TakingITGlobal: Inspire, Inform, Involve

INTRODUCTION“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that has.”rn Margrat Mead rnrn [ view more ]

INTRODUCTION“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that has.”rn Margrat Mead rnrn rnrnrnFarz is an Urdu word whose literal translation means obligation or responsibility. Farz Association of Rehabilitation and Development is a registered non-governmental organization that was formed by some committed motivated youth of Rawalpindi & Islamabad city in 2003. These passionate youth took the social development of youth and children as their enduring social obligation. The organization has undergone an evolutionary process to become a mature professional non-governmental organization. Initially a group of youth got together to fulfill their social obligation (Farz) of social development issues of youth and children in Rawalpindi city. Later on it got registered as Citizen Community Board to work in partnership with District and Tehsil Government. After a while it was registered as a non governmental organization under Social welfare Act. However, the vision and mission of the organization remained intact since its inception. rnVision: Farz Association of Rehabilitation and Development envisions of “an equitable society for children and youth wherein they avail equal opportunities to harness their full potential to become socially responsible citizens who fulfill their rights and obligations.” rnrnrnMission: Farz Association of Rehabilitation and Development is a non governmental organization that strives for the development of youth and children by taking this as its social obligation to be fulfilled by:rnrnrn• Building capacities of youth and rnchildren rnrn• Creating a congenial environment for growth and development rnrnrn• Proactively involving stakeholders to mutually decide and share their roles and responsibilities.rn rnrn• Bridging gaps between public, communal and private institutions
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Core Thematic Areas:rn• Education for Every Childrnrnrn• Youth developmentrnrnrnrn• Promoting safe and congenial environmentrnrnrnrn• Communal Health & HygienernrnrnEducation for Every Child Child Labour- Farz Association of Rehabilitation and Development mainly operates in urban slums...
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Core Thematic Areas:rn• Education for Every Childrnrnrn• Youth developmentrnrnrnrn• Promoting safe and congenial environmentrnrnrnrn• Communal Health & HygienernrnrnEducation for Every Child Child Labour- Farz Association of Rehabilitation and Development mainly operates in urban slums of Rawalpindi and Islamabadrn.rn These slums are poverty stricken where a large number of families compel their children to get involved in child labourrn. Child labour in itself denies a child from education and social nurturing. Besides this, it exposes a child to a number of social and health hazards including child sexual abuse. rnrnFarz Association of Rehabilitation and Development realizes this issue as one of the major issues of Pakistan. The organization took some practical steps to address this issue. First of all it conducted a rapid assessment in slums of Rawalpindi and Islamabad to understand the intensity and gravity of the issue. Furthermore in 2006 it also joined hands with ITA-Idara-i- Taleem-O-Agehi and ILO to establish 10 Drop-in centers for children involved in rag-picking (one of the worst and most hazardous form of child labour). It provided mobilization and project implementation support to both the partner organizations.Promoting Safe & Congenial Environment (both natural and social) of poor communities is not conducive. This occurs because of their poor settlements as well as un-healthy practices resulting from lack of awareness about social and environmental issues. These slums have poor sanitary conditions because poor public infrastructure as well as unsafe disposal of liquid and solid waste.rnrnFarz Association of Rehabilitation and Development launched a solid waste management program in union council #5 of Rawalpindi city with the support of UNDP. The program focused on establishing a primary collection system of solid waste management by adopting 3R strategy i.e. Recycle, Reduce & Reuse. Under this program, the organization sensitized families and the target community with the help of IEC material, interactive awareness sessions, door-to-door sensitization campaign and regional level workshops. The organization also successfully developed liaison with the District Municipal Administration of Rawalpindi for effective secondary collection of solid waste from the target area.rnrnMoreover, Farz Association of Rehabilitation and Development also installed a communal water purification plant in 2007 with the support of UNDP.rnrnHealth & HygienernFarz Association of Rehabilitation and Development regularly holds health and hygiene awareness sessions with the youth and children of its drop-in centers and ICT centers. Besides this, the organization also joined hands with The Asia Foundation to conduct awareness campaign on TB in Dhok Hasu, Rawalpindi.The organization has organized free medical camps in Dhok Hasu, Rawalpindi on biannually basis. The organization also has a Blood Donation Group to help patients in need.rnrnrnOther Interventionsrnrn Election Awareness Program with the support of Paiman Trust Pakistanrnrn Help Center * Election Day First Aid and Awareness rnrn Emergency relief program for earthquake victims.rnrn Formation & Coordination of CCB net work.rnrn Work on awareness on TB DOT Program Support of Asia FoundationrnrnrnPartners of Farz Association of Rehabilitation and DevelopmentrnTill now, the organization has implemented its programs and projects with the support of UNDP, District Government Rawalpindi, The Asia Foundation, Paiman Trust and ITA/ILO.
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Youth DevelopmentrnYouth of urban slums has great potential to build their societies provided their potential is channeled in the right direction. However, owing to uncongenial social environment lack of proper counseling and nurturing opportunities, the youth of urban slums get bewildered, often...
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Youth DevelopmentrnYouth of urban slums has great potential to build their societies provided their potential is channeled in the right direction. However, owing to uncongenial social environment lack of proper counseling and nurturing opportunities, the youth of urban slums get bewildered, often discontinue their studies in the middle; being jobless get involved in hazardous practices like usage of drugs, sexual abusage and other criminal activities. The areas where Farz Association of Rehabilitation and Development is operating, has a large number of youth appearing to be potential dynamite for the peace and integrity of the society. rnrnFarz Association of Rehabilitation and Development understanding its obligation, established and Information Communication Technology Centers with the support of UNDP in 2006. The ICT center not only provides ICT related knowledge, skills and information to young girls and boys but it also helps in engaging the youth in healthy social activities. Through this ICT center, Farz Association of Rehabilitation and Development has developed a cohort of volunteers who participate in social development activities. This ICT center is focal point for delivering life skills trainings to youth as well as career counseling sessions. Monthly personal health & hygiene sessions are also delivered to the youth coming to ICT center.
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