
Having said all this, what can a non-governmental organization like GRACE do to raise the profile of human rights issues? What we have done in the past is to design and undertake activities which lead directly to community empowerment by strengthening peoples’ voices and enhancing their capacities at a grassroots level. We at GRACE are inspired to tackle the root causes of poverty, environmental degradation, conflicts and social and economic imbalances and exclusions, by finding and providing practical solutions which, when accepted in good faith and translated into positive action, can have the highest potential for social transformation, justice and sustainable development.
As a dynamic organization, GRACE is committed to bringing a silent yet effective revolution to Pakistan at a national level, similar in effect to the one demonstrated by bringing positive change to Kawardu; one of its remotest villages. Over the past one and half decades, true to its founding ideal, GRACE has been determined to continue growing, developing, improving and expanding. This journey is a never-ending process, and we have to equip ourselves to face new trends and challenges. To achieve these interests and aspirations, which we know we share with many like-minded colleagues, we wholeheartedly encourage the participation and collaboration of all national and international communities, whether it is in the form of moral, technical or financial support.
Thank you |
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GRACE received a grant from the Government of Japan for a water supply project to provide safe drinking water through the provision of water supply system to the residents of Astana Bala, Astana paeen, Gultri colony and Brolumo colony in Skardu.
The grant of US$90262 for the project “Female Social Empowerment through 4 Kilometers Potable Water for Displaced People Astana Skardu” was received under the Government of Japan Official Development Assistance program “Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects”. The agreement was signed between H.E Mr. Chihiro Atsumi, the Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan and GRACE Chief Executive Officer Wazir Shamshad Hussain in the Embassy of Japan in Islamabad on November 4, 2009.
The overall objective of the project is to improve the quality of life of the displaced population, particularly women and female children by providing clean drinking water to all of the 12750 populations in the target villages. This will be achieved by the installment of 4 kilometers main pipelines that can fulfill the water need of the entire population of the villages. The provision of safe drinking water at their doorstep will reduce the workload of women and girls, who are currently spending around 5-6 hours every day to bring water from a long distance. Furthermore, it will contribute to the social empowerment of women by mobilizing them in water management committees and enhance their participation in socioeconomic development activities. The anticipated outcome would be increased awareness and involvement of women in home based economic activities and the enrollment of girls in school which will positively impact female literacy, participation and empowerment. Consumption of safe drinking water will also improve the general health conditions of the communities, reducing the incidence of water born diseases, infant mortality and morbidity.
At the signing ceremony the Ambassador H.E Mr. Chihiro Atsumi expressed his great appreciation for GRACE `s efforts to improve the living standards of disadvantaged communities in remote areas of Pakistan and showed his interest to continue working with GRACE also in the future. He emphasized that this project would contribute to further strengthening of the friendly relations between Japan and Pakistan. Mr. Khadim Hussain Founder Grace Association Pakistan and the CEO of GRACE, Wazir Shamshad Hussain expressed their gratitude for Japanese assistance in community development activities in Pakistan, especially in disadvantaged regions like Baltistan. He invited the Ambassador to visit Skardu that he accepted.
The Government of Japan also provided financial assistance for construction of GRACE Public School Skardu in 2008.
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Members of GRACE report that Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from Waziristan can only sustain themselves for a short time with very limited provisions that they have been able to carry with them so that basic relief assistance is required. read_more... |
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Grace Association
