Pakistan Literacy Fund

CARE Newsletter August 2011

2011-08-17T20:40:00.001-07:00

2011-08-17T20:39:00.000-07:00

2011-08-17T20:34:00.000-07:00

2011-02-20T13:33:00.000-08:00

Fashioning A New Future For Pakistan

Elmira Bayrasli, 11.23.10, 04:35 PM EST

How Seema Aziz built Pakistan's leading fashion house, Bareeze, on a dare, and became a champion of educating nearly 150,000 rural children.

For the past 25years, millions around the world have been buying elegant clothes and fabrics made by the Pakistan-based textile maker Bareeze. Not many realize that their money helps educate Pakistan's exploding and underserved youth.

One of Pakistan's leading high-end fashion retailers, Barezee plays a key role in supporting CARE Pakistan (Cooperation for Advancement, Rehabilitation and Education--not related to its U.S.-based namesake), which has set up more than 200 schools in rural areas of northern Pakistan.

Bareeze's cofounder, Seema Aziz (left), says she started her thriving business neither to make money nor to help children, but as a result of a challenge. No Pakistani had succeeded in producing high-quality textiles for the domestic market, much less for export. Living in Lahore, Pakistan's cultural capital, Aziz and her brother, who together launched the company in 1985, wanted to prove that their country could produce fabrics as chic as any in Europe.

"You're never going to manage unless you sell it with a 'Made in France' stamp on it," one shopkeeper at Lahore's foreign goods market told her when she brought in her samples.

That was all she needed to hear. Without any formal design training, and with no equipment other than her father's two Swiss-made embroidery machines, she and her brother set out to prove that shopkeeper wrong.

The fabrics Bareeze began producing were of such high quality--completely different from the low-grade, mass-produced ones other Pakistani companies made--that some buyers even doubted they were really local. "We built a reputation as a shop that sells imported fabric and calls it Pakistani," she told me with a warm smile when I visited her in her high-ceilinged, Spartan office last month.

By the mid 1990s Barezee had emerged as one of Pakistan's most widely admired retailers, with shops in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Delhi, London, Manchester and Malaysia. A privately held company, it has also built a reputation as one of the country's few multi-million dollar business chains with 40% of its shops in franchise hands. With 5,000 employees, nearly 90 shops worldwide, Bareeze is one of Pakistan's leading businesses.

In 1988, after floods devastated areas around Lahore, Aziz took another giant step by launching CARE.

"Three of us went out to help with food and water," she recalled. "Hundreds of dirty, half-naked children with runny noses and matted hair ran after me ev"Why do these children follow me around?" she asked one of the villagers.

"What should they do?" came the reply. It was then that Aziz realized the village had no school.

"Hold high the torch," Aziz told me, reciting what she knew of an anonymous poem. 'Twas given you by other hands, you know. 'Tis yours to keep it burning bright."

"Until I visited that village, I thought life was great," she said. What she realized was that while her life was great, it was protected--not by money, but education.

"The biggest difference between me and those villagers was that I was educated and they were not," she said. Determined to give others some of the advantages she had enjoyed, she founded CARE Pakistan.

Aziz wanted the foundation to be a vehicle to create "equality of opportunity," not dependence. Though all children were given uniforms and school supplies, they were charged a marginal fee of 10 rupees, or 11 U.S. cents. "I did not want any child to grow up thinking that he or she was educated on charity," Aziz told a Pakistani reporter as the project was beginning. "We firmly believe that it is their right and our duty."

She also believes it is her duty to oversee the quality of teaching and materials being used in "her" classrooms. "I won't allow anyone to teach in my class unless I have seen the lecture first," she said.

CARE's first school opened in 1991 with 250 students, paid for with Aziz's personal funds as well as help from friends and family. The following year 450 enrolled. Demand grew. Over the next two years, Aziz raised money by appealing to friends and anyone she came across, and managed to open 10 more schools. Then she raised funds for 20 more. In the late 1990s she began to channel a small percentage (.75%) of Bareeze's sales to CARE. Today the company puts in 1.3% of sales.

Stability and reliability, Aziz says account for the 100% literacy rates her CARE Pakistan schools have yielded. Her success was so remarkable that in 1998, Lahore's city government asked her to take over its school system. Despite the ensuing bureaucracy and resistance from teachers' unions, she initially took over 10 schools, and eventually more.

Today Seema Aziz's CARE Pakistan supports more students than any other non-governmental organization in Pakistan--a total of 146,000. And she's not satisfied.

"In the context of this country it is not large enough," she said. Pakistan's population is estimated to be 180 million, 60% of which is under the age of 25. Only slightly over half of that population is literate. Aziz is ready to do more but needs more human and financial resources.

"The children are ours, the country is ours," she told me, a sense of urgency rising in her voice. "It is the duty of a society, not a single person or entity, to look after its people."

The devastating floods that hit Pakistan this past summer, along with a growing insurgency inside the country and the war in neighboring Afghanistan, have left more children in need.

To meet the growing demand, Aziz has staffed CARE with professional management. That has helped expand operations. It has also allowed her to focus on operating Bareeze, where she innovates new designs and fashion lines. Children's wear and home furnishings are two of the latest. Both are producing record profits for the company, which in turn helps educate Pakistan's children.

"I'm doing what anyone in my position would," she smiled, the sunlight beaming in from the window behind her. "I feel very lucky."

Sitting across from this forceful visionary, who was dressed in flowing sea green shalwar kameez, I tried to understand how she runs a world-class business as well as a globally recognized nonprofit in such a modest and deliberate manner--and as a woman in Pakistan.

"I don't look at anything as a hindrance," she said, speaking so quickly that she barely finished her sentences. "Every obstacle is something to surpass."

You can also view this story at the link below on Forbes.com

http://www.forbes.com/2010/11/23/seema-aziz-barezee-care-pakistan-forbes-woman-entrepreneurs-education_3.html

CARE Newsletter January 2011

2011-02-20T13:21:00.001-08:00

2011-02-20T13:20:00.000-08:00

2011-02-20T13:19:00.002-08:00

2011-02-20T13:19:00.001-08:00

2011-02-20T13:17:00.000-08:00

Some Specific Targets

2010-08-29T21:19:00.001-07:00

Hello all,

Here at PLF we are focusing on some specific targets regarding flood relief.

We have selected LifeStraw which is a patented water filtration device which has been designed by Vestergaard Frandsen, a Europe based company specializing in complex emergency response and disease control products. The LifeStraw filter cleans water to U.S. EPA standards and lasts a family of 5 for 3 years. The cost is only 25 dollars and our goal is to collect $12,500 so as to buy 500 filters. Please donate generously to this worthy cause. Water borne diseases kill upto 400,000 Pakistani children in normal times (UN Report). The rate during this time of disaster will certainly go up unless we did something about it.

Please donate generously. More information about the filter can be gleaned from the following link..

http://www.vestergaard-frandsen.com/

2010-08-25T21:06:00.000-07:00

Defeating Oceans of Poverty

By Creating Islands of Prosperity

One Child at a Time

Flood Relief Donation Appeal

The devastation caused by the ongoing flooding in Pakistan has unleashed an unprecedented tragedy. Up to 20 million individuals are in need of immediate aid and over 1600 people have already died.

CARE’s Emergency Relief Effort

We are on the ground supporting the ongoing relief efforts in Pakistan’s flood affected areas:
Providing emergency supplies-- Food, water, medicines, utensils and clothing
Immediate reconstruction of homes
Taking measures for the prevention of Malaria and other communicable diseases

Target Areas
Our initial target regions are the Muzaffargarh/Kot Addu and Nowshera areas where six of our schools have been inundated and destroyed, and hundreds of our children and teachers rendered homeless.

Itemized costs for necessities:

Building a single room 18 ft x 12 ft house $ 1000/unit.

Pesticide spray machines $27/unit.

Pesticide $12/unit (covers a few acres)

Containers for obtaining and storing clean water $10/unit

Rations (flour, rice, lentils, sugar, salt, dates, milk powder) and water filtration kits $30 (sustains 5 for 30 days)

Basic medicines $5/unit

We urgently need your support to

enable the victims of this calamity to survive,

and subsequently, to start their lives over.

Please donate generously.

For Donations within the US:

Make cheques out to “Pakistan Literacy Fund” (write“CARE Foundation” in the cheque memo line). Mail to:

PLF
PO Box 2575
Charleston, WV 25329

For direct deposits:
Account number 01221205227

Routing Number: 044000024.

Huntington Bank
900 Lee St. East, Charleston WV 25301

Donations may be made online at:

www.pakliteracy.blogspot.com

Pakistan Literacy Fund is a 501 (c)(3) tax-exempt non-profit charitable organization with US Tax ID No. 13-4120783.

2010-08-18T19:56:00.000-07:00

PAKISTAN FLOOD EMERGENCY APPEAL

The monsoon rainfall has caused the worst floods in living memory of Pakistan, in what are being termed as “Floods of the Century”. Flash floods and river valley floods have devastated large parts of the country.
The scale of this disaster can be gauged from the numbers affected by these floods: 1 in every 10 Pakistanis has been directly affected. There has been widespread devastation of roads, bridges, homes, crops, livestock, and displacement of millions of people including women and children.
It is a mammoth task to provide immediate relief and to help communities rebuild their lives. CARE is committed to alleviating the suffering of the flood affected people. 5 of CARE schools in Lalpir and another in Dera Ismail Khan have been completely destroyed along with countless homes. Many of the students and
teachers are amongst the worst affected by the flood. In response to this widespread devastation CARE has decided to lead the emergency flood relief efforts. However, our focus remains on reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts towards rebuilding homes, schools and basic infrastructure and thereby lives of those affected.
Emergency Relief:
The first phase of our flood relief program has already begun.
CARE has already dispatched Relief teams for immediate provision of vital supplies including food, water, medicine, cooking utensils, and other necessary provisions. CARE will continue to send its teams with relief aid as long as there are people in need.
Longterm Reconstruction and Rehabilitation:
In the second phase CARE remains committed to reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts. In the coming weeks as the flood water recedes, our efforts will be concentrated in, but not limited to, the areas in and around Muzzafarghar as we have more local knowledge, contacts and resources available there.
As CARE's original founding was in response to a flood situation, CARE has since then been active in disaster situations including the Earthquake in 2005 and IDP relief efforts in 2009. We feel confident in undertaking such community building endeavors on a long term basis. Our commitment will include rebuilding homes, provision of education and health facilities and creating/strengthening sources of livelihoods.
However, as already highlighted by UN, this will be a major undertaking given the huge scale of the disaster, and we will need to raise large amounts of funds to be able to do so successfully.
Help us in our efforts

DONATE NOW!

Meeting follow up

2010-04-02T18:07:00.001-07:00

The meeting in Charleston WV was a huge success with an impressive turnout. Along with monetary pledges, a number of people vowed to spread the word about PLF and CARE foundation as far and wide as possible.

The website for PLF is in the works and should be up and running in the next few weeks.

Meet Seema Aziz, the force behind CARE Foundation

2010-03-31T19:29:00.000-07:00

EVENT: Pakistan Literacy Fund presents: An Evening with Seema Aziz, Chairperson of CARE Foundation (Pakistan)

TOPIC: The Works and Achievements of CARE Foundation and a Call to Action for Educational Empowerment in Pakistan

HOST: Drs. Noveed & Sulaiman Hasan

VENUE: 1340 Johnson Road, Charleston, WV

WHEN: Thursday, April 1 at 8 pm

CONTACT: Fatima at (304) 550-2081 or Noveed at (304) 549-3396 for further information and for RSVP if planning to attend.

Meet with Seema Aziz

2010-03-21T14:52:00.000-07:00

To introduce Seema Aziz

CEO, CARE (Pakistan)

Mrs. Leena Salim Moazzam

Counsellor, Embassy of Pakistan

requests the pleasure of your company

at an Open House

on Saturday, March 27, 2010

from 3:00-5:00pm
at
1316 Ozkan Street, McLean, VA 22101

Cel. 703 678 7984

R.S.V.P.

Susan – tel 202 243 6500 x. 2003

susan@embassyofpakistanusa.org

Seema Aziz at the OPEN DC forum!

2010-03-21T14:42:00.000-07:00

Fireside Chat with Seema Aziz, the force behind Bareeze and CARE Foundation Pakistan.

Seema Aziz is one of those rare entrepreneurs who has managed to create and innovate the best known textiles brand (Bareeze) in Pakistan while at the same time has diligently built her social organization (CARE Foundation) which educates over 135,000 children through 190 schools in Pakistan.Join OPEN DC in meeting Seema to hear about her journey and learn how CARE Foundation is making the difference on the ground by creating a system for delivering quality, low cost education which can be replicated across Pakistan. This is truly an inspiring story filled with words of wisdom on how compassion combined with entrepreneurial zeal and acumen can deliver real change on the ground.

Cost: Member $5.00, Non-members $10.00, at the door $15.00
When: March 28th, 2010 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Where: The address is TSP, Suite #100, 3040 Williams Dr, Fairfax, VA, 22031

FUND RAISING DRIVE

2010-03-13T17:49:00.000-08:00

Volunteer!

2010-02-25T15:38:00.000-08:00

Peace to everyone,

One question that I have seen come up time and again has been about opportunities to volunteer at CARE schools. I am giving the link for the volunteer information below. Check it out. There is contact information there as well as forms to download and fill out.

http://www.carepakistan.org/volunteernow.html

Again, keep the questions flowing.

Sohail

Pakistan Literacy Fund

2010-02-25T15:00:00.002-08:00

Hi everyone,

sorry for the long delay in getting this blog moving again. The structure for Pakistan Literacy Fund in the USA is in place now and we are accepting donations!!!

Hopefully in the next few weeks we will update the blog with more news, pics and videos from the Pakistan Literacy Fund.

One thing I can tell you now is that the number of kids who have gone on to graduate from the schools and are now studying in various medical colleges, engineering universities etc. continues to rise. Most if not all of them are on scholarships and we need your help to make sure that they are able to fulfill their dreams and help make Pakistan a strong, vibrant and progressive nation.

Thanks for your support. Do not hesitate to ask any questions!

Sohail

2010-02-25T15:00:00.001-08:00

2009-01-07T17:25:00.000-08:00

"The Pakistan Literacy Fund is a US-based and registered non-profit organization that aims to work towards improving the state of education and literacy in Pakistan."

PLF Philosophy and Vision:

"It is Pakistan Literacy Fund's firm belief that the lives of ordinary people are directly linked to their individual levels of education. There is no doubt that the lack of quality and mass education is a key factor in the poor economic standard of living and domestic activities of a nation, specially the youth. It is necessary to channel the energies of such youth towards that which would improve their hopes for the future and, thereby, that of the country. Education is an empowering force and one that aims to liberate the minds and hearts of a society. It is PLF's objective in recognizing this as a fact and working towards such an endeavor. Whereas there are several organized groups supporting and working for this cause in Pakistan, we have chosen to work with CARE Foundation, whose organizational leadership and experience in this arena, we have found, not only to be noteworthy, but also exemplary. CARE Foundation is an independent indigenous Pakistani organization and, therefore, most able to tackle the task at hand. PLF supports the work and educational activities of CARE Foundation (Pakistan), the while realizing that there are others in the field that also aspire towards similar goals and objectives. We join hands with all who are sincerely working towards improving the future prospects of the disenfranchised ordinary peoples of Pakistan."

The website for the CARE foundation is www.carepakistan.org. CARE Foundation is currently running over 100 schools with over 117,000 children as well as other vocational training facilities. PLF is also working through the Pakistan Literacy Project: www.pakliteracy.blogspot.com and is also available on www.facebook.com.