Being one of the poorest in a poor country like Pakistan is terrible, whats worse is to also be a woman, worse still a women without a male figure in their life a father or husband or an adult son.
These people live their lives within a web of cultural and religeous rules and regulations and barriers I dont want to take this them away from them , I dont want to enforce my personal beliefs on them, because they have their pride and self respect and I would not like to take that away from them.
I believe in helping people to help themselves…with this in mind, I’d be interested to hear of feasible,plausible and workable ideas to help these people. Perhaps you have helped or are involved in a scheme of some kind in Pakistan or any other country.
Im only a little person and can only help in a little way but I was hoping for ideas because as Tesco’s say “Every little helps”
Thankyou in advance:)
I hope this thread would provide info for others too
Do you have any ideas for women who live in a village, who dont have access or the inclination to go these colleges.
To give you an idea,what ive done is to provide sewing machines, they ladies make clothes within the confine sof their own home and can make about a hundred rupees or more a day (if they have daughters etc to help) (if they have customers)
This can cover household expenditure and a little left over per day.
There is a group here, I have to look it up that helps women in countries where they are not able to survive without males (male-dominated societies) in the homes. They work in areas of the Middle East and Africa. The women in those areas make things, sell to this group, and this group has stores in major cities here in America where they sell the items (anything - clothes, kitchen ware, nicknacks). I can't remember the name offhand, but it is a non-profit organization and my mother has gone overseas and has seen what the group does in other countries and she vouches for it. She is usually very sceptical about charities like this, but the prices they give the woman are around what they are sold for (there is a difference due to transport and the store rates, but it is a living income for the women that participate).
As an aside, I would call my mother for this info, but as progressive as she tries to be, she refuses to get a cell phone (no matter how much my husband and I yell at her) or to fly unless absolutely necessary. She is currently driving from Vermont to New Mexico. So, I will try to track the shop down tonight and post tomorrow the name of the organization.
Edit: Sorry, I am sure that all they need is a contact in Pakistan for a base, maybe if this is something you are passionate about a working relationship can be set up. I just wish my memory was not the way it was with names like it is now.
My experience has been giving cash or kind to women is far more efective than the same to men..especially in a society which prizes itself on hospitality men end up spending on ensuring there guests are well fed even if the family is starving..
If you are looking specifically for Pakistan (please note none of these ideas will give you Tesco card points): Specify the categories of help you’d like to provide..sector, area, political agenda etc
Nationally I’d say the Citizen Foundation Comes highly well regarded sponsoring education, SUNGI is more specific to to Frontier, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan is another group which provides assistance on legal issues. DOST Foundation is another one Peshawar based which deals with Drug addiction and prisoner rehabilitation. Medically you have Imran Khans Cancer Hospital (which requires huge sums of money to keep itself going). One of the most famous micro credit and training programmes in Pakistan is the Orangi Pilot Project…the scheme has been duplicated in Bangladesh andwas a major success there, sadly in Pakistan grass roots movements have always been seen as “subversive”
A Comprehensive list of both the good (about 10-20%) of Non governmental Organisations in Pakistan as well as the bad (80-90%) is available at
If you want to read about groups which have been given high praise by the UN as success stories. Visit this site:
Lazy…women make up half the population, but only enjoy roughly 10-20% of the share of our collective resources. There are tons of studies available. Not only are they poor, but also get the colossal portion of the abuse (even when they are not poor).
I met my Hindu yesterday for lunch and we came up with pretty much the same solution for the ills of Pakistan. Pakistan needs to be violently shaken. E.g., unban all things, and let people decide what is good for them and what is not. Let women participate in economic activities to make a decent living that they are not allowed to otherwise participate (either by Law, or by Force). A Mulla Charges 1000 rupees for performing a Nikah (wedding ceremony), why can’t Women be given this opportunity to earn that much for a 10 minute work? How about Khatna (circumcisions of boys) is done by Nais (Barbers)… they also charge a bundle and get a tip (literally) on top.. why can’t women perform Khatna? Similarly there are millions of sectors that are closed on them. Open up those sectors and see how things change.
I'm also in favor of women doing the khatna. I remember crying buckets as a child when I was undergoing it. I begged them to get a woman instead but they didn't listen. Cruel people.
Thankyou Minah, Id be grateful for the advise but only when your mother is safely back in her home...dont trouble yourself.....on my account.:)
Zakk, good info I'll reseach more. Thanks
Madhanee, i was going to ask who youre Hindu was..... until i read further....
Erm just wondering , when you guys go out after a a heavy day at work are these the kind of things you talk about?
Madhanee, there's lots I can write with regards to what you have to say, but I wont...!
Pinny, re Micro finance, its all I can do at the moment....sometimes you have to invest in time as well, go out there to organise...at the moment I only go for about two weeks at a time..... but plan to go for a little longer to arrange/organise and perhaps get an honest person to work on my behalf.
^^ Oh we talk a lot about women and the poor conditions they work in not only in Pakistan but evenr the good hot looking bartenders waitresses etc. The hindu with madhanee is a magician with women nad somehow all women try to take their jackets and other extra clothing off.
I will opine from home about this subject once I am comfortably numb and have my thoughts together.
