Chitral

In January 2009, WEIF and AL-Noor Mountain Organization Lasht (ANMOL), our NGO partner, initiated the construction of eight Early Childhood Education and Development (ECED) schools in the District of Chitral District of Chitral, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Province of Pakistan. The project was funded through grants from the Canadian International Development Agency and generous contributions from WEIF’s donors and in-kind support provided by local communities, and was completed on schedule in December 2010.

All ECED schools have well-stocked libraries and fully equipped computer labs. A total of 17 ECED school teachers (16 female and 1 male) have successfully completed and obtained certificates in Early Childhood Education provided by the Professional Development Centre, Chitral, a branch of the Aga Khan University (AKU) in Karachi. These teachers are actively involved in providing ECED training and support to other teachers in their communities.

These schools are located in remote mountainous villages: Ovier Lasht, Morder, Garam Chasma, Dolomuts, Lone, Sussom, Safeed Arkari and Bhesti (click here for locations of schools). These schools will serve over 500 students aged between three to five years.

We are pleased to honour our donors with a Donors Tribute and Wall of Fame.

The Chitral Times covered the grand opening of the ECED School in Morder on December 22, 2010 (click for the English translation of the newspaper article). Photos of the grand opening event is located on our Facebook page.

Construction is currently wrapping on WEIF’s first health clinic, which will serve three villages of nearly 300 households in Owir. The Health Department of Chitral’s Provincial Government will provide a doctor and nurse as well as medications to the clinic. WEIF will train and support an additional nurse who will work full time at this clinic. We will also provide for Canadian medical professionals (nurses) to undertake short term assignments and help train the local full time nurse. The local nurse will provide services, and basic training and information on nutrition, health and wellness to the community women. This clinic will have facility to treat both male and female patients in a hygienic environment.

There will also be residential facilities for non-local nurses and doctors. ANMOL will arrange to hold free medical camps every year where professional doctors will be invited to stay for a week at a time to deliver medical services on a voluntary basis.

In 2011, WEIF partnered with local communities to build a Girls Hostel in the Arkari Education Hub. This hostel will provide accommodation for girls from neighboring villages who wish to attend a post-secondary institution.

“Because my parents were not able to pay for college education out of Chitral, I remained at home like many of my friends. At that time, I never thought that it would be possible for me to be a college student. Suddenly, we heard the wonderful news that a college was going to open in our area through WEIF's generosity. This was excellent news for us. Our parents are very poor and did not have sufficient amount to pay for our college and hostel costs outside Chitral. This college will play an important role in providing education for girls. One day we will be able to stand on our own feet, we will not remain dependent for much longer," said Bibi Amina, a student who comes from a family of 10, and whose parents work as farmers in the community.

Construction of the Girls Hostel and College commenced in May 2011 and is expected to reach completion in the fall of 2012. WEIF thanks our generous private and corporate individuals who made this project possible.