:: WHO WE ARE
Karachi Relief Trust is an NGO originally established to provide relief to the people afflicted in the provinces of Balochistan and Sindh by Cyclone Yemyin in 2007. This group of civic minded volunteers came together with the fundamental belief that each of us can and should make a difference. KarachiRelief volunteers organized quickly to obtain donations, coordinated activities of volunteers in the supply of weekly shipment of food and were active in efforts to rebuild homes in the affected areas.
Today, Karachi Relief has mobilized once more to help with the enormous task of providing assistance to displaced individuals in the Swabi & Mardan region of Pakistan. Through tireless individual effort and the generosity of their friends and sponsors, Karachi Relief has already begun the process of making an impact in the lives of many.
:: WHAT WE DO
Our team visited the relief camps in Swabi and Mardan and viewed the food situation first hand. We saw an opportunity to empower the community and so purchased and installed 8 Tandoors at 4 different camps; we then hired people from within the camps (on daily wages of Rs. 500/ day, paid by KRT) to work on the installed tandoors and they now provide up to 8,000 nans each day for the residents of the camps.
We also took note that most people wore the only clothing they had. Instead of providing hand-me-downs, we took the initiative to provide tailoring centers at the camps. We invested in the purchase of sewing machines and set up tailoring stations for men and women, complete with electricity, fans and generously donated clothing & other essential raw materials. We introduced a token system to have people come to the tailoring centers in the morning for measurements and have their new clothes ready the same evening. Each of the tailors (70% women) at the center are hired on daily wages (paid by KRT) from within the camp residents and produces 3 – 5 suites per day.
With the scorching heat, we saw the need to provide relief for certain perishable daily necessities such as milk. Through the generous donation of one of our sponsors, we have supplied refrigerated trucks that supply fresh milk & juices to the camp residents with children.
We located an empty building (old Sawabi police station), negotiated and paid for rental from the landlord and converted the building to provide an alternative shelter from the tent living in the camps. We are presently housing 150 – 200 people from the camps in this building which provides full kitchen & food along with better living and sanitary conditions.
Keeping in mind the youngest of the affected we have invested in and initiated a sports program that provides uniforms and kit for various competitive sports activities such as football and cricket. This provides a welcome distraction and stress relief for the children, keeping them constructively busy and mentally healthy.
There are many more activities and programs we want to sponsor and deliver to the camps housing the affected. We welcome the willingness of people like you to stand by our fellow country men and women, during this time of their need. We ask you to go the extra mile and join our efforts for the Swabi & Mardan region relief program.
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