Pakistan continues its journey of healing and rebuilding following the unparalleled and heart-wrenching floods of 2022. These catastrophic floods impacted 33 million people and roughly 2.2 million housing units. Over 2,700 schools were extensively damaged, resulting in more than 2 million children being deprived of their right and access to education. In the province of Sindh alone, almost 1,600 schools were destroyed, sparking concerns regarding the vulnerability of children to waterborne diseases such as diarrhea, typhoid, and Hepatitis.
In the face of this crisis, the Turmia Foundation emerged as a beacon of hope through their benevolent contributions. This USA-based non-profit 501c(3) organization is dedicated to the upliftment of the the well-being of children and families worldwide, addressing their educational, health, social, and economic needs.
With the coordination of FOCUS USA, the Turmia Foundation was able to seamlessly align with FOCUS USA’s affiliate, Aga Khan Agency for Habitat (AKAH), embarking on a mission to make a positive impact on the lives of the underserved. Through their backing, AKAH successfully executed a comprehensive Pakistan School Safety Program across flood-affected regions in Sindh, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Chitral.
The Pakistan School Safety Program inception event was held on March 2, 2023 at the Government Boys Higher Secondary School in Tando Bago. Those who attended this event included government officials from the District Education Department, teachers, management committees, and AKAH representatives.
This event aimed to address the safety needs of students and teachers through disaster preparedness training and establishing a secure physical environment. It intended to provide clean drinking water, safe WASH infrastructure, natural environment enhancements, and financial assistance for impacted students.
AKAH-Pakistan has forged a strong partnership with local authorities, diligently pinpointing 28 schools affected by the crisis for revitalization. Among these, 20 are based in Sindh, 4 in Gilgit Baltistan, and an additional 4 in Chitral.
