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2011

Annual Report January-December 2011

I N S T I T U T E F O R S O C I A L C H A N G E - ISC

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Table of contents

Title Page #

From the desk of executive director 4 Institute for Social Change: An Overview 5 Chapter-1, Education Development 9 Chapter-2, Rights Education and Advocacy 11 Chapter-3, Disaster Management & Climate Change 13 Chapter-4, Coordination and Networking with Civil Society Actors 17 Chapter-5, Audit Report 2011 18 Chapter-6, Way Forward 19

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Abbreviations/Acronyms CBO: Community Based Origination CCB: Citizen Community Board CPH: Caritas Pakistan Hyderabad EPA: Environment Protection Agency H.E.N: Hayat-e-Nau IIRE: Indus Institute for Research and Education NGO: Non Government Organization PVDP: Participatory Village Development Programme RDF: Research and Development Foundation SAFWCO: Sindh Agriculture and Forestry Workers Coordination Organization UN: United Nations UNDP: United Nations Development Program WAF: Women Action Forum CSO: Civil Society Organization BDF: Basic Development Foundation HID: Human and Institutional Development PFF: Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum NGO: Non Government Organization

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From the desk of Executive Director

The year January-December 2011 is a milestone achieved in contributing towards our vision of

working for a Peaceful, prosperous and welfare society where all citizens enjoy equal rights and

privileges. We are pleased to present ISC’s annual report highlighting the achievements as well

as constraints faced and lessons learnt for the reported year.

Institute for Social Change-ISC works in 4 districts of Sindh province covering thousands of

people who are directly or indirectly working with ISC for the improvement of their social and

economic conditions using right based approaches. During the year ISC worked on the three

thematic areas i.e. Education Development, Rights Education and Advocacy and, Disaster

Management & Climate Change.

Capacity buildings, advocacy campaigns, walks, rallies, meetings, and consultation on education

were organized to derive the attention of the concerned government departments, policy

makers, and civil society organizations, community bodies to promote the cause of poor and

marginalized people of Sindh. In addition to this, ISC also contributed to support flood affected

people during the torrential flood of 2011. We distributed food items to more than 300

hundred families in districts Tando Mohammad Khan and Jamshoro and conducted health

sessions to aware flood affected people to refrain them from communicable and viral disease

which were potential to be out broken soon after flood.

The focus of these activities was to highlight the causes and effects of safe drinking water and

food security, undertake efforts to cope with the impact of climate change, and promote the

rights of people especially women, children and people with disabilities.

Besides, around 53 youths and fresh NGO professionals from different organizations

participated in the professional trainings organized by ISC on Climate Change Mitigation and

Community Based Disaster Management.

I sincerely thank to ISC Board of Directors for their all time support and guidance as well as

encouragement at every stage of our journey to achieve ISC objectives, contributing towards

our vision and mission. I express my special thanks to our partners, who have extended their

full support to translate our vision into peaceful coexistence of societies.

We are determined to continue our efforts in future as well and walk hand in hand with under-

privileged communities in their hour of misery and vulnerability.

Abdul Jabbar Bhatti Executive Director

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Institute for Social Change-An Overview

Brief Profile

Institute for Social Change is a non-government, nonprofit policy advocacy and humanitarian

organization established in 2010 with the mission to facilitate the poor, marginalized and

socially and political excluded communities in far-flung areas of Sindh to climb the ladder of

economic, social, and cultural development. It is registered in society act 1860. ISC has

professional, technical and development specialists on its board to provide strong leadership,

strategic vision and directions to the management guys for efficiency and efficacy of program

designing and implementation.

Vision

Peaceful and prosperous society ensures equal rights and privileges to all citizens

Mission

To facilitate the poor marginalized socially and politically suppressed communities to have

access to state resources on equal and equitable basis, are organized to take self-help

initiatives, and are bettered positioned to absorb the shocks of climate change and disasters

Objectives (s)

1. To enhance knowledge base of marginalized communities, the youth and humanitarian

activists about basic human rights enshrined in national and international humanitarian

instruments, the constitution of Pakistan, various national and provincial policies and acts

2. To contribute to the promotion of quality education in Pakistan

3. To facilitate the communities organize into village/community organizations for collective

and collaborative efforts for the socioeconomic development

4. To build the capacity of disaster prone communities for increased and sustained resilience

to disasters and climate change impacts

5. To conduct action research in key thematic areas such as human rights, food security,

water, environment, land rights, resource protection etc and launch advocacy and lobbying

campaigns

6. To establish institutional and human resource development centre to provide capacity

enhancement services to the communities, CSOs, private sector and government

departments

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Thematic Program Areas

Education for Development

Human Rights Awareness

Climate Change & Disaster Risk Reduction

Sustainable Livelihood Development

Thematic Areas

Education for Development

ISC believes that education is fundamental human rights and foundation for development and

changing the social fabric of society as whole. Therefore, protecting the right to education is a

key to enabling people to secure other basic rights. A major challenge for the education in

Pakistan is lack of interest on the part of public institutions to provide quality basic education

since the public sectors is rapidly losing its credibility due to absence of accountability and

corruption. Education should provide children with the attitude as well as the skills that are

conducive to promoting creativity, problem solving and coping with uncertainties. Bringing

every child into classroom is no longer enough-each child is entitled to high quality of education

that will best prepare them for the future.

The goal of ISC’ Education Program is to make a significant contribution to the achievement of

education for all in its operation areas. We aim to improve the quality and delivery of services

in education appropriate to the needs of poor children, in particular girls, and to increase their

access to those services. Our purpose is to help fill the remaining gaps in coverage, retention,

and quality of primary basic education.

Human Rights Awareness

Situation of human rights in Pakistan, particularly in Sindh is the worst. Despite that the every

citizens of Pakistan is entitled with basic human rights through national and international

bindings, laws and constitutions, and state is responsible for the protections of basic human

rights its citizens by implementing all the constitution and international human rights laws. But,

lack of interest of the part of state has put people into insecure condition where very people

are insecure and seeing violation of basic human rights around them.

The goal of ISC’s human Rights Awareness to enhance knowledge base of marginalized

communities, the youth and humanitarian activists about basic human rights enshrined in

national and international humanitarian instruments, the constitution of Pakistan, various

national and provincial policies and acts and to develop pressure through mobilization and

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awareness upon the state and public institutions to implement the laws and policies and

enforce the international bindings for the protection of basic rights.

We aim to enhance the awareness level of people and let them know about their rights they

have entitled in national and international bindings so that people should demand their basic

rights on the their own.

Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction

Disaster management is a big challenge for the community as well as for the public sector in

Pakistan to cope with the situation to minimize the risk, and enabling community to reduce

their vulnerability by to be acquainted with updated knowledge, early warning system and

capacity to adapt alternatives to protect their life and belongings. As climate change has hit the

world and has caused change in patterns of weather, environment and means of productions

that has been ultimately bringing floods, droughts, cyclones, heavy rains, snowfalls and other

disasters. In this situation, only the well prepared, well informed and well skilled nations across

the world would able to cope with situation and could reduce the impacts of those disasters.

It is already predicted by the experts that Sought Asia is on the hit list of disasters caused by the

climate change. This is the sole reason that Pakistan, particularly Sindh is observing severe

floods of its history. Elder persons say they have never seen such rains nor they have heard

from their forefathers. It is first time in the history that district Merpur Khas of Sindh has

observed rain up to 8.6 milliliters. Such big volume of rain has washed away everything

including livelihoods, infrastructure, schoolings, assets and every belonging of the poor and

resource less people of the area.

ISC intends to build the community capacity, through practical approach and by involving

community into community based disaster management practices, increase their skills in

disasters preparedness and enable them to develop their evacuation plans to move to safer

location in case of emergency.

Sustainable Livelihood Development

Livelihoods are the many different ways that people can earn their living and meet their

essential needs. ISC works with people who are denied the right to a dignified livelihood and

have not benefited from economic development.

ISC supports people as they build a reliable way of life through our small enterprise

development, vocational and skill development trainings, agriculture and livestock

programmes.

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Through these programmes ISC supports people to access to their right to land, enable to get

equal benefits from the economic opportunities prevailing in this country and help people to

learn some means and methods ensuring their livelihood through fair wage and good working

conditions. This programme solely aims to enable people to meet their basic needs and secure

their rights and land and water.

Geographic Coverage

Initially, Institute for Social Change has selected five disasters prone and under privileged

districts i.e. Jamshoro, Matiari, Thatta, Tando Mohammad Khan and Tando Allah Yar and will

expand its coverage with the passage of time.

Our Values and Culture

o Participation

o Transparency

o Indiscrimination

o Accountability

o Humanitarian approach

o Justice

o Struggle

o Coordination

Our working approach

ISC has three-prong program approach i.e. a) Capacity building, education of masses and

structural development b) Action Research and Advocacy c) Disaster and climate risk

management. Social mobilization, community participation and gender inclusiveness are at the

centre of all the programs within ISC.

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Chapter-1

Education for Development

One Day Consultation on Overall Situation of Education Organized

Education situation in Pakistan; particularly in Sindh has reached at its alarming level. Instead of

improving, the education system is getting

destroyed and reducing its quality. Overall

literacy rate is 40%, but among the women

literacy is 36% only, which is still shocking

in this age of technology. Sindh is even

worst in the education. Pakistan stands

second in global ranking of out-of-school

children with 57.3 per cent children in the

3-5 age group not enrolled in any school in

the rural areas and 65.5 per cent mothers

being in the illiterate category. Only 1.9 of

GDP is spent over the education across the country

According to the research report revealed by Agha Khan University, teachers are teaching to

their student for 15 minutes only in a day in 70% schools in rural Sindh. Even today, out of

49,000 schools, 40,000/thousands schools are closed and not functioning properly in Sindh.

And, those schools which are running producing nothing, due to the inefficient recruitment of

teachers and high level corruption by the administration and bureaucracy in education

department. 73% schools does not have wall and 72% schools doses not have latrines. Despite

of spending Rs: 587 on child and Rs: 17143 on teacher per month, quality is not improving, but

declining rapidly

Education is the least priority of the government and she demonstrated less concern towards

the education. In this alarming situation, Institute for Social Change have tried to contribute for

the improvement of education and schooling system in Pakistan, particularly in Sindh.

For bringing the education as a major agenda for the civil society, a consultation dialogue was

organized by ISC on date 8 April 2011 in Pakistan at Fisherfolk forum training hall in Hyderabad,

in which 38 representatives from CSOs, NGOs, academicians, intellectuals, media personnel and

government officials participated in this consultation workshop.

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During the discussions, challenges and their solutions were focused by everyone and all the

participants agreed not for extending the role of government, but there is need to make that

role more effective and result oriented for

the improving education system in Pakistan.

Because this is government that has huge

resources and capacity to do a lot for the

development of education so there is need

of setting directions and priorities to make

education qualitative.

During the discussion, participants realized

their role to be more proactive and

laborious and of as watch dog to highlight

the gaps on the part of any relevant actors who are engaged in the education and to pressurize

provincial as well national governments to play their due role for the development of education

which is prerequisite for the all sort of social, economic and cultural development of society.

Civil society actors, particularly writes and intellectual reaffirmed that would play their part for

the nourishment and nurturing the minds of youths enabling them to be a useful for their

families, society and nation. Following suggestions were the outcome of the consultation:

o Government should increase the allocation of funds for the scientific and quality education

in Sindh

o Education provision should be for all both quantitative and qualitative

o Strong vigilance committees should be formed for regular monitoring

o Community should be involved in

o Correlation between the parents and the teachers

o Physical infrastructure of the schools should be improved and increased

o Recruitment of teaching faculty and other staff involved in the education should strictly be

made on the merit basis

o Capacity of teaching faculty should be enhanced and new child friendly techniques should

be imparted to the teachers

o Long term programs should be started to increase the literacy rate, particularly among the

women of rural Sindh, rather than initiating small scaled projects

o New books and computers should be made the necessary part of the teaching from primary

to higher education in Sindh and Pakistan

o Child and Environment friendly tools and techniques should be applied for better nurturing

the child at grass root level.

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After the consultation on overall situation of education in Sindh, a comprehensive report was

generated to share with relevant stakeholders including education department, academicians,

NGOs, CSOs and individuals.

Chapter-2

Human Rights Awareness

Human rights situation is deteriorating day by day. Basic human rights of the people are denied

and people are deprived form their basic rights. People are being extra judicially killed; women

are killed in the name of honour killing. Children have taken hammers in their hands instead of

pen and books. Political, social and

human rights activists and workers

are disappeared and their dead

bodies with riddled bullets are

discovered everywhere. Right to

education and right to housing are

totally denied of the poor people of

Pakistan. State is not ready to

implement the constitution

ensuring the basic rights of every

citizen and constantly turning blind eyes to the rights of its citizen.

The constitution of Pakistan, international human rights declarations, bills and treaties are not

functioning properly to protect the fundamental rights of people, because the people are not so

familiarize for their rights which are in titled in the national and international human rights bills,

conventions, treaties and the constitution of Pakistan.

Therefore, Institute for Social Change envisaged and considered this highly significant to aware

people from their very basic rights to empower them to raise their voices for the realization of

their fundamental rights entitled under the constitution of Pakistan.

Therefore, for familiarizing people from their basic rights, ISC organized four massive seminars

on the human rights situation in Pakistan, particularly in Sindh during the reported period

January-December 2011.

These seminars aimed to aware people about their rights given in the constitution of Pakistan

and in the international bills, conventions and treaties. Programs also highlighted the human

rights violation happening around the country and raised voice for their protection. These

seminars were organized in Hyderabad, Jamshoro, Tando Mohammad Khan and Thatta in which

360 persons including male and female participated.

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Main speakers of the seminars were Mr Ali Ahmed Palh, renewed human rights activists and

high court advocate, Mr Zulfiqar Ali Shah, Researcher and development actor and Executive

director of Institute for Social Movement in Pakistan, Mr Punhal Sario, prominent political

leader and social activists, Mr Abdul Jabbar Bhatti, human rights activists and Dr Ashotham,

Coordinator, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan.

Protest Rally against Target Killings and Human Rights Violation in Sindh & Baluchistan

In addition to this, Institute for Social Change also organized protests and rallies against the

target killings in Pakistan, particularly in

Sindh & Baluchistan, tribal conflicts causing

hundred and thousands people to die,

particularly women and children in few

districts of Sindh and against the murders

of doctors of Hindu clan and increasing

religious intolerance in Sindh. These

protests and rallies were organized in front

of the press club Hyderabad, in which large

number of people from all walks of life

participated. These rallies and protests

condemned the passive and ignorant role of government towards its citizens and the failure of

protection of rights and life security to its citizens.

ISC arranged a rally on 7th April 2011against the target killing in Sindh and Baluchistan from the

Old Campus to Press Club Hyderabad. A huge number of social change actors were raising

slogans against the government policies which have been imposed by the so-called

establishment agencies to raise the extremism within society. It is a planned conspiracy against

the settled provinces of Pakistan; however, this step itself will be shattered and challenged the

sovereignty of Pakistan. It has not only labeled a white collar terrorist within the state but also

has challenged its national security in international forums.

Innocent people have been shot dead and kidnapping from both provinces as well, while these

domestic crises are notable for the ruling class party even for all those who have been beating

the drums of restoration of peace and prosperity in the country.

Sindh and Baluchistan are the backbone of the state but owing to conspirators since its

inception. It is open violation of the universal declaration of human rights .hence; we are

demanding the UN agencies and all other international communities to pay serious to the

kidnapping and brutal killings of the innocent people of both of the provinces.

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Chapter-3

Climate Change & Disaster Risk Reduction

Disaster has become regular phenomenon of Pakistan. Since last many couple of decades, this

country has on hit list of disaster and people are repeatedly suffering from earthquakes, river

and torrential floods, civil wars and tsunamis. In 2005 year, earthquake hit the northern part of

Pakistan bring death to more than

one million people and displaced

millions of people. Since last two

years, floods have become the

destiny of Pakistan. In the year

2010, flood hit the entire Pakistan

caused more 12 million people to

displace and 2000 lost their lives

and damaged property of billion of

rupees.

More recently, in 2011, torrential flood hit the northern part of Sindh province only and

displaced more 10 million people from the 8 districts of Sindh. More than 1.5 million houses

were damaged and .9 million livestock was perished of these poor people and almost more

than 80% agricultural was destroyed which were the total sources of their livelihoods.

Environmental experts say these disasters are causes of the global warming and climate change

across the world which has brought changes in the patterns of rain, snowfall, hence crops

cultivation etc. It is also predicted that such disasters will also recur to the next coming years.

Hence, there is necessary to

understand the climate change and

adopt local methods to cope with

the situation accordingly. If

mitigation measures and

preparedness will not be done

timely then the miseries and

destruction can never be stopped

and then loses will be the

prerequisite to be done.

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Keeping in view the significance of climate change and disasters ISC has organized number of

training workshops and seminars to build the capacity of fresh professional and youths, people,

small scaled NGOs and CSOs to be skilled and well informed to deal with such disasters.

One day seminar on Climate Change and its Impact on the livelihood of Rural People of Sindh

ISC organized a one day seminar on Climate Change and its Impact on the livelihood of Rural

People of Sindh on February 13, 2011 in Maher, district Dadu. Seminar aimed at keeping alert

the masses of rural areas, where due to lack of knowledge climate changes have been thought

to be a myth and this misconception is resulted heavy losses during last disasters.

Key speakers of the seminar was

Mr.Zulfiqar Shah, Jabbar Batti, Ayaz

Chandio, Altaf Mahesar others .While

talking on the topic Zulfiqar Shah who is

water expert and has huge experience on

environmental behaviors, highlighted the

climate change is critical which is directly

hitting the vulnerable class of society who

lives in rural areas and are totally

depending on the agriculture and

livestock for their livelihood. Last flood is the evidence of the climate changes which are

inevitable and will bring horrific changes on the globe. While Mr. Jabbar Bhatti further amplify

adding that climate changes directly affect the rural life of the people live in villages. There

must be a planning to be safe from these sufferings anymore; hence, we people should adapt

the techniques to reduce its impact on the rural life. By doing so, there will be a little impact

which could be control from massive destructions.

Capacity building of Youths, Community and Small NGOs

One day training on Climate Change Cycle and Mitigation Measures for Small Scale NGOs and

CSOs,

One day Training on Climate Change Cycle and Mitigation Measures for Small Scaled NGOs,

CSOs, fresh Youths and community was arranged by ISC on dated 28 may 2011 in SAWFCO HID

Hall. The lead trainer was Mr. Muhammad Memon who is a leading development professional

and has been striving for human development since last decade. He is expert on environment,

climate change and Disaster mitigation and engaged in the same field last many couple of

years.

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32 participants attended this training program from various CSOs, NGOs, community

representatives and also university

students. While talking on the burning

issue of the climate change Mr. Memon

shared some slide shows whereby

climate change itself was well defined in

a comprehensive way. Changing scenario

of the climate is not a new one but has

deep roots into the past decades even it

can be count into the industrial

revolutions because the major role in the

discussed issue is of the industries which has left negative impact on the whole scenarios as

well.

Owing to rift into the ozone layer which is a slightly and very sensitive layer for protecting the

sun rays falling on the earth surface climate has turned to be in disfavor of living beings. Due to

this there have been disasters occurred around the world since last two decades on high scale.

But whatever has been happening cannot be counted into the natural disasters anyway

because the major reasons behind these disasters are the human themselves. There is need to

mitigate the impacts through adaptation the skills which save the globe from these disasters.

One day training on Community Based Disaster Risk Reduction

Training on Community Based Disaster Risk Reduction (CBDRR) was organized by ISC on July 17,

2011 in PFF HID hall Hyderabad. Mr. Rashid Daodpota was a lead trainer who is a leading writer

and trainer in environmental studies.

Training started through multimedia

projector system as well as group work

was included where participants were

given assignments on how to reduce the

growing losses of the disasters and what

are the tool and techniques to be

implemented or adapted by the

communities to reduce the hazardous

impact of the disasters. 21 participants

attended this workshop from different NGOs, CSOs and youth fresh who have recently finished

their studied.

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Health Education Sessions were conducted in two districts Jamshoro and Tando Mohammad

Khan

It was need of the hour to interact with the community who was in need and affected by

torrential flood in Sindh in 2011. People were sitting on the road sides and on the embankment

of canal and water distributaries in the flood affected districts of Sindh, because rain had

washed away their houses and everything they had, including their livelihood, stocked wheat

and other grains, standing crops and their level assets. Water was around them and they were

living around the water so there was big chance to outbreak of diseases like Malaria, diarrhea,

pneumonia, skins diseases and many viral and communicable diseases. Therefore ISC thought it

necessary to educate people to avoid maximum harm to their health.

ISC has kept an eagle eye the issues which are prevalent within communities in the rural areas

of Sindh/Pakistan. There is huge number of the people who were confronted with epidemic

diseases in the flood affected rural areas of Sindh. Keeping in view these all issues, ISC started a

series of sessions on health and hygienic practices to be adopted to avoid many diseases as

mentioned above. These health sessions were conducted in the five villages. out of 3 villages of

district Tando Mohammad Khan whereas two villages of Jamshoro in September and October

2011.

Food Distribution among the Flood Affected People

One month package of food were distributed among the 300 families in two districts including

Jamshoro and Tando Mohammad Khan.

These food packages were supported by

Basic Development foundation, IIRE and

caritas Pakistan. One food package was of Rs:

8000/eight thousands only.

Basically, organization had less experience in

the humanitarian work and working for flood

affected people, but the intensive flood and

large volume of flooded water compelled us

to contribute reducing the suffering of the

people as they were in acute need and look for the support and help so that they could receive

the relief for their survival. Because flood had washed away their all belongings and assets and

they had nothing to meet even their basic needs of food, water and medication. Children and

female were seemed deprived and suffering from malnutrition. They immediate need food and

shelter. Actually, this alarming situation forced us approach different people and organizations

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to ask them support these peoples. Then we requested many of our friend organizations and

individuals to support these people to save the life children, female and elderly aged persons.

Chapter-4

Coordination and Networking with Civil Society Actors

ISC has established very good coordination with NGOs, CSOs, Academicians, Researchers,

Universities and Public and private institutions, along with media personnel, both print and

electronic, around the Sindh, province of Pakistan.

During the reported period, apex management and volunteers of Institute for Social Change

participated into various events, seminars, rallies, consultation meetings and coordination

meetings for the contribution and exchanging our thoughts and opinions for the general good

of the society, hence poor and marginalized people of Sindh.

In addition to this, ISC has always believed capacity building as requisite for the quality of the

work. These trainings and workshops give professionals new sights and broader their views and

understanding of things. Therefore, ISC has nominated many of its volunteers into different

training courses and workshops to learn more about the development practices and enhance

their abilities and mental faculties to be utilized for the development of poor and excluded

people of Sindh.

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Chapter-5Audit Report of the Year 2011

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Chapter-6

Way Forward

Institute for Social Change is planning to work on the following:

1. Raise strong voice against all sort of human rights violation for the just, and peaceful and

democratic society

2. Launch strong advocacy and lobbying campaign for realization of basic human rights and

accessing to justice for the better society

3. Improve education system and ensuring quality education by opening schools in the

different areas, building the capacity of teachers and raising the awareness among the

parents and in society in general to bring education as one of the major agenda to be

focused

4. Establish advocacy campaign to pressurize government for the quality education in

government schools

5. Develop the capacity of community groups as sort of preparedness for facing the challenges

of upcoming disasters

6. Establish district disaster forums for pressurizing district government to fall their system for

supporting people during the disasters

7. Introduce community based disaster management model to minimize the risk

8. Establish Resource center facilitating youths for their career development, facilitating NGOs

and researchers to access to information and space

9. Build the capacity of the youths on various themes to include them into mainstream for

playing their due roles for development of society

10. Support people as they build a reliable way of life through our small enterprise

development, vocational and skill development trainings, agriculture and livestock

programmes.