The rural Pakistan is about to witness a massive reinvigoration drive at a large scale aimed at revitalizing the standard of living of the masses in the villages in Pakistan.

In the province of Sindh, lies a tapestry of communities often overlooked by mainstream development initiatives. However, amidst the challenges of poverty, global warming and a lack of resources for the ambitious NetZero agenda, two organizations, Humaniti and Hoopo, have emerged as a paradigm for many others, tirelessly working to empower these communities and foster sustainable development.

The exceptional collaboration of these two Canadian organizations, have embarked on a transformative journey in rural Pakistan, particularly in the Interior Sindh province expanding its horizon from Sindh Agriculture University Tandojam to over 75 villages. Their commitment goes beyond conventional charity; they're architects of sustainable change. From provisioning basic amenities to fostering job creation and entrepreneurship, every single aspect of their welfare work played a greater role in the battle against poverty. and climate change.

‘Community Champions with Success Stories’“Ramadan Kareem with Humaniti Initiative"

Tayba Stitching & Boutique Center:

Humaniti is making rounds all over in rural Sindh, due to its phenomenal initiative of supporting the local community by means of providing jobs and establishing businesses from the grass-root level in the villages. One of the examples is newly established ‘Tayba Boutique and stitching center’ which mostly benefited the female and the ladies belonging to the poverty-hit families. Through this kind of entrepreneurship, these ladies not only learned about the practical working of the business but also have started earning and supporting their community in many aspects. Some of the ladies working at Tayba Boutique and Stitching Center told this correspondent that after working at the center they are much happier and have become able to feed their families in a respected manner..

Haider Hashmi Boutique Center:

Humaniti is transforming lives through its visionary initiatives. Just like ‘Tayba Boutique Center, an another 'Haider Hashmi Boutique and Stitching Center' stands tall, empowering women from impoverished backgrounds. Through employment and entrepreneurship, Humaniti fosters self-reliance and community support. Women working at Haider Hashmi Boutique center told this correspondent that thru the support of Humaniti, we had received a big order of clothes which we delivered timely to the local community during Eid-ul-Fitr. Apart from this, we are much thankful to Humaniti for their unequivocal cooperation for also providing iftar meals in our village throughout Ramadan. Their testimonies resonate with gratitude, echoing the transformative impact of Humaniti's support.  Apart from these two boutiques, Humaniti have also opened the doors of employment for many others in diversified fields including local chefs, vegetables vendor, wood cutters and several others who were the essential part of the entire supply chain system, aided a lot through Humaniti’s support.  It is pertinent to mention here that the new jobs were created for communities’ service providers, agriculture food suppliers and for those supplying wood for fuel purposes.

"Impact in Action: Testimonials from the Frontlines of Ramadan Kareem with Humaniti"

Dr. Fateh Marri

Vice Chancellor, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam

"As a Vice Chancellor of Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam, I am  really happy to share that for the very first time in any educational institution in the   Interior Sindh, iftar-meals programme organized with the support of Humaniti for serving the University’s local communities, the students, staff and the  faculty throughout the month of Ramadan. I extend my heartfelt appreciation to          Humaniti for their firm support to the local communities, mainly hailing from the rural areas in the precincts of SAU, Tandojam. Moreover, I am glad to further share that the successful implementation of ‘Ramadan Kareem with Humaniti’ initiative played a pivotal role in eliminating the economic hardships faced by the students and its powerful impact on the local communities belonging to SAU was far-fetched with the distribution of ‘Food care hampers’ and ‘Eid gift hampers’. Such community            development initiatives are the ‘need of the hour’ in the rural side in Pakistan. I am once again thankful to     Humaniti for their innovative project of ‘Ramadan iftar meals’ programme, which was never witnessed before in the past in any University in Pakistan. Together, let us continue to uplift and empower those in need.

Dr. Manzoor Ali Abro

Dean FCPT, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam

I am thankful to Hoopo Canada, four months ago SAU signed an MoU with Hoopo Canada after the restless struggle between our Vice Chancellor and Mr. Naseer Qureshi, President Hoopo Canada. After this, we conducted a training workshop on the subject of ‘Carbon Neutral Villages’ with the involvement of our Plant Protection Faculty comprising 100 students including the Masters and Ph.D holders and also the Researchers and the extension workers from different institutions. The workshop was a sure-shot success where resource persons from Canada, the UK, and Pakistan also participated in the workshop. We are also very thankful to Humaniti for their cooperation with Sindh Agriculture University to initiate another great program where iftar meals were provided to 300-400 hostel students throughout the month of Ramadan.

Dr. Abdul Waheed Solangi

Assistant Professor & Focal Person Hoopo, Sindh Agriculture University, TandojamIf you really desire to know what actually is meant by the ‘community support’ then the right answer is ‘Humaniti’, said Waheed Solangi while exclusively taking to this scribe. Yes, I am a witness to the fact, this organization have supported the local communities in a brilliant manner during the month of Ramadan Kareem and Eid-ul-Fitr, mainly hailing from the rural areas and are associated with the Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam, Waheed added.

Dr Waheed further told this correspondent, “In delivering the valuable services to the University’s local communities including students, faculty and the lower staff, Humaniti left no stone unturned in supporting the underprivileged sections in the best way.” Ranging from serving of hot iftar-meals to distribution of ‘Food care hampers’, ‘Eid gift hampers’, custom-made clothings, bangles and artificial jewelry for females, Humaniti made it all with a sure-shot success spreading a wave of happiness by effectively involving the deprived sections of local communities in multiple activities during the Ramadan and Eid-ul-Fitr. These implausible initiatives of Humaniti are worthy to be praised, Waheed said this on an ending note.

Dr. Mehar-ul-Nissa

Assistant Professor, Deptt of Agri Economics Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam

I am Dr Mehar Ul Nissa Rais, Assistant Professor in the Department of Agriculture Economics. I am thankful to Humaniti and Hoopo Canada for organizing iftar meals throughout the month of Ramadan in our University both in the boys and female hostels. Also, Hoppo distributed food hampers via charity distribution programmes in our surrounding community. All those people were extremely happy and Humaniti-Hoopo’s initiative is really good. Hoopo Canada has many projects, but three of the projects are highly beneficial. First, Livestock Ranching, Hen’s Farming, and Carbon Neutral  Villages. In these three programmes, female students are getting maximum  benefit because they are getting support in their thesis write-ups. Students who are preparing thesis write-ups on these three key programmes of Hoopo Canada, are also receiving remuneration from Hoopo Canada.

Dr. Ghulam Hussain

Assistant Professor & Dy Provost Hostel, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam

I am Ghulam Hussain Jatoi, Assistant Professor at SAU and also Dy Provost of the Hostel. Humaniti’s initiative is great as at SAU hostel students reside from all over Pakistan and among them are both poor and rich students. So, considering the inflation and the   economic  conditions, Hoopo Canada has done a great job of   initiating iftar meals programme which is also a  sacred work and through this program, one-time iftar meals of students are also  getting saved without any burden.  It means that students by saving their one-time meal cost can utilize that amount in some other work like note preparation, purchase of any other study items, etc. We appreciate Humaniti and Hoopo Canada for taking this great initiative.

Glimpses of ‘Ramadan Kareem with Humaniti’:  Social impact in eyes of Pakistani media across Sindh

The dedication and the collaboration of Humaniti and Hoopo Canada have garnered them well-deserved recognition. Their impactful work has been featured prominently in numerous Pakistani newspapers and media outlets including the local and the regional media organizations highlighting their commitment to empowering rural communities in Sindh. More than 20 mainstream media outlets published their content based on phenomenal initiatives in their respective publications. During the coverage of this exceptional Ramadan Drive, it was widely noticed that the great cause of Humaniti received immense appreciation around all the nooks and corners in the Interior Sindh province.

The University’s representatives further told this Correspondent that these workshop initiatives aimed to    foster international collaboration and empower students to address persistent environmental   challenges. Building on its existing partnership with Hoopo, the GSFN, UK, and the Farm Carbon Toolkit, UK, Sindh Agriculture University, TandoJam, will expand its  collaboration with the University of   Alberta, Canada, to establish‘Carbon Neutral Villages’ in Pakistan.

Published in The Daily National Courier, May, 16 2024

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