The October 2005 earthquake has claimed the lives of well above 80,000 people in the affected areas. Thousands of families were either left with no bread winner or permanent source of income. The very same happened to the groups having small-scale businesses as a source of their livelihoods. The earthquake has caused a big loss to the human and economic assets of the area.

After the massive earthquake, the groups having small businesses and economic opportunities were left in a difficult situation. The loss of the human and economic resources created a vacuum in the lives of the economically vulnerable groups. Even before the earthquake, the socio-economic status of these groups was fragile and the earthquake has worsened it more.  

Keeping in view the adverse economic conditions of these vulnerable groups, this project was implemented to provide a sustainable support and to minimize the economic dependence of the targeted groups. This project was having a motto of "Building Back Better" with the ultimate goal of enabling and harnessing the working energies of the deprived groups.

The initiative has benefited 100 vulnerable families giving them a very conducive and encouraging scope to enhance their capacities and living conditions.

The main objectives of the project were to;

To make the intervention a success, the project was carried out in collaboration with fellow NGOs and Line Departments. All the concerned government departments i.e. DRU, Social Protection Unit, fellow organizations, representatives and community workers were involved for orientation and information sharing about the project intervention and expected outputs. 

The project was implemented by adopting a community-based participatory approach. Beneficiaries were selected through COs taking in consideration interviews and opinion sharing with the local key stakeholders.

During the implementation process we have come to learn that vulnerable people can work and bring a sustainable change in their lives if they are sensitized enough and provided with proper support and resources.

Mohammad Khaleeq / Improving the Life of the Vulnerable

Mohammad Khaleeq belongs to Village Islam Nagar Bagh AJK.  Khaleeq’s father died of a severe disease and all the burden of earning and taking care of his family came on his shoulders. Mohammad Khaleeq is aged 22 years old and he is earning his living on mobile repairing. According to him, he had very little money to support his family for education, health and food.  "We are extremely poor and my father has left nothing for us to live with". Khaleeq has been working at several places for earning some money for his family. He states, "My father used to work at a store in Rawalpindi and whatever he earned he used to spend on his treatment, leaving no room to cater for our needs. I had very little money and I could not start any business."

Under this project, Khaleeq was provided with financial support for the establishment of a small business. He earns an amount of Rupees 5000 monthly. “I can now support my brothers and sisters for their education,” states Khaleeq. This amount helps him support his young brothers and sisters for education and health. He has a reasonable financial asset of around 100,000 now. He feels satisfied with the growth and improvement in his business and he has started a Public Call Office at his shop with the amount he has saved from his earning.

The location of his business is at a very good place and he is hopeful for more improvement in his earning with the passage of time. According to him, the initiative has been meaningful because it has improved the way he is living.