Hope, Vision And Direction
Success story by Shehnaz

I remember the very first day of teachers’ training for Child-Friendly School (CFS) conducted by the HUMAN DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION KARACHI KATCHI ABADI REGION. The CFS training from HDF created a significant difference in my life. As I was introduced to the integrated program of HDF, it gave me a hope, a vision and a new direction towards success and development. I felt so motivated, I promised myself to spread this vision to others. I can truly say I feel proud for achieving what I wished for in just one year.

Armed with my vision, I approached my community. To my delight, the ladies of my area responded in an extremely positive way, and they eagerly formed a DO (Development Organization: a group of ten or more people formed by the members themselves voluntarily).

I cannot forget the enthusiasm in the air at the very first meeting of the DO (DO conducts its meetings twice a month). They promptly passed a resolution for opening a “Child-Friendly School,” which was more than I could ever have dreamed of. The CFS is completely different from the traditional type of school here, as a child learns through various types of fun, child-oriented activities.

Our Adult Literacy Centers are also becoming successful. These centers operate in the evenings, at times even at night. Here adults are able to learn everything from mathematics to how to read a newspaper and write a letter.

Furthermore, the women have completed different types of technical trainings themselves, in trades such as those of a tailor, beautician, etc., and they are now earning their own spending money instead of remaining financially dependent on their male family members. I have also witnessed the quiet blossoming of self-confidence in each one of them. One example of a DO member’s personal success story involves HDF’s Micro-Credit program. With money she received from the program, she purchased a buffalo. Now she is managing a successful milk-selling business, and other women have been inspired to apply for the microcredit program as well.

Our community’s DO represents success on a deeper level too. Not just that of the CFS, Adult Literacy Center, or Micro-Credit program, but also a fusion of subcultures cooperating for the common good. Uniting under the HDF direction, whether they speak Sindhi, Punjabi, Urdu, Pushto and Saraiki, diverse peoples have come to understand a larger vision that transcends divisive, regional barriers. I have seen and felt a big change in the thought-process and attitude of our locals, and also in their social and economic position. We are really thankful to HDF for giving us the vision and showing us the way to success with the key principle of self-help that has increased our sense of self-sufficiency and self-esteem. My message to you is: “Join us in making the Quaid’s dream true.”