CLOSE

Archives

51

Rahman, a young boy living in Ghulam Muhammad Bhambhro village of District Khairpur, Sindh, is a participant of a healthcare initiative led by Community World Service Asia (CWSA) and supported by the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD). His story highlights the impact of accessible and quality healthcare for marginalised families.

Seven-year-old Rahman is Punhal and Heer’s second child. The parents live hand-to-mouth on 1.5 acres of fertile land with their four children. Their modest income and lack of resources make it nearly impossible to meet the food security needs of the family, let alone address emergencies. Rehman resides in the desert region of Taluka Nara, an area severely impacted by climate change. In May, June, July, and August 2024, the region experienced intense heat waves that further exacerbated the challenges faced by its inhabitants.

The family’s lives were upended when Rahman suffered severe burns after accidentally falling into a fire. The severe burns along his back were quite worrisome for his parents. With no savings and limited options, they took him to a private dispensary thrice, spending a borrowed sum of PKR 5,000 (approximately USD 18), but Rahman’s condition did not improve.

Desperate and running out of options, the family learned about the Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health (MNCH) Centre at Rural Health Centre (RHC) Nara Gate (in the same union council as their village). They met Khursheed, a staff nurse at the centre who carefully reviewed Rahman’s medical history and prescribed a new medication. For the first time, Rahman’s condition began to improve within a week. By the second visit, his parents were surprised by his swift recovery.

“We were worried about his health, but the free medication and quality care at Nara Gate helped him recover within just one week,” Rahman’s parents remarked. “We were struggling to afford treatment, but CWSA’s intervention saved us from financial ruin. Rahman’s recovery is a testament to their dedication and care.”

The family’s initial hesitation stemmed from their distrust of government healthcare facilities, often viewed as poorly equipped and understaffed. However, their experience at RHC Nara Gate changed these assumptions. The facility provided free treatment and delivered services with dignity and respect.
This positive experience inspired the family to advocate for the facility within their community. Rahman’s recovery encouraged others to trust and utilise the healthcare services at RHC Nara Gate.

Since CWSA revitalised RHC Nara Gate in March 2023, it has served as a lifeline for the community. The centre, operational five days a week from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM, offers essential services such as primary healthcare and MNCH programs. In partnership with the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD), CWSA has provided healthcare services and free medication to over 15,942 patients between August and October 2024, transforming lives in Taluka Nara.

Rahman has now recovered and is in good health. He has returned to school and enjoys playing with his siblings and friends in the village. His parents, once burdened with worry, now dream of a brighter future for their son.

“We want him to continue his education and build a better life for himself,” said his father with a hopeful smile.

Rahman’s story highlights the power of accessible, quality healthcare to save lives and restore faith in public systems. Owing to CWSA and its partners’ efforts, RHC Nara Gate has become a trusted resource for the community, embodying the promise of dignity, respect, and equity in healthcare. Families like Rahman’s now have hope that even in times of crisis, help is within reach.

50

Under a shade, steel plates filled with warm, homemade meals wait for the children at around 11:00 AM on a hot summer day. Bananas and apples rest on the side, a rare treat for the students who eagerly gather for lunch. The aroma of freshly cooked roti (flat bread) and mixed vegetables drifts through the air as Soorma, one of the school cooks, ladles food onto each plate. Her daughter, Bhawna, watches eagerly—today’s meal, like every other, means more than just nourishment. It represents a new chapter in the village’s journey towards education and empowerment.

For years, Government Girls’ Primary School Ratnore lay abandoned, its doors closed in 2008, leaving most of the village’s girls without access to education. Ratnore is about 45 kilometres away from the main Umerkot city in Sindh. Cultural and economic barriers, coupled with the ever-present struggle against food insecurity, made it nearly impossible for families to send their daughters to school. However, that changed when Community World Service Asia (CWSA), with the support of Presbyterian World Service & Development (PWS&D), stepped in. By reopening the school and launching a school feeding programme, they not only filled empty stomachs but also rekindled a thirst for learning.

Inside the makeshift school kitchen, Soorma kneads dough, sweat trickling down her forehead in the midday heat. She and another village woman prepare fresh meals daily, a task she wholeheartedly embraces, knowing her daughter and many others will eat well.

“My daughter Bhawna always wanted to study, but there was no school for girls here,” Soorma says, rolling out a roti before tossing it onto the hot griddle. “When the school finally opened, the lunch programme made it easier for us to send her. Now, she is happy, learning English, and dreams of becoming a doctor.”

Bhawna, a bright-eyed eight-year-old, echoes her mother’s pride. “I love coming to school! The food is always delicious, and I want to keep studying,” she says.

The school feeding programme also includes fresh goat milk every afternoon before lunch. Meena, a local goat owner, arrives early to deliver the milk, a task she has taken upon herself with unwavering commitment. She is among the 30 women from different households of the village who have received goats to support the school. In the evening, the owners use the milk for their families.

“I bring milk for the children every day because I want my daughter and all the other girls to grow up strong and educated,” she says. “Even if my goat’s milk runs out, I borrow some from my neighbours—this is my responsibility.”

For Meena, education is a family mission. Her eldest son is studying to become a doctor, while her younger children are also pursuing school. “We couldn’t study because of poverty,” she says, “but I will do everything I can to give my children a better future.”

Before the school feeding programme, many children had one meal a day or relied on simple meals at home—if lucky. Rabia, a student, recalls a time before school became part of her daily routine.

“When we didn’t attend school, we only had cow’s milk and a few vegetables like guar and chibhar,” she says. “Now, we eat a proper meal every day, and I enjoy studying.”

For her classmates Sapna and Raksha, the change is life-altering. “We come to school happily now, knowing we’ll get a good meal. Our health has improved, and more girls in our village are joining school,” they explain. “And we love biryani which is cooked once a week here and is very tasty!”

The impact extends beyond individual students. From January to December 2024, the project implemented in the Union Councils of Kaplore, Sekhro, and Faqeer Abdullah ensured that 450 students across three schools in Umerkot received nutritious meals. Parents who were once hesitant about sending their daughters to school now feel reassured.

“People in our village didn’t prioritise girls’ education before,” says a Village Management Committee member (VMC) member. “But when CWSA involved us, we offered two community halls to host the school. Now, 1201 girls are enrolled.”

The initiative has also created economic opportunities for local women. Besides Soorma, another village woman Dheli has been employed as a school helper, responsible for serving food and cleaning. The women are incentivised by being paid PKR 25,000 each. Even the government has collaborated—after the school reopened, the District Education Officer (DEO) provided an additional teacher from the village.

For too long, hunger and gender inequality kept girls out of classrooms. But through this programme, education and nutrition have become intertwined, breaking long-standing barriers. The meals provide more than sustenance—they offer a reason to attend school, a chance to dream, and a path toward independence.

As Bhawna finishes her lunch and wipes her hands clean, she runs off to join her friends, ready for the next lesson. In a village where education was once an afterthought for girls, the clang of steel plates and students’ laughter are sounds of change—proof that something as simple as a meal can redefine futures.

  1. On average, 95 to 100 girls attend the school. However, attendance tends to be lower during the seasonal crop harvesting period. ↩︎

65

In a remote village in Umerkot District, Sindh, 45-year-old Zulikhan fights every day to provide for her eight children— aged between 17 and 5 years. With agriculture as their only livelihood, her family depends on a small four-acre plot of land. But as harsh climatic conditions worsen and resources remain scarce, the struggle to survive grows more daunting with each passing season.

The agricultural land that Zulikhan and her family cultivate generates an annual income of PKR 120,000 (approx. USD 428) from seasonal crops such as millet, cluster beans, and moth beans—planted once each year. However, this modest income falls far short of covering the family’s monthly expenses, which amount to PKR 25,000 (approx. USD 90). To bridge the gap, Zulikhan’s husband, Sohbdar, takes on additional work selling wood, earning between PKR 12,000 to 15,000 (approx. USD 42 to 53) per month. Yet, despite his extra efforts, the family continues to struggle to meet even their most basic needs. Their monthly expenses add up to a minimum of 20,000 (approx. USD 72) for food and PKR 5,000 (approx. USD 18) for necessities such as water, healthcare, and hygiene maintenance. And the expenses are usually more than this.

To support vulnerable communities affected by severe climate change impact and subsequent poverty and food insecurity, Community World Service Asia (CWSA), with the support of Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe (DKH), launched an initiative titled, “Strengthening the Livelihoods and Resilience of Vulnerable Agricultural Communities in Rural Sindh, Pakistan” in June 2024. Lasting up until August 2025, the interventions under this project aim to enhance the resilience of these affected communities by improving agricultural and livelihood opportunities in the area.

A total of 460 community members from 15 villages across Union Councils Sekhro and Faqeer Abdullah were carefully selected for assistance based on strict criteria, prioritising large, agriculture-dependent families living below the poverty line. Among them was Zulikhan’s family, chosen to receive a goat to support long-term livelihood sustainability, along with PKR 17,000 (approx. USD 61) in cash assistance for food security, provided in October and November. To ease the burden of water collection, the family was also given water rollers, while kitchen gardening kits and high-quality seeds were provided to promote home-based food production.

As part of the initiative, Zulikhan and her family participated in comprehensive training sessions on agriculture, livestock management, and disaster risk reduction (DRR) to strengthen their resilience and improve productivity. Additionally, livestock vaccinations and deworming services were provided to ensure the health and productivity of their animals.

The kitchen gardening kit included essential tools such as a hand sprinkler, hand hoe, garden trowel, nets, and 50 grams each of seven different vegetable seeds, equipping Zulikhan and other families with the resources to grow fresh, nutritious food at home, enhancing both food security and self-sufficiency.

The cash assistance provided by CWSA has been a lifeline for Zulikhan and her family, helping ease their financial struggles. With the first installment, she prioritised purchasing essential groceries like oil, tea leaves, and sugar, ensuring her family had enough food to sustain them. Upon receiving the second installment, she saw an opportunity to create a more stable source of income by starting a small business selling goods, allowing her to cover her household’s daily expenses and work toward greater financial independence.

From the second instalment of PKR 17,000 (approx. USD 61), Zulikhan decided to invest in purchasing confectionery items at wholesale rates. Given that the village had only one shop, which often lacked essential goods, she recognised an unmet demand within the community. Seeing this as an opportunity, she made a strategic decision to start a small-scale business from her home, selling these items to her neighbours. Setting up a small shop just within her house, she was able to generate additional income while providing villagers with easier access to everyday necessities. This initiative turned out to be a strategic and rewarding choice, enabling her to set aside small savings while actively contributing to her family’s financial stability.

Meanwhile, Zulikhan continues to run her small home-based shop, earning between PKR 200 to 300 (approx. USD 0.70 to 1.70) per day. On average, she generates an additional PKR 8,000 (approx. USD 28) per month from this business. Despite her efforts and the support from the project, the total household income barely covers their essential expenses, but at least they are not in debt now.

However, with the support of Community World Service Asia (CWSA) and Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe (DKH), Zulikhan’s family has seen a significant improvement in their monthly income and livelihood. The combination of cash assistance, agricultural training, and resource distribution has provided them with the means to strengthen their food security and economic stability.

Driven by her unwavering determination to secure a better future for her family, Zulikhan is committed to growing her small business, ensuring they no longer struggle with daily household expenses. But beyond financial relief, this initiative has fostered a sense of empowerment, resilience, and independence within her household. It has given them not just the means to survive, but the confidence to build a more self-reliant and secure future—one where they can thrive with dignity and hope.

49

Imamzadi and her husband Irshad Ali of village Bakshan Metlo, about 17 kilometres west of Khairpur city, own one acre of land and work another acre for a landlord. The harvest of the latter is shared on a fifty-fifty basis between them and the owner. However, the system is inequitable because if a calamity occurs and the crops are lost, the landlord does not share the loss. That is what happened in the great deluge of 2022.

They have only two children, a son and a daughter. In a milieu where a dozen or more children are taken as security for old age, Imamzadi says they had two because they thought it would be easier to feed and educate them. She recognises the reality that more working hands also mean a greater number of mouths to feed and it squares out in the end. Also, when they grow up, sons and daughters are of no help because they have their own families to feed and the same poverty to struggle against. “Two children are better,” she says.

In December 2024, she was a happy woman, because for the first time in her life, she was only under a loan of about PKR 20,000 (approx. USD 70.75), and her fresh young wheat and vegetable patch were looking good. She could not say ‘CWSA’ but used the word idaro (organisation) and it is because of this idaro that she was burdened only so lightly.

She explains that every sowing season, they hire a tractor to plough and obtain seeds on loan on the understanding that the creditor will be repaid after the harvest. In between if they ever need insecticides, those too are on credit. They never used fertiliser only because they could not afford it even if doing without it meant harvesting just about 600 kilograms of wheat per acre.

Back in 2022, after she and Irshad had harvested their wheat and paid off their loan, they prepared their land for sorghum and things looked good when it began to sprout. As the first rains began in July that year, the couple rejoiced, for the timing was perfect. But it rained and rained and rained endlessly and soon their young sorghum was under a metre of water. Four weeks of non stop rain wiped out everything they had on their meagre two acres. Without a harvest, Imamzadi and Irshad Ali fell into a debt of PKR 50,000 (approx. USD 176.87).

For a whole year, the couple kept body and soul together working as labourers where needed. In fact, Irshad Ali spent most of his time in nearby towns and even in Khairpur city where he worked on construction sites where he used to earn a daily wage of PKR 500 (approx. USD 1.8) . If they had lost their crops in the floods, others were deprived of the roofs above their heads and there was frantic rebuilding activity where Irshad was able to lend a hand for a few hundred rupees a day.

“If he got work in the city, Irshad would return with some flour and vegetables and a little cash. Then we would eat, but even so, that was not like before. There was very little food for a whole year,” says Imamzadi. As for herself, she earned around PKR 250 (approx. USD 0.9) by cutting 40kg of grass and selling it for fodder. If rainwater had killed off crops, at least it produced this abundance of grasses.

There was no wheat sowing in November 2022 because of waterlogging. The sorghum harvest in the summer of 2023 provided the family just about enough to sell for cash and keep some for food. But later that year, a project supported by Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD) and Community World Service Asia (CWSA), brought its first round of farming input for Imamzadi’s family, among others affected by the floods of 2022. There was cash to pay for the tractor to plough and ample seed for the two-acre spread together with fertiliser. The wheat harvest in April 2024 yielded some 1,200 kilograms of wheat per acre.

Imamzadi says this was the first time they had used fertiliser which gave them the bumper crop. After settling with the landlord and selling some of their harvests for cash, they had enough grain to last them through the year. Very judiciously, the couple had also kept aside enough grain to be used as seed for the sowing in November 2024.

With an equanimity that comes from a life of hardship, Imamzadi recounts the only setback of 2024. The family owns 12 date palms, the fruit of which they sometimes process to make chhuvara, the cooked version of date. This past summer the couple had planned not to sell their standing crop for a lower price but to process and sell for better profit. As it was, the harvest had been stunted because of the past year’s waterlogging and just when the prepared fruit was drying in the sun, a short spell of rain damaged it. They could sell it only for half the usual price, about PKR 1,200 (approx. USD 4.24) per 40 kilogram.

When quizzed on how she looks at this loss, Imamzadi says, “What is life without its ups and downs?” And it is not as bad as it might seem for they did not have to invest any money in their date trees and they nevertheless made a profit on the chhuvara. “Next year perhaps there will be a better harvest,” she adds thoughtfully.

However, with the sprouted wheat looking good, Imamzadi had a whole acre of vegetables from seed provided under the project. “This is the first time we have no loan to clear when we harvest our vegetables and wheat. And with our own vegetables doing so well, our food is so much better than ever before,” says a very satisfied Imamzadi.

224

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has issued a heatwave alert, forecasting a sharp rise in temperatures across much of the country. Daytime temperatures are expected to surge significantly, with Sindh and Balochistan projected to experience an increase of 6 to 8°C above normal levels. In some areas of Sindh, temperatures could soar as high as 46 to 48°C, posing serious risks to public health and well-being1. Authorities urge residents to take necessary precautions to mitigate the impact of extreme heat.

In Sindh’s Umerkot district, the heatwave is already intensifying, with temperatures expected to reach 47°C in the coming days. Unusually, this spike has occurred nearly a month earlier than the typical onset in mid-May, with extreme conditions beginning in mid-April. The heatwave is projected to persist through April, May, and June2.

Impact on Vulnerable Populations

The heatwave is disproportionately affecting vulnerable groups, including pregnant and lactating women, children, the elderly, persons with disabilities, individuals with chronic health conditions, and daily wage labourers exposed to the sun for prolonged periods. In Umerkot, these risks are exacerbated by limited access to clean drinking water, electricity, and healthcare services. Women, in particular, face increased burdens during such climate extremes, necessitating urgent, gender-sensitive interventions.

While no casualties have been reported so far, communities are facing major disruptions to daily life. Many residents remain indoors during peak afternoon hours, and CWSA health dispensaries have recorded a sharp decline in patient visits after 12 PM, underscoring the severity of the conditions.

Identified Humanitarian Needs

Several critical humanitarian needs have been identified to safeguard the most vulnerable populations and reduce the impact of extreme heat:

Emergency Health Services

  • Deployment of Mobile Medical Units to reach pregnant women, children, the elderly, and individuals with chronic illnesses in remote areas.
  • Provision of first aid and hydration therapy for those experiencing symptoms of heatstroke and dehydration.
  • Increased staffing and supplies at existing health dispensaries to manage potential surges in heat-related illnesses.

Access to Safe Drinking Water

  • Installation of temporary water stations in public spaces and high-risk areas.
  • Distribution of water containers and purification tablets to households with poor water access.
  • Ensuring clean water supply at schools, health facilities, and community centres.

Community Awareness and Behavioural Change

  • Mass awareness campaigns on heat safety, symptoms of heat exhaustion/stroke, and dehydration prevention.
  • Targeted education sessions through Village Management Committees (VMCs), particularly for women and children.
  • Promotion of protective behaviours, such as avoiding outdoor activities between 11:00 AM–4:00 PM, wearing light clothing, and staying hydrated.

Gender-Sensitive Support

  • Inclusion of women’s specific needs, especially for pregnant and lactating mothers.
  • Safe and private access points for women at water stations and medical services.
  • Distribution of IEC materials tailored for women and girls on self-care during heatwaves.

Infrastructure and Shelter Support

  • Setting up shaded relief centres and cooling zones in public areas, markets, and near labour sites.
  • Distribution of cooling aids like fans, umbrellas, and cloth shades for households.

Community World Service Asia (CWSA) Response

Community World Service Asia (CWSA) has launched a targeted heatwave response in Umerkot, Sindh, in collaboration with the Village Management Committees (VMCs) that it engages with at the community level. Awareness sessions are being held with men, women, and children to share critical information on hydration, heat protection, and behavioural safety—particularly urging residents to avoid outdoor activities between 11:00 AM and 4:00 PM.

The VMCs are playing a pivotal role in strengthening community resilience by disseminating life-saving information and ensuring protection for the most at-risk populations. CWSA is also distributing information, education, and communication (IEC) materials and offering first aid to affected individuals through its three operational health dispensaries.

In coordination with the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), District Administration, and Health Department, CWSA is supporting plans to establish relief camps at hospitals and key public locations. These camps will provide access to clean drinking water, shade, and emergency medical care. Additionally, CWSA is prepared to deploy its Mobile Health Units, equipped with essential supplies, to provide outreach services across the desert union councils of Umerkot.

To address the increasing frequency and intensity of heatwaves in the region, CWSA aims to implement long-term resilience measures:

  • Establishment of community-based heatwave preparedness camps.
  • Creation of permanent heat resilience hubs in high-risk areas.
  • Training of Lady Health Workers and community volunteers in first aid, hydration therapy, and early detection of heat-related illness.
  • Regular early warning sessions and public awareness campaigns.
  • Collaboration with PDMA/DDMA and local media to ensure timely dissemination of heatwave alerts.
  • Ongoing community education on dehydration prevention, heatstroke symptoms, and protective behaviours.

Contacts

Shama Mall
Deputy Regional Director
Programs & Organisational Development
Email: shama.mall@communityworldservice.asia
Tele: 92-21-34390541-4

Palwashay Arbab
Head of Communication
Email: palwashay.arbab@communityworldservice.asia
Tele: 92-21-34390541-4

  1. https://www.nation.com.pk/14-Apr-2025/heatwave-alert-issued-across-pakistan-as-mercury-soars ↩︎
  2. PMD ↩︎

258

Last year, we traveled to the Thar region of Umerkot to document the transformative impact of the Humanitarian Assistance, Early Recovery, and Development (HERD) Project, supported by Canadian Foodgrain Bank (CFGB) and Presbytarian World Service and Development. (PWS&D). Through our lens, we captured stories of resilience, hope, and progress. Six months later, we returned to the village to share the documentary with the very people whose lives it portrayed. The entire community came together to witness their own stories unfold on screen—a moment of reflection, empowerment, and collective strength.

217

Vicholo Par in Umerkot district is a very peculiar village. Of its 120 households, no fewer than 30 have children or adults with disabilities. Sometimes, a single household has two or three differently abled persons. Here, one can observe limbs that appear shortened, hands and feet with irregular shapes, or fingers that are absent. Strangely, despite it being a Hindu village, there is absolutely no inbreeding which is endemic among Muslims.

Although there is a school in the village, several differently abled children have been kept out of it. Bhoj Raj who does not know his age but seems to be about eight, suffers from a considerably shorter right leg with a poorly formed knee joint. He does not wear shoes and reaches school in about 20 minutes[1] by hopping on his good leg. When the hot sand burns his foot, he goes by cartwheels. Until he joined in Grade 1 recently, he remained home helping his mother with housework and feeding the family’s livestock while his five healthy siblings all attended school.

He says he never thought he could be in school until his playmates told him of the new equipment the school[2] had received. There were swings and a seesaw in the grounds and in class they had colourful cards and charts with pictures and names of birds, animals, fruit, and Sindhi, English and Urdu alphabets. 

Government Boys Primary School (GBPS) Vicholo Par is supported by Act for Peace through the “Improving Health and Education Services in Migration-Prone Union Councils of District Umerkot” project. Schools selected for this initiative must meet specific criteria, including being fully functional government schools with at least two classrooms and teachers. Community World Service Asia (CWSA) prioritises the enrollment of girls and the inclusion of vulnerable groups, such as persons with disabilities (PWDs). The project has enhanced this school by providing a multigrade teaching kit for educators, play-based kits for children to promote joyful learning, and teacher training under a positive learning program. Furthermore, the project has installed a swing to promote play-based education and supplied quarterly school materials to ensure a conducive learning environment.

As well as that, they were given materials to paint and draw. Learning had become so much fun since August 2024, they all told Bhoj Raj, that they did not want to leave school when time was up. Just months after he joined, the child wants to be a school teacher when he grows up. “I want to be a teacher so that after my duty in school, I go to every house with disabled children and give lessons free of charge,” he said.

Pato Bai, aged nine, is another student at the same school. She is the only disabled child among her four other siblings. Both her feet are shaped in a way that she walks on the outer sides rather than on the soles. As a child, walking had always been very difficult, but as she grew up, she learned to keep her balance with what nature had given her.

Pato’s mother says that though they live only 10 minutes’ walk away, she did not send her daughter to school because of her difficulty in walking. Also, the government teacher was rarely ever present[3] in school and children simply wasted their time. In her view, Pato was better off helping with chores around the house. She says that the new teacher, Raheem Das[4], being from the same village has been regular in attendance since he joined in March 2021 and the input from the idaro (organisation meaning CWSA) changed her mind. Seeing her daughter doing better than her other siblings, she is happy she changed her mind.

In August 2024, CWSA trained teacher Raheem Das deployed the Early Childhood Care and Education kit to make the classroom a fun place that Pato enrolled in. Her interest in learning is so great that even at home she had asked her siblings to tutor her and consequently was taken in Grade 3. She dreams of studying medicine so that she can prevent children being born with deformities like hers. And if there are any, her pledge to herself is that she will treat them free of charge.

When she does finish her degree, Pato will make a very artistic doctor because of her talent in painting and drawing. The school has several sheets of her artwork on display produced during a recent art competition in which Pato topped. Ever more commendable is the fact that the two students who topped in the games competition are both differently abled – Pato and Bhoj Raj[5].

[1] While other children cover the distance in five to 10 minutes.

[2] The total number of students enrolled is 95, consisting of 65 boys and 30 girls.

[3] The teacher was appointed from a distant village, faced health issues that hindered his regular attendance.

[4] The teacher has passed the government teaching test and has been teaching for four years. He is originally from the village itself.

[5] The teachers promote inclusive education by creating opportunities for all children, including girls, boys, and children with disabilities (PWDs). In remote areas lacking specialised institutions, the teacher works to support the inclusion of PWDs in school admissions and activities. Their efforts ensure equal participation for PWDs in sports, poster competitions, and other events, fostering a sense of belonging and enabling them to continue their education.

262

Latifan, a 20-year-old woman from Ramo Vehro, UC Faqeer Abdullah in Umerkot, lives with her husband, Yaseen Muhammad, and their three-year-old son, Umer. The household also includes her brother-in-law, his wife, and their three children, making it a family of eight living under one roof. Yaseen works as a daily wage labourer, earning PKR 500 (approximately USD 1.8) per day, though there are occasional opportunities where he earns up to PKR 1000  (approximately USD 7.2) for a day’s work. The family’s monthly expenses amount to around PKR 8,000  (approximately USD 28.7), covering essential grocery items such as wheat, sugar, tea leaves, and rice.

In 2021, a severe drought devastated Latifan’s village, destroying agricultural lands and decimating livestock. The family farmed on four acres of shared land, cultivating cluster beans and millet. However, the drought rendered their crops useless, leaving them in a dire economic state. The family faced a very challenging time but they have persevered and remained resilient.

Community World Service Asia (CWSA), with support from Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe (DKH), initiated a Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance programme in the drought-affected regions of Umerkot. The initiative provided PKR 17,000 ( (approximately USD 61) per household every month for three months—September, October, and November—benefitting 460 households, including Latifan’s family. Their inclusion in the programme was due to their large household size, low income, and farming background. Upon receiving the first tranche of PKR 17,000, Latifan prioritised purchasing wheat for PKR 10,000  (approximately USD 36), with PKR 1,000  (approximately USD 3.6) allocated to land preparation expenses. The remaining PKR 6,000  (approximately USD 22) was spent on groceries such as lentils, rice, and tea leaves, leaving her with PKR 1,000  (approximately USD 3.6)  in savings.

Latifan’s aspirations for the remaining instalments include repairing their home and purchasing a mobile phone to facilitate better communication. Her leadership skills are evident through her active participation in the community as a member of the Village Management Committee led by CWSA. As deputy president, she not only takes training sessions from CWSA’s women mobilisers but also shares her knowledge on cultivation and harvesting techniques with other women farmers in the community. Her confidence and proactive nature have made her a key contact for NGOs organising community visits.

The cash assistance programme has significantly improved the family’s living conditions, enabling them to afford three meals a day. Previously, they managed only one or two meals daily. The family’s meals now consist of a good breakfast, potato curry for lunch, and chapati (flatbread) with curry for dinner. They live in a modest two-room house shared between Latifan’s family and her brother-in-law’s household. Their combined livestock of seven goats—four belonging to the brother-in-law and three to Latifan—provides milk for household consumption, with additional milk sold by her brother-in-law, who earns PKR 200 to  300  (approximately USD 1) as a shepherd.

Despite these improvements, Latifan’s family continues to face hardships. The lingering threat of drought hampers agricultural recovery, and Yaseen’s fluctuating income barely meets their needs. A mounting debt of PKR 200,000 (approximately USD 720) weighs heavily on the family, accrued primarily from food purchases and medical expenses, including PKR 40,000 (approximately USD 144) for Latifan’s cesarean operation when her son was born. Health remains a top concern, particularly with her son being susceptible to common childhood illnesses like flu, fever, and cough, which could hinder his healthy growth. Additionally, her nephew’s sleep disturbances pose a further health worry. However, through hard work and payments made to the landlord, they have managed to repay PKR 100,000  (approximately USD 360) of the debt.

Latifan’s determination remains unwavering. Her family plans to use the forthcoming assistance to improve their land conditions, resume crop cultivation, and allocate PKR 10,000  (approximately USD 36) towards further debt repayment. With a vision for a more stable future, Latifan continues to lead her household and community with resilience, striving for financial independence and a sustainable livelihood amidst ongoing challenges.

179

Naveed Metlo began working as a farm laborer before the age of 10, while still in Grade 4 of primary school. At the time, he was one of four brothers and three sisters, and the entire family toiled in the fields to secure enough food for survival. Struggling to make ends meet, their challenges deepened as the family grew with the addition of two more sons. Despite the burden of school and farm work in the afternoons, Naveed kept at it and successfully completed secondary school education in 2021.

“In our village Bakhshan Metlo of Khairpur, we were not paid cash for the work we did on a farm. Instead, at harvest time we were paid in grain. We sold some of it for cash while the rest fed our family. Sometimes it lasted the whole year until the next harvest, but mostly we ran out three months earlier,” recounts Naveed. He says in those days none of the siblings had any spending money because any cash in the home came from the sale of grain and was kept by the parents.

After completing his education, Naveed returned to his old work. In 2023, he heard of an initiative led by Community World Service Asia (CWSA) and CAFOD1 for Over, providing technical training for suitable young men. The devastating floods severely affected Naveed’s village, damaging his house and completely destroying his family’s livelihood sources. As the family’s sole breadwinner, Naveed was identified among the flood-affected individuals when CWSA initiated the Skill Development Component. The selection process was carried out by Village Management Committees (VMCs) formed by CWSA, with the proposed participants’ list shared with the MEAL team for pre-verification. Following the verification, Naveed was selected to receive training in motorcycle mechanics. He completed a three-month training program along with a 15-day apprenticeship in the local market. After successfully passing the Trade Testing Board (TTB) exam, he received his course completion certificate. The three-month training was a cinch for a naturally gifted mechanic, especially because it brought him a stipend of PKR 550 (approx. USD 2) per day. This was the first pocket money the man had ever had. After the fourth week, Naveed apprenticed himself to a mechanic in town and spent his afternoons helping him and honing his skill further.

The ustad (master of the workshop) was a strange man, says Naveed. “As soon as I reached there, he would take off and disappear for the rest of the day. Gradually I began to realise the man did not have his heart in the work,” reports Naveed. But by the time he graduated from the training centre and joined his ustad, he had told Naveed that he was going to live in Karachi and Naveed could have the workshop to himself with some of the tools.

Naveed did just that and as one of the only two trained mechanics, he soon attracted good business. From nearby Kingri town, he purchased more tools on credit and his establishment soon gained the look of a well-established setup. That meant more business, he says. As of December 2024, he had repaid most of his loan of PKR 110,000 (approx. USD 395). On display, he had spare parts that turn over fast and because most repairmen in Ahmedpur do not keep such stocks, his outlet became the centre where people resorted.

“Spare parts are good business because profit ranges between 20 to 25 percent and currently I have a stock of Rs 80,000 [USD 287],” explains Naveed. Coupled with the tools and other accessories, his workshop is worth PKR 200,000 (approx. USD 718). To increase his earnings, his focus in November 2024 was on increasing his stock and display of spare parts.

So, what is it other than the fact that he is a trained mechanic that draws customers to his establishment? “First of all it is the outlook of my setup. Customers see I have spare parts and then my labour charges are about 25 percent less than other mechanics. Also, it is the respect I give my customers,” says Naveed.

Opening at 8:30 AM, he works for the next 10 hours. But sometimes when a wrecked engine comes in and the owner wants it done as soon as possible, he even has to work through the night. The earning in such cases is good and he goes home with a neat profit ranging between PKR 3000 to 4000 (approx. USD 11-14)  rupees. A slow day still means that Naveed earns PKR 1500 (approx. USD 5). With this kind of income, it is easy for him to pay the monthly rent of PKR 4000.

He says being a motorcycle repairman also has bonuses. Used engine oil sells for PKR 150 (approx. USD 0.54) per litre, while old spare parts go for PKR 120 (approx. USD 0.43) per kilogram. Old brake shoes make the best sell at PKR 450 (approx. 1.61) per kilogram. “I save all the scrap for a month and make about Rs 10,000 [approx. USD 36] from its sale.” Though there are several other mechanics in the village, Naveed is doing good business because of the large number of bikes.

His natural mechanical talent keeps him from restricting himself to just being a motorcycle mechanic. In October, he borrowed a welding transformer from a friend who was not using it. “Welding is very easy to learn and I have taught myself,” says Naveed. If it goes well, he will return the borrowed machine and purchase a new one for his workshop. Before he got the machine, if there was any welding required for a job, he had to send the bike out to a neighbouring workshop. That costs money. But the way he has picked up the craft, it is clear that Naveed will soon be doing his welding with his own machine.

Asked what is the most satisfactory aspect of the work he is doing, he does not have to think hard. “I am paying for the education of my two youngest brothers. Every morning I bring them from the village to Ahmedpur for school and take them back for lunch,” says Naveed. He is very clear that while he has plans to expand his business with more spare parts, his real aim in life is to see that these two little boys get ahead in life with college degrees.

  1. Catholic Agency for Overseas Development ↩︎

180

Sabhagi, a 75-year-old widow, has endured a lifetime of hardship. She lives alone in her small mud house in the rural village of Dolat Laghari, in UC Dolatpur of District Mirpurkhas[1]. Since her husband Malhar passed away from a life-threatening illness four years ago, she has faced life alone, drawing on her unwavering strength to persevere. Her only son, now married, lives independently.

For years, Sabhagi worked tirelessly on a small agricultural plot of half-acre, cultivating crops with minimal tools. Farming at her age was physically demanding, and her earnings barely covered basic needs. She remains in debt, though the exact amount is unclear; her landlord maintains the records. Despite the hardships, she continues to toil in the fields daily, her hands worn from decades of labour but her spirit unbroken.

“I had no choice but to keep going,” Sabhagi recalled. “Farming is all I know—it’s what keeps me alive.”

Sabhagi doesn’t own the land she farms; it belongs to a landlord, and she works as a tenant farmer. The arrangement is typically a verbal agreement, where the crop yield or money earned from it is shared on a 50% basis between the farmer and the landowner. Through this, she earns an irregular income of PKR 300–400 (approximately USD 1-1.5) per day. Seasonal vegetables like carrots, onions, cauliflower, radishes, spinach, coriander, turnips, and tomatoes are grown on this land. 

The rising costs of seeds, tools, and fertilisers left her struggling for years. However, her fortunes began to shift when CWSA provided essential agricultural inputs—seeds, fertilisers, and tools—and gave a PKR 15,000 (approx.USD 54) cash grant to ease her financial burden. She also received seven different kitchen gardening seeds and training in sustainable agricultural practices, which improved her farming techniques. Now, she expects to earn PKR 500–700 (approx. USD 1.8-2.5) from her kitchen garden. These vegetables will be fresher, healthier, and free from chemicals compared to those sold in the market.

The 2022 floods devastated her village and farmland. She was forced to live in a roadside shelter for six to seven months. Sabhagi faced financial losses, food insecurity, and an uphill battle to rebuild. As an elderly widow and a lone farmer, she continues to face numerous challenges, including physical strain, health concerns, and mental stress exacerbated by isolation and adverse weather conditions.

After taking part in a training on biological pest control methods, disease identification, and the use of organic materials, Sabhagi learned to make neem spray for pest control and compost using organic materials like vegetable waste and farmyard manure. These sustainable practices have improved soil quality and boosted crop yields. “The training was held in our village on October 3, 2024, saving us time and money,” Sabhagi shared. “The seeds and guidance have made farming more productive, and our families now enjoy better, healthier food.”

With newfound knowledge and resources, Sabhagi has noticed improvements in her yield. The kitchen gardening seeds—onion, cauliflower, coriander, radish, spinach, and turnip—have flourished. She uses compost and hand sprays to enhance soil quality and anticipates better crop production in the coming months. This initiative aims to encourage sustainable kitchen gardening practices, improve food security ensuring that households have access to nutritious food throughout the year by equipping farmers with the necessary skills and resources.

Under the Agriculture Support Project supported by Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD), CWSA has made a difference in the lives of 899 farmers in Mirpurkhas, providing vital agricultural inputs and cash (PKR 15,000) for land preparation. Farmer selection was conducted through 68 Village Management Committees (VMCs), prioritising widows, people with disabilities, orphans, and families in need.  The project spanned 95 villages across two union councils in Mirpurkhas between August 2023 and July 2024. Of the 899 participants, 635 were women, with 100 lead farmers[2] (70% women) receiving targeted support through a two-days training session conducted by a CWSA Trainer to promote community-level capacity building. 

In 2023, the lead farmers participated in four comprehensive Training of Trainers (ToT) sessions designed to equip them with specialised skills. These ToTs focused on Crop Selection, Soil Preparation, and Water Conservation Management, Agriculture Management Practices, Harvesting and Post-Harvest Management and Integrated Pest and Disease Management (IPM). Following its completion, the lead farmers returned to their villages to share their knowledge through localised training sessions in their native languages, ensuring accessibility and cultural relevance. This cascading model empowered the broader farming community with practical techniques for improved agricultural practices.

As part of the effort to promote climate-smart agriculture, six fermenters were constructed in collaboration with lead farmers in Mirpurkhas. These fermenters serve as practical examples for farmers, demonstrating effective methods for improving soil health, enhancing organic matter, and increasing soil moisture retention. The fermenters are in the villages of Shahbaz Rangar,  Sohbat Laghari, Chodhary Nizamuldin in UC Dolatpur and Yousaf Rajarr, Bhagat Meghraj and Raidhan Colony, UC Taju Khaskheli.

Today, Sabhagi smiles more often, her heart lighter with the knowledge that her hard work is finally paying off. “I’m no longer just surviving; I’m living,” she says. “The support I received has given me new energy and a belief that things can get better, even at my age.”

Her story highlights how timely interventions and compassion can transform lives. What was once a symbol of struggle—her land—now blossoms with hope and promise for a brighter future.

[1] Sindh, Pakistan.

[2]  A lead farmer is a trained and experienced community representative who participates in Training of Trainers (TOT). After completing their training, they serve as role models, mentors, and extension agents, sharing knowledge with other farmers in their villages. They promote sustainable agricultural practices, improve crop yields, and work to enhance livelihoods within their communities.

123...31Next Page 1 of 31
© Community World Service Asia