John Perkins, the Chair of UP(UK), has recently spent two weeks visiting the Umeed Project in Lahore city slums and Cholistan Desert in the Bahawalpur District. Demand for places in the UP multi-faith education and training centres and schools outweighs availability of places. Despite generous donations from individuals and the Rotary organisation funds are still needed urgently to sustain the excellent work being undertaken by the Umeed teachers and supervisors. Further details are available from John at john@justshopping.co.uk
John says:
“…….I’m almost halfway through my tour of the Umeed project in Pakistan, so I thought a brief report would be timely.
I’ve spent the last few days in southern Punjab, in Bahawalpur and Yazman in the Cholistan Desert. This has been a very fast, dusty and chaotic 8 hour journey from Lahore with all life centred on the main trunk road – camels, donkeys, bullocks, buffalo, goats, sheep, tractors, rickshaws, bikes and of course lorries, cars and buses in various stages of decrepitude.
The hospitality has been second to none. Yousuf and Shamin are excellent, thoughtful hosts, as are the families I stayed with. I visited all 10 Umeed embroidery centres in this region, inaugurating 2 new ones. There is tremendous enthusiasm for this training in the region, and it is clear that the UPP is more than just a training NGO; it provides a support network for women and girls long after they’ve finished the embroidery training. Young women are now making a significant contribution to their families’ budget through the sale of their products.
I visited the two Umeed mixed-faith Middle Schools. The most recent, in Minority Community 52, has a roll of 95 with two teachers and has very basic facilities. There is no electricity nor sanitation and the school functions through the enthusiasm of the teachers (who are guided by Shamin, Yousuf’s wife, a qualified teacher). The pupils are aged 7 to 17 and are 50:50 Hindu:Muslim.
The second Umeed School was opened 5 years ago and this really is a success story, thanks very largely to the Rotary organisation. Five years ago there was one derelict building used as a fodder store. Today there are two additional classrooms, a computer room with computers, flushing latrines for girls and boys, pumped potable water and a 6 foot security wall and steel gates. The classrooms have been provided with locally made desks and benches, plus stationery and the latest teaching aids (and also traditional slates). There are now 150 pupils and three teachers, again guided by Shamin. All pupils have been provided with uniforms, which more or less doubles the size of their wardrobes. A government school teacher from Yazman City has decided to send his children to the Umeed school, and will recommend others to do likewise. Isn’t that incredible! In this region, neglected by government, the communities cannot believe their good fortune. Further developments in the next month or so include a paved walkway through the sand and a stage for school (and community) functions, all to be paid for from a grant made recently by Bangor Rotary Club. The School Board has decided to plant trees in the school grounds to provide some green and “…..make the desert bloom…”.
So, that’s where we are at present. Next week I shall be visiting the Umeed activities in the Yohanna-abad slum district of Lahore over three days. ………”
