CSP Organizes Medical Clinic for Flood Victims in Pakistan

In July & August of 2022, an unpredicted heavy monsoon season caused widespread flooding in Pakistan which led to extensive human and infrastructure losses. According to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), 1,162 people were killed, 3,554 were injured, and 1,057,338 houses collapsed. Rockflower partner, Community Services Program, began distributing food following the disaster and was able to support more than 700 families. However, during this time, CSP saw the urgent need for medical intervention in displacement camps, and on October 24th, the organization, in partnership with the Government Health Department, utilized funding from Rockflower to purchase medical supplies in order to hold a free medical clinic and treat women and children in the Sanghar District of Pakistan who had been affected by the devastating flooding. 

Although Rockflower’s mission is not to provide emergency disaster relief, in times of great need, there is no choice but to provide what we can for victims of disasters, especially when our partners are willing to organize and distribute relief. The majority of those affected by the floods have been displaced and are now living in temporary camps and tents. The floods have left behind large pools of stagnant water, which have led to increased outbreaks of malaria, cholera and dengue. There is currently little to no medical assistance available for those who are sick and for pregnant women and newborns who require medical care. During one week in the camps of Sanghar District, 8 infants and 4 pregnant women were reported to have passed away due to the lack of available medical aid.

There are a number of disaster relief organizations providing food to the camps, but none providing medical assistance. Therefore, CSP, led by Siddique Hussain, was able to partner with the Government Health Department and raise funds to execute a one day medical clinic for vulnerable women and children. The government provided the doctors, while CSP organized the logistics and funding with support from Rockflower.

During the medical clinic, 282 women, including 56 pregnant women, and 106 children received checkups. The most common illnesses treated were Malaria, Cholera, Dengue, Dysentery, Common fever, Hypertension and Scabies. The doctors were able to provide free medicine and spread awareness about preventative measures to be taken for common diseases. 

It was no small feat for CSP to pull together this medical clinic in a matter of days, and serve hundreds of women and children in a single day. In total, this clinic, including the cost of medicine and medical supplies cost just under $7,000 USD. Although this amount is not insignificant, the thought that over 300 lives may have been saved with this funding in a single day is astounding. If divided equally, the clinic expended about $23 per person. Right now, Rockflower is in the midst of our 100 Gardeners in 100 Days campaign where we are working to sign up 100 monthly donors. If it is within your means to become a gardener, you could be providing life saving aid to women and girls with your donation each month.

100 Gardeners in 100 Days: Will you be one of them?

Climate change related catastrophes are increasing in their frequency and severity. Here in the United States, Puerto Rico is recovering from the devastation left by Hurricane Fiona and as I write this email Hurricane Ian has left a trail of enormous destruction in Florida.

For us, the last eight weeks has seen a steady increase of emails from our partners around the world, asking for emergency help in the face of their own intense climate change induced disasters.

Rockflower is not set up to provide emergency humanitarian relief, our mandate is to provide early stage investment for social enterprises and community based organizations improving the lives of women and girls on the global margins. However, as was the case during COVID, partnership is an ongoing responsibility and one that requires a listening and attentive ear during times of crisis.

These are real people, with real names, in real moments of need. Siddique in Pakistan has been working around the clock for weeks to ensure that the 45,000 people under the care of CSP are given the assistance they need as a result of the devastating flooding which has covered a third of Pakistan in water.

Moreen in Mbale, Uganda has been assisting those whose lives have been upended by recent flooding there, and Juliet and Mary in Kasese, Uganda, have been helping those affected by the recent mudslides who have lost homes and family members. Michael in South Sudan was left speechless by the devastating flooding in his home town in South Sudan.

All of this can feel overwhelming, but one thing I have learned from all the years of doing this work is that small acts of intervention really do matter.  We have sent funding assistance to these partners, which has provided some much needed respite, but we need to do so much more. I started to think about what that “more” would look like.  

Many of you are already monthly gardeners to Rockflower and for your generosity we are eternally grateful. But often I hear people say "I don't have much to give - what difference would $25 a month really make?" My reply is always - I can promise you it would mean a great deal. 

Starting today, October 1st for 100 days through to January 7th 2023, we plan to sign up 100 new monthly Gardeners. 

If 100 people sign up for just $25 a month, that will be an extra $2,500 a month and $30,000 a year, which will add significantly to our emergency fund. These climate related disasters are only going to increase and the needs will be even greater. Whilst we continue to support and fund those whose innovations are providing much needed climate adaptation, like our most recent partner Flicker of Hope in Kenya, we must also find a way to offer support at times of dire need. 

Please consider becoming a monthly Rockflower Gardener - I can promise you that it will be one of the best investments in hope and possibility you will make.

-Tine Ward, CEO, Rockflower

Emergency Relief Funding Needed for Community Services Program, Pakistan

The Situation: 

Community Services Program, Pakistan, has been a Rockflower partner for over a decade.  Since 2012 we have partnered with them on projects across a spectrum of our Five Key framework -  maternal and reproductive health, economic empowerment, peace and security and education. The most recent being the exciting Bridging the Digital Divide: From Colombia to Pakistan, bringing digital literacy to rural and remote communities. 

However at this moment CSP and 45,000 people in the communities they serve are struggling against the magnitude of the recent catastrophic flooding. Right now, over one third of Pakistan is covered in water, that is the equivalent to the whole of Colorado. 

Mr. Siddique Hussain, Chairman of Community Services Pakistan has been traveling to the affected areas in the last two weeks and shared the following: 

“I am traveling in the flood affected areas and have assessed that the natural calamity of the floods in Pakistan occurring in various parts of the country needs our immediate attention. With the immense destruction we are facing it is essential to provide rations, medical aid and assistance provision for the flood affectees who have lost their healthcare mechanisms due to this aggressive flooding. Especially females are being neglected and their essential needs, including basic hygiene and sanitary items. This is the time to stand together for humanity.”

The background to the flooding: 

What is causing this unprecedented flooding? Pakistan is home to 7,200 glaciers and they are melting fast. This is a direct effect of an increasingly warming planet, caused by global emissions. Pakistan is responsible for just 1% of those global emissions but will be one of the top 8 countries in the world subject to its devastating effects. 

The knock on effect of these melting glaciers are a series of dominos waiting to fall. 

“In the mountains of Pakistan, water from glaciers forms high-elevation lakes, which are often dammed by glacial ice. When there’s too much runoff, those lakes quickly expand and the ice dams can break, producing what’s called a “glacial lake outburst.” - VOX 

Pakistan’s climate minister, Sherry Rehman in an interview with The Guardian, makes the case for why rich nations must make reparations for the catastrophic consequences of their actions. 

“Historic injustices have to be heard and there must be some level of climate equation so that the brunt of the irresponsible carbon consumption is not being laid on nations near the equator which are obviously unable to create resilient infrastructure on their own,” - Sherry Lehman, Climate minister 

Getting Assistance to where it is needed: 

Add to this crisis the discrimination some Islamic charities are feeling in the rush to provide help as some are facing concern over bank derisking practices. 

“Pakistan is far from the only country where humanitarian responses by Islamic NGOs have seen their financial services disrupted by banks. Payments have also gone missing without explanation for programs in Syria, Somalia, and Afghanistan, according to Itani and others in the sector — all places deemed high risk by banks, but also with Muslim majority populations. 

Financial services to NGOs serving Ukraine, meanwhile, have largely gone smoothly, which has heightened a sense of discrimination that’s being felt by some in Muslim organizations, who also see their work as part of religious duty. “  DEVEX 

By having a ten year relationship with CSP we are able to get immediate relief to people. 

We have already provided direct support in the form of food aid, but so much more is needed. As a fund that specializes in early stage investment into previously underfunded community based organizations and social enterprises, emergency relief is not our usual remit. However, we cannot sit back and watch as one of our foundational partners struggles to meet the enormous needs of its constituents.

Please consider any donation amount to assist those who are currently struggling to get through the day.

• $43 buys a food pack for one family for 30 days 

• $23 buys a food pack for a family for 15 days 

• $13 buys a food pack for a family for 7 days 

The Pehran Project Celebrates its Third Round of Graduates

Rockflower partner, Community Services Program (CSP), Pakistan has completed the third round of the Pehran project, a Rockflower funded initiative providing employable skills to disadvantaged women in Kashmir, or who may already produce handmade crafts, but struggle to earn money. This 12 month project, broken into multiple cycles, recruits women who are interested in learning or improving upon a trade and supporting themselves financially. In this third round of students, CSP trained 24 women in embroidery, stitching, dressmaking, design and marketing. The goal of the project is to elevate the level of crafts that were produced so that the women could sell in-demand products, and have the knowledge to operate a business.

The rural women of Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJ&K) actively participate in the production of Kashmiri arts and crafts, but face significant hurdles in maximizing a return on their efforts - for themselves as well as their families and communities. CSP’s team, led by Mr. Siddique Hussain, understands that providing women with the opportunity to learn a trade, and how to market that trade effectively will not only benefit them economically, but will also help to build self esteem, a sense of responsibility, teamwork and effective communication skills. Throughout the training, the group also held two sessions focused solely on life skills, led by board member, Dr. Shazia. 

CSP is determined to train and support so many women that eventually, the Gurase Valley will have an established brand and reputation for its crafts. They have set up four training centers, led by graduates of the Pehran Project, to continue providing support and education. 

The third round of training ended in July of 2021, and CSP has been closely following the graduates on their entrepreneurial journeys. The organization found from previous groups that many of the graduates still need support in tapping into the market as they work on starting their businesses. The benefit of having multiple rounds of graduates, is that they are able to teach and support each other given what they’ve learned in both the training and in their own business. Not only has CSP provided job skills, but they’ve created a community of women ready to support one another as they work toward their mission of creating a reputation for craftsmanship in their community. 

Access to Education for Girls in Thanda Pani, Pakistan

Village Thanda Pani is located in District Neelum along the Line of Control (LoC) approximately 135km upstream from Muzzafarabad, near village Dodnial. Thanda Pani is one of the most populated villages in the Neelum district with the fewest educational facilities, particularly for girls. Since Thanda Pana is so close to the line of control, it is a low priority for the government and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). There is extremely limited access. Currently, there are 2 primary schools for boys with none existing for girls. The existing schools are already overcrowded and due to persistent cultural norms, most inhabitants of Thanda Pani are against co-education so girls are not allowed to attend classes with boys.

Education is key to improved quality of life and female empowerment. The gender gap in Thanda Pani is widest in levels of literacy, school enrollment, dropout rates, and vocational training opportunities. While cultural norms exist around co-education, the population of Thanda Pani is not completely against young girls gaining an education. Findings of focus group discussions led by Community Services Program (CSP) in Thanda Pani revealed that 70-75% of school-age girls are not attending school primarily because of the lack of a facility.

CSP is proposing to create a branch of the Tine Girls Model School in Thanda Pani. CSP has located a facility to be rented as a girls’ primary school. The community will contribute to the rent. Teachers have been found in an adjacent village. The creation of this primary school will lower early marriage rates, empower the girls from a young age, and fight against the patriarchal norms in society.

Community Services Program

Pakistan

Prime Minister Imran Khan originally had Pakistan in lockdown until April 14. A two-week extension was added but some industries would begin to reopen in phases. The first will be construction.

Unlike around the world, mosques in Pakistan will be open during Ramadan, “as long as they followed 20 rules, including forcing congregants to maintain a six-foot distance, bring their own prayer mats and do their ablutions at home.”

Concerns and Challenges

Community Services Program (CSP) is one of Rockflower’s longest partners and maintains close communication throughout the year. Every day they face extremely challenging conditions to reach the most vulnerable in their communities, and the threat of COVID-19 poses yet another layer of concern for those hardest to reach. The key is in following the correct protocol in communication and awareness building to ensure that prevention and treatments are swift and efficient.

Adaptation Measures

For the last three weeks, CSP has been working with the National Institute of Health to train volunteers in 14 districts. They have held trainings with 26 female and 4 male volunteers on how to fan out and distribute information effectively. Each trainer is responsible for visiting 53 families within their immediate surroundings, and if they suspect any symptoms or potential infections, they will assist them in their travels to the hospital.

Emergency Fund

With funds from the Emergency Fund, CSP has been able to conduct these trainings, produce banners and posters, and also offer physical assistance to the most at-risk girls and women, with the provision of wheelchairs for two girls with Cerebral Palsy.

Update from May 2020