Sindh Floods Rehabilitation
Description
2022 Floods
by Ar. Yasmeen Lari
The devastation is unprecedented. 33 million people have been displaced which means over 5 million families consisting of women and children are shelter-less and vulnerable, soon with winter months to deal with.
The traditional ways particularly the International Colonial Charity model which relies on handouts and intermediaries have proven to be ineffective in the face of major disasters because of their limited outreach and treatment of affected people as supplicants and fostering dependency. I would like for it to be replaced by humanistic humanitarianism.
The enormity of the present 2022 Flood requires a paradigm shift in the structure of the culture of giving.
For many years now I have been working on developing and fine-tuning the philosophical basis of Barefoot Social Architecture, the tenets of which have been used extensively in the last few years in the projects implemented by the Heritage Foundation of Pakistan.
Barefoot Social Architecture (BASA) Tenets
- Maximizing the potential of the existing ‘Barefoot Ecosystem’ - applying 3 Zeros: Zero Cost (to the donor)/Zero Carbon/Zero Waste methodologies leading to Zero Poverty.
- Focus on social and ecological justice through humanistic architecture fostering pride, dignity, and well-being, and preventing depletion of the planet’s resources.
- Delivery of unmet needs through Barefoot Entrepreneurs or BEs with a particular focus on women – Barefoot Incubator for Social Good and Environmental Sustainability(BISGES) for training in affordable products for BOP.
- Low tech, low-impact non-engineered structures for shrinking the ecological footprint in construction, using green skills and sustainable, locally sourced materials.
BASA Culture of Giving:
To handle the enormous calamity, we need a paradigm shift from charity to empowerment, from dependence to self-reliance, from women being suppressed to placing them in the lead. I want knowledge sharing for and capacity building of communities and most of all women. I want to use technology and connectivity for direct communication. I want large-scale training and knowledge transfer to enable communities to take care of themselves.
Principles:
No to handouts, no to charity!
No intermediaries. Don’t put money into a black hole.
Raise funds for long-term engagement with chosen communities.
Components of BASA Giving:
- Adopt a Village – Guardians take up a village or cluster of villages for an emergency, rehabilitation, development, and long-term engagement.
- Barefoot Knowledge Depository with a worldwide contribution
- Climate-smart Training by experts around the world
Following these principles, Heritage Foundation with several partners has begun implementing several methodologies to relate to different situations:
- Adopt a Village
Utilization of funds available with Guardians for establishing a basic level for living on an incremental basis through participatory approaches and appropriate training,
Emergency Phase:
- Emergency LOG shelters
- Emergency Eco Toilets
- Half scale LOG for classrooms and play areas for children
After return to Previous Habitat:
- Rights-based elements:
- LOG converted into a permanent structure
- Eco toilets made permanent – making compost from solid waste
- Water supply (raised hand pump)
- Pakistan Chulah stove on an earthen platform
- Flood water drainage and protection:
- Aquifer trenches and wells
- Using excavated earth for making protective low walls
- Earth lime boundary walls (prevent hazardous bushes in boundary walls)
- Preparedness for Disaster
- Lime earth raised platforms to prevent flood damage
- Storing water and food items
- Solar rays water purification
- Large platforms for storing grains or use for village performances during non-disaster times
- Community forests on the boundary
- Aquifer trenches and aquifer wells
- Using earth from excavation to make bunds.
- Plant Neem and lemon trees close to shelters.
- Community buildings
- Women’s Centre with monitor and computer for meetings and connectivity
- Low-cost health center
- Low cost school
- Re-erect half scale LOG for school children
- Low-cost dispensary
- Livelihoods:
Shelter-related livelihoods to be organized during the emergency shelter phase
Other livelihoods to be taken up after return should include the following for which training can be arranged:
- Providing unmet needs of surrounding communities by making affordable products
- Green products: earth lime brick making, lime slaking
- Kashi/terra cotta products: terra cotta tiles, toilet basins etc.
- Bamboo products: vegetable containers, doors /windows, prefab products, benches, tables etc.
- Nursery products: saplings, vegetable gardening, community forests and plantation
- Mother earth products: cow dung/wood dust briquettes, organic soap
- Pakistan chulah making and marketing
- Other green products and crafts may be possible in the area.
What is Barefoot Knowledge Depository:
Low impact, low tech, locally sourced, locally fabricated products and procedures:
- Construction techniques
- Waste- less Sanitation
- Water conservation
- Aquifer related procedures
- Environment related
- Water-related livelihoods – fish farming, making ponds for next year
- Alternative farming practices
- Preventive health procedures
- Compendium of local knowledge and remedies
- Disaster preparedness (cont.)
What is Climate Smart Training:
- Zero/low carbon construction
- Dealing with displacement – women, children, men
- Flood protection techniques
- New farming techniques
- Living with flood threats
- Occupations after floods (contd.)
Floods of 2010
As in the rest of the country, the province of Sindh also suffered enormously through the Floods of 2010. Even before the affected communities were able to pick up the pieces, excessive rains in Lower Sindh produced a greater disaster than ever before.
Clearly, the enormity of the disaster in the aftermath of the 2011 floods requires innovative solutions for providing shelter to a vast majority at an accelerated pace.
The latest figures indicate that at least 0.8 million houses are either fully or partially damaged (PDM A Sindh/OCH A). When viewed in the context of the background of the 2010 floods, we know that last year only a fraction of the required housing units could be built due to various constraints. It is clear that conventional approaches are once again likely to prove inadequate in the face of a much greater calamity, where the devastation has spread over a vastly extended area with a much greater number of displaced households.
Clearly, it has become imperative to devise low cost alternative approaches to provide shelter options which would include maximum participation of affected households themselves. At the same time, in view of the danger of annual flooding, it has become increasingly important that DRR capabilities are built-in within the new struc- tures to enable the communities to survive within their original habitat during the course of floods. The strategies and approaches to deal with the present crisis must be worked out with a view to enable the affected households to restart their lives immediately after the waters begin to recede, with minimum dislocation, least loss of life and minimum loss of livestock.
In collaboration with DFID and IOM, in October 2011, Heritage Foundation undertook the task of creating a training and implementation framework for innovative architectural/engineering solutions for speedy rehabilitation/reconstruction of shelters, based on DRR cross cutting theme. These methodologies have been developed to enable affected communities, donors and IPOs in undertaking shelter rehabilitation and shelter reconstruction at an accelerated pace. The framework thus developed maximizes participation of households including women by utilizing their own skills and capabilities.
Basis of Lari Strategy
The strategy has been developed by Heritage Foundation CEO Ar. Yasmeen Lari, in the light of research on construction materials and techniques carried out in various districts of Sindh, as well as experience gained in working in post-disaster communities since 2005Earthquake in Northern Pakistan. The approach is based on provision of sustainable and low cost options derived from traditional techniques and participatory mechanisms that would lead to attain- ing immediate shelter by strengthening the capabilities and skills of communities themselves.
Guiding Principles
- Utilize Heritage and tradition for involvement of communities and for fostering pride and self-confidence.
- Use sustainable materials to prevent environmental degradation.
- Use local skills and techniques for speedy delivery.
- Incorporate DRR-driven Methodologies to withstand next flooding.
- Utilize Shelter provision for entrée into communities for larger benefits and for initiating women’s economic empowerment strategies.
- Develop holistic models aiming at MDGs: hygiene, WASH, food security, nutrition, literacy.
- In the long term develop training modules for implementing partners, volunteers, artisans, and communities.
Guidelines for scaling up and speedy implementation
- Create an implementation structure for speedy delivery.
- Establish certification procedures for artisans for production of technically sound vernacular constructions.
- Form Mobile teams for ease of access to villages.
- Demonstrate improved vernacular methodologies through prototype/model units.
- Establish reporting, monitoring and evaluation procedures based on agreed-upon indicators.
- Establish technical back-Stopper arrangement using internet and technology.
- Ensure that each unit has certification as a DRR-compliant structure.
Mechanismm
Awareness in DRR measures and sensitivities towards gender empowerment and conflict resolution measures will be built-in in the learning outcomes of the training programme.
Throughout the programme, a mechanism of quality control and certification will be put in place, for which Mobile Barefoot KaravanTeams (MBJT) will be trained for field work and monitoring, in coordination with Heritage control centre (HCC). HCC will develop training modules, technical guidance and information, as well as liaison with CSC, MBKT and Implementing Partners.
For smooth functioning of the project and transparent procedures, the disbursement of funds will be the responsibility of the Imple- menting Partners, and will be distinct from training, monitoring, evaluation and certification, which will be the responsibility of Heritage Foundation..
We are confident that based on improved vernacular construction techniques incorporating DRR methods developed by Heritage Foundation over the years, these sustainable and economical op- tions will provide the critical direction for communities to become strong, self reliant and resilient. The implementation procedures through a process of certification and several monitoring tiers will ensure that all shelters constructed using Heritage Foundation methodology will have strong walls and safe haven KaravanRoofs for safety during next floods. In addition to safety of life, other DRR methodologies being recommended by Heritage Foundation, will provide safety of rations, potable water, livestock and fodder. Such interventions, comprising raised earthen platforms, will also provide the much needed sports and cultural nodes, which we are confident, will lead to transformation in the lives of village communities.
Reports/Publications
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Technical Training Manual - Build Back Safer with Vernacular Methodologies - 2013.Lowres
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Build Back Safer with Vernacular Methodologies
Project News
Mar 28, 2023
32. Flood Blog by Ar. Yasmeen Lari - Disaster response strategy 1
Karachi
STRATEGY 1
The following are the details of Strategy I
Zero Carbon Villages Holistic model @ Rs. 42,800 per household.
This model is based on my Adopt-a-Village programme requiring fund raising by partner organizations.
a. Rights based zero carbon provision of one safe room,1 shared eco toilets, shared hand water pumps, shared solar lighting, earthen Pakistan Chulah stove.
b. Flood mitigation measures using earthen walls, earthen platforms, community forests, and bamboo barriers. In addition, water absorption mechanisms consisting of aquifer wells and aquifer trenches, porous pavements and soft ground surfaces.
c. Livelihoods based on barefoot enterprises for fulfilling the unmet needs of communities e.g., wall matting, roof thatching, brick making, briquettes and organic soap, low-cost terracotta products along with food items e.g., fish farming, chicken and goat breeding, nursery and plantations.
d. Provision of social franchises based on micro loans of Rs. 5,000 and Rs. 10,000 for setting up commerce driven barefoot enterprises for accelerated marketing of local products and produce.
Many of these villages, who are now secure with rights-based development along with sufficient earnings from Barefoot Eco Enterprises, they have become food secure and self-sufficient.
They have now become sufficiently trained and have now embarked on sharing their knowledge and skills as Barefoot Eco Entrepreneurs on a small fee. The model is labelled Champa model, as she is the one who proved the BASA principle of how sharing expertise and teaching other disadvantaged persons, however poor they might be, are willing to pay small remunerations for the assistance they received. The small amount of Rs. 200 as fee has demonstrated how so many of the BEEs in our holistic model villages have begun to earn large amounts within a few months.
Just as Champa and her husband Kanji have become millionaires, there are many budding millionaires in the offing, if we can make a success of my programme for Building Sustainable Eco Communities by Rehabilitating 1 million Households at a Time.
Flood Blogs
Disaster Response Strategy 1
by Yasmeen Lari
27 March 2023
Mar 24, 2023
31. Flood Blog by Ar. Yasmeen Lari - Disaster response strategy
KARACHI
Floods in Pakistan have wrought havoc in all provinces, and only a well thought out programme can provide relief to the millions that are displaced today. Since the government institutions are not interested in following zero carbon economical building techniques the provision of housing will remain slow leaving a vast number not only shelter-less but also suffering from hunger, malnutrition and water related ailments.
In order to deal with the inactivity in the humanitarian field, I have devised the following strategies:
1. Holistic model @ Rs. 42,800 per household.
This model is based on my Adopt-a-Village programme requiring fund raising by partner organizations and based on my pilot of 1,000 households in Pono Village. Two more partners are committed to take this model forward each with at least 1,000 families each. These are Ms. Safeeyah Moosa of Spiritual Chords,South Africa and Mr. Faiz Kidwai representing Rotary International.
2. Basic Shelter mocdel @ Rs. 30,000 per household
This model is based upon my ‘Build a Shelter’ Programme and has been adopted by several partners.
a, Zero Carbon One room prefabricated bamboo cottage for each household and shared prefabricated bamboo eco toilets.
This provides dignity and safety and allows families to incrementally add other elements to fulfill their needs.
Several partners have built varying numbers of these units notable among them:
Bank of Punjab
Dr. Sarwat in Muzaffargarh
3. Food Secure Dosti Villages model @ Rs. 1,800/household to sponsors
This model is based on my ‘Adopt a Destitute Village’ programme into Food Secure Communities through help of Sponsoring Villages
This strategy builds upon the goodwill and generosity of villages that have become self-sufficient as a result of the holistic model. 13 of Yasmeen Lari’s Zero Carbon villages have adopted 130 destitute villages to run the programme. The only input from outside sponsors for the provision of a water handpump, a solar panel and bags of lime in order that platforms could be built with lime/earth brick.The entire training programme for destitute villages is being carried out by the sponsoring villages. So far 60 villages (4,000 families) are on their road in growing vegetables, breeding fish and chicken rearing.
4. Mutual Help Villages model @ Zero Cost to sponsors
This model is based on the mechanism of mutual help among communities relying on the destitute villages own meagre contributions in order to reduce hunger.
This model depends upon the community itself purchasing items and services from Barefoot Entrepreneurs. Only those villages are being taken up which are adjacent to agricultural streams/canals.
The programme has been initiated recently and judging from the response of downtrodden villages, there is great chance of them becoming food secure.
Flood Blogs
Disaster Response Strategies
by Yasmeen Lari
24 March 2023
Mar 18, 2023
30. Flood Blog by Prof. Yasmeen Lari - Food Security
Cambridge
Having lost everything due to 2022 Flood, millions of families today need food supplies. Due to Government’s non action and slow action of NGOs they are likely to remain shelter-less for a long time. However, I believe with very little investment, we can enable families to begin growing food for their survival.
What is Food Security programme?
At a small charge to households, the various segments are implemented by Barefoot Entrepreneurs belonging to Sponsoring Villages who, at a small charge, provide guidance for making platforms, divide up the village land into areas in order to begin growing fruit trees, vegetables and bushes/grain, and provide training to make mud/lime bricks to make village boundary walls.
What are Sponsoring Villages?
These are Yasmeen Lari’s Zero Carbon villages that have become self sufficient who have agreed to sponsor destitute villages in their vicinity to provide guidance for food security.
What are Dosti Villages?
These are destitute villages who have received no help so far but have now been adopted by Sponsoring Villages to provide guidance and help.
How will Dosti Villages become Food Secure?
Only essential equipment and materials costing Rs. 110,000 are needed to enable 50-70 families in each village to begin growing food.
a. One raised handpump: Rs. 15,000
b. One solar panel: Rs. 40,000
c. 40 bags of lime: Rs. 20,000
d. Maa ka Dastarkhwan (Mothers dining) for 7 days providing cooked food for 90-100 persons to support collective building of village boundary walls: Rs. 35,000
Expert teams of Sponsoring Villages provide guidance and training at a small charge to each family.
How can Dosti Villages be sponsored?
For each village of 50-70 households funds can be sent to Mothers Committees, who will arrange for procurement and disbursement. Heritage Foundation of Pakistan will allocate villages, oversee installation and provide feedback. A link to Google map will be provided which will show progress in each village on a database of Dosti Villages.
Mar 18, 2023
29. Flood Blog by Prof. Yasmeen Lari - Growing food
Cambridge
While at Cambridge, it has been difficult to continue with my blogs in a regular fashion. However, there has been much thought and a great deal of discussion with my team at home. And I am pleased to report that we are being supported fully by communities in moving on in many directions.
The most important development is the seriousness with which the communities have responded and are working hard to plant and grow food for consumption of their families first. But as the produce is growing in quantity, mechanism has to be put in place for collection and sales of these items.
Many steps have been taken in order to make the dry and ostensibly barren land into fertile, food growing area. The one thing that has been bothering me is that in Sindh, we find the landlords orchards flourishing; however, even though village may be in the midst of orchards, nothing would be cultivated there. Either the hari or the farm labour was not encouraged to grow, even though it is the same farm labour that toils to make profit for landlords. It occurred to me that either the villagers never had enough courage to build on what they think is the landlord’s land, or because of the hard crust, they assumed that the land was barren and will not bear any results if plantation was taken up.
As we began to work on the village, we found that in most places, water was available quite easily and the area was conducive to growing produce. On an experimental basis the hard crust was removed to 12”-18’, treated with water and organic compost and we found that indeed the soil below supported growing of vegetables, fruit etc.
Also, while making excavation for a low cost water storage tank at grade, it was found that water was available quite close to the ground surface and as the artisans dug, the water level kept on being maintained. And if we did not line the tank, it would be ideal for breeding small fish. So that is the beginning of small fish breeding by groups of families. And now that the fish are growing well, a process of fish drying has been started so that all surplus fish could be stored or sold.
The solar dehydration of vegetables and fruit, which has been taken up by communities enthusiastically, has shown good results. If organized properly this provides huge opportunities for ensuring food security along with income generation.
Now that the social franchise system is taking root, there would be possibility of extensive sales during off season time for various vegetables and fruit etc.
Jan 13, 2023
28. Flood Blog by Ar. Yasmeen Lari - Interim Recovery Strategy, Dosti (Friendship) Programme II
KARACHI
As we initiated the programme in Village Taj Mohammad who had done
extremely well in their earnings last month, it was surprising how enthusiastically
the entire programme was received. Thus almost immediately after my discussion
and the blog, Project Manager Naheem took up the matter with the village and
organized the teams for getting work started.
Since work on provision of handpump and solar lights has already been taken in
hand, and information regarding households etc. was already compiled, we were
able to get going fairly quickly.
In addition to the allocation for various essential items, another condition I have
imposed is that each sponsored village must immediately nominate three women
as village committee who will be responsible for providing information and
oversee implementation. If they begin to perform their duties well, they will be
provided with a cell phone in order to make reporting easier for them.
Additionally, joint accounts for all three should be opened with a local bank asap.
This would become important as they are made responsible for reporting and also
in case any funds need to be transferred for work in the village.
Jan 3, 2023
27. Flood Blog by Ar. Yasmeen Lari - Interim Recovery Plan
KARACHI
Only a couple of weeks ago I had written about starting a parallel strategy for recovery with the aim to get the basic water arrangement with a handpump and water storage tank to be carried out in villages where the use of existing ponds for fish farming could also be started with a meagre allocation of Rs. 20,000 for a village of 50 households.
As we began working it became clear that the level of deprivation and poverty is so great and there needs to be greater effort if the Interim Recovery Strategy is to be successful.
To achieve every affected hosusehold’s minimum level of subsistence, it would be imporant to place emphasis on food prodction in addition to certain other needs. As we know this issue affects millions and it is well nigh impossible to secure enough esources to enable survival of these communities.
Village to Village Partnership – Gaon, Gaon Dosti
Since my attempt always is to provide assistance to communities at the least possible cost, it occurs to me that the Pono village cluster, with its spirit of generosity that exists in its communities, is now poised to help others. As the HF team worked out, with funding of only Rs. 100,000 per 50 families, it would be possible to provide many components which would get those still in need to be placed on the path of recovery.
T have deided to immediately take up 10 villages near Pono village cluster where work on installation of handpumps and fish breeding has already been taken in hand.
Jan 3, 2023
26. Flood Blog by Ar. Yasmeen Lari - Basic Learning Centres
KARACHI
This blog is in continuation of the earlier blog regarding first learnings and provides more detailed information regarding building of school rooms and the curriculum for basic learning that has been developed.
According to conservative estimates the number of schools fullly damaged and partially damagd runs into several thousands which means that in Sindh the schooll going children have been without any learing possibilties for the last several months. If the poor state of education because of COVID closures and the usual ghost school sydrome is added to the problem, it would seem that several million children have suffered throghout this period and without a smattering of learning, they have no chance of surivival in the competitive 21st century.
How can we leave generations in our country without dealing with this issue. The problem is extremely complex because of high cost of usual construction and non availability of funds to be able to provide even a basic teaching room, let alone provision of toilets and potable water. However, if we could accept it as a challenge and work out sustaiable solutions, it is my belief that we could use this opportunity to bring about the social change that is needed today.
The prototype for the propsal has been started in the successful pilot of 1,000 households to create sustaiable zero carbon communities where the first schol room has been built in early December. In the 1,000 households pilot, the basic needs and flood mitigation and environmental improvement components, along with barefoot enterprises in each village for income generation, has been accomplished within 10 weeks. The Pono Vilage cluster is ready to take up the next phase.
Health and some other aspects of further flood mitigation measures alsong with storage of grain/food and cattle feed and safety are being gradually take up. However, in view of the plight of school going age children, we felt that focus on missing school rooms was essential.
Some weeks ago, Chief Executive, The Hampton School, educationist and director Heritage Foundation has provided training to 4 local village teachers to begin the basic learing programme.
We have now begun building another school room along with two eco toilets in a village near Pono cluster which is being built as a protuype for interested organizations to examine it as a model of a sustainable school and whether it could be taken up by them to embark on the challenging task of provision of safe rooms for our children’s education.
Among important initiatives would be to encourage local universities and corporate sector to initiate a programme for joint school building with student volunteers and community on the same pattern as Heritage Foundation’s Climate Volunteers.
Dec 22, 2022
25. Flood Blog by Ar. Yasmeen Lari - Food Solar Drying II
KARACHI
It is good to know that Naheem Shah and his team have acted immediately, and the first prototype of spinach and banana chips drying has been started.
The methodology adopted is to make a bamboo frame fixed wth bamboo lattice made with waste bamboo pieces. The bamboo frame is lined with muslin first and then the items for deyhydration are spread on it.
This is the first time that we have been able to get it started in Pono village. If women are successful then the dehydration process should be spread as far and wide as possible.
Dec 21, 2022
24. Flood Blog by Ar. Yasmeen Lari - Food Dehydration Platforms
KARACHI
The more I think about the condition of millions now left to fend for themselves the greater I feel a sense of despondency. After a frenzy of fund raising and ration distribution there is a pall in all activities. I am told donor fatigue has set in.
I think it is also because everybody feels that they have done their bit for charity and the helpless millions are not their responsibility any way. The fact is that if you follow the usual path of charity, there is only so much anybody could do and eventually the state has to take on the responsibility.
Another fact however, is that all state organs seem to be absent from the depths of rural Sindh. In such a case, and it is not something that has not been clear for some time, that state institutions are not really engaged in welfare of the poor, would it not be appropriate for some of us who have an understanding of the vulnerable condition of the abandoned communities that we need to work on methodologies to see how we could help them survive.
Dec 19, 2022
23. Flood Blog by Ar. Yasmeen Lari - Basic learnings
KARACHI
Introduction
The first group of Climate Volunteers that arrived from Vienna Technical University, Vienna and University of Lahore, Lahore did a fremarkable job of interacting with the villagers in the Pono Villagee group of 13 villages that are on their way of full recovery after the floods.
While resising in the village in the first week of December, they have managed to co build a school room. They also made a gift of a monitor and a solar panel to faciliate learning in the school.
The school room has replaced a makeshift class room where some classes were being conducted. Educationist AFroza Bhamani, Director of Heritage Foundation and owner The Hampton School, has trained four young people from the village into teaching the basics to village children.
Dec 16, 2022
22. Flood Blog by Ar Yasmeen Lari - Scaling up Fish farming
KARACHI
I am picking up the flood thread again as I am back in Karachi during vacation. Much has happened where Heritage Foundation teams have worked hard to make 1,000 households as close to self-sufficiency as possible.
Based on the success of the Fish Farming village Kewal Goth which has been successful in making a success of fish farming in much neglected pond close to their village. The success is phenomenal. Beginning with literally nothing in the first week of October -- when they were provided some basic training due to the good office of Project Manager Naheem Shah by identifying a fish expert in the area. The process was begun with little hope of success, as hardly an attempt had been made in the past to use the much-neglected ponds in a fruitful manner.
Dec 15, 2022
21. Flood Blog by Ar. Yasmeen Lari - First Climate Volunteers - 15 December 2022
KARACHI
I am happy to report the visit of the first team of Climate Volunteers. On 30 November 10 students and 2 faculty members from Vienna Technical University and another 9 students and 3 faculty members from University of Lahore arrived in Karachi.
They were taken to the Pono Hospitality village to spend 6 days in working with close collaboration with village communities.
Many activities happened during the eventful days in the midst of the flood affected area.
Pono Hospitality village is part of the pilot consisting of 13 villages and 1,000 households that has been taken up by Heritage Foundation to demonstrate how application of BASA Barefoot Social Architecture holistic approach can transform lives of people within a short period of time and at an extraordinary low cost.
The two teams worked jointly on various aspects. While they conducted research on various aspects, they also built a school room in collaboration with the community, designed some interesting bamboo furniture for the guest cottages, and also participated in a festival that had been arranged to market barefoot goods to surrounding communities and indeed among the 13 villages themselves.
Dec 12, 2022
1 million Households - Building Sustainable Communities, Immediate Recovery/Rehabilitation
Click the following link to view the PowerPoint presentation:
One Million Shelters Presentation
Nov 7, 2022
20. Flood Blog by Ar. Yasmeen Lari - Adopt a Village - Pono Cluster Completion Phase I December 2022
CAMBRIDGE, 6th November
Introduction
The Phase I defined in my earlier blog is nearing completion in 13 villages
in the Pono Cluster. This means that major development effort towards
emergency relief, recovery and rehabilitation would have been achieved in
a short of span of 12 weeks.
Beginning in September which included identifying 13 villages, getting
basic information regarding the number of households, lists of households
in each village, determining the strategy of what should comprise Phase I of
adopt a village porgramme, which would ensure that basic necessities for
living become available as well as steps for disaster preparedness.
Co building and Co creation by Communities
The work in all villages is in hand and with the collaborative arrangement
with different village communities, much progress has been made towards
transformation of their own environments.
As I have mentioned in earlier blogs, it is costing a mere Rs.
15,000/household to achieve this amazing progress.
At the same time each village has now become expert in specialized
barefoot products, some of which are being sold in surrounding areas,
among the other poor. Thus, trickle of small amounts of funds for some of
the villages is already happening. There are encouraging reports from some
villages where they are moving forward quite rapidly – the instant shelter
barefoot entrepreneur already able to afford a motorbicycle, some others
able to now get cell phones.
Nov 1, 2022
19. Flood Blog by Ar. Ysmeen Lari - Climate Volunteers – Students/Others
BEGINNINGS AT UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE
Being with students, and to see their enthusiasm for Pakistan, has been a refreshing experience. I met a number of students on 25th October, led by Syeda Hanniya Kamran and coordinated by Dr. Rihab Khalid. We were fortunate that pro-Vice Chancellor Kamal Munir was also able to attend. The meeting was held in a committee room at West Court, Jesus College, arranged by Lucey Couch, Assistant to Master Sunita Alleyne, OBE.
The meeting had been convened by PakSoc to work out ways to help Pakistan at this juncture. Since they had been considering arranging for fund raisers to send funds for relief and rehabilitation work, and since I don’t believe in charity, I was able to share my alternate point of view.
I believe it is important to provide expression of empathy and solidarity with those who are today in a destitute state. Some funds are always useful if they are provided in a manner to help them towards path of self-reliance, but what is important is to provide opportunity to those interested to provide them to assure the communities of their support.
Among the most important aspects at this time is to provide hand holding, support and encouragement to help them rise above adversity themselves.
Link: https://bit.ly/HFClimateVolunteers
Nov 1, 2022
Climate Volunteers
Oct 24, 2022
18. Flood Blog by Ar. Yasmeen Lari - Pono Village Cluster Update Lachman Kohli – Pottery Village
CAMBRIDGE, 22nd October
I have begun this series in order to develop record of how various karigar villages with their specialized barefoot enterprises are moving forward. As more information is coming in it is good to know that some have begun earning small amounts through their enterprise- some of the income is from subsidized products that Heritage Foundation has supported, but some is also happening because other villages in need of affordable and low cost products.
Oct 21, 2022
17. Flood Blog by Ar. Yasmeen Lari - Pono Village Cluster Update
CAMBRIDGE, 21st October
I am getting regular reports from the villages and it is heartening to note how busy all villagers are in trying to improve their environment. While reports are being prepared on each village’s performance and production capabilities, it is important to discuss the results achieved in relation to the provision of shelter.
Oct 21, 2022
16. Flood Blog by Ar. Yasmeen Lari: Stages of Rehabilitation 3
Oct 21, 2022
15. Flood Blog by Ar. Yasmeen Lari: Stages of Rehabilitation 2
Oct 21, 2022
14. Flood Blog by Ar. Yasmeen Lari: Stages of Rehabilitation Introduction 1
Oct 17, 2022
13. Flood Blog by Ar. Yasmeen Lari: Pono Satellite Karigar Village update 2
Oct 3, 2022
12. Flood Blog by Ar. Yasmeen Lari: Pono Satellite Karigar Village update
Oct 2, 2022
11. Flood Blog by Ar. Yasmeen Lari: Adopt a village 3 - Support karigar products
Oct 2, 2022
10. Flood Blog by Ar. Yasmeen Lari: Adopt a village 2 - Karigar villages illustrated
Oct 2, 2022
9. Flood Blog by Ar. Yasmeen Lari: Adopt a village 1 - Markaz illustrated
Sep 26, 2022
8. Flood Blog by Ar. Yasmeen Lari: Disaster Preparedness
Sep 26, 2022
7. Flood Blog by Ar. Yasmeen Lari: Instant Roof Shelter and Instant Eco Toilet
Sep 22, 2022
6. Flood Blog by Ar. Yasmeen Lari: Student Volunteers in Flood Villages
Sep 18, 2022
5. Flood Blog by Ar. Yasmeen Lari: Adoption of Displaced Children for Activities
Sep 18, 2022
4. Flood Blog by Ar. Yasmeen Lari: Pono Markaz Skilled Satellites (contd.)
Sep 15, 2022
3. Flood Blog by Ar. Yasmeen Lari: Pono Markaz Skilled Satellites
Sep 15, 2022
2. Flood Blog by Ar. Yasmeen Lari: Pono Markaz as Facilitator
Sep 15, 2022
1. Flood Blog by Ar. Yasmeen Lari: Pono Village as Markaz
Sep 11, 2022
Heritage Foundation’s Flood Emergency Response
In the past few days, following the disasters due to the heavy rains in the Sindh region, Heritage Foundation Pakistan reached out to some of the worst hit villages in Makli and Mirpurkhas (Pono Village), elaborating effective and economical approaches through vernacular methodologies. Calamities like this one prove us once again that climate change is not science fiction but destroys real people’s lives in the snap of a finger. The strategy has been developed by Heritage Foundation CEO Ar. Lari who has brought together a compact team of collaborators willing to give their contribution. Rainwater drainage process coordinated by Miss Lari’s team of experts has started to get executed with the support of the villagers. A low-cost approach has been studied and analyzed starting from the aquifer trench, which will serve to collect the stagnant rainwater that is 8/9 inches deep and spread over at various locations in the distressed area. All actions will include maximum participation of affected households themselves, strengthening their capabilities and skills. Targeted training modules are in fact offered for implementing partners, volunteers, artisans and communities. The strategy also includes the transfer of prefabricated bamboo shelters that will be directly sent to the villages and composed on-site by the community
Sep 11, 2022
Heritage Foundation’s Flood Emergency Response: Aqifer Trench Project
In the past few days, following the disasters due to the heavy rains in the Sindh region, Heritage Foundation Pakistan reached out to some of the worst hit villages in Makli and Mirpurkhas (Pono Village), elaborating effective and economical approaches through vernacular methodologies. Calamities like this one prove us once again that climate change is not science fiction but destroys real people’s lives in the snap of a finger. The strategy has been developed by Heritage Foundation CEO Ar. Lari who has brought together a compact team of collaborators willing to give their contribution. Rainwater drainage process coordinated by Miss Lari’s team of experts has started to get executed with the support of the villagers. A low-cost approach has been studied and analyzed starting from the aquifer trench, which will serve to collect the stagnant rainwater that is 8/9 inches deep and spread over at various locations in the distressed area. All actions will include maximum participation of affected households themselves, strengthening their capabilities and skills. Targeted training modules are in fact offered for implementing partners, volunteers, artisans and communities. The strategy also includes the transfer of prefabricated bamboo shelters that will be directly sent to the villages and composed on-site by the community.
Pono Village is located in the district of Mirpurkhas (Sindh) which in the past week has witnessed incredible damage from the heavy rains. A solution to drain the water out of the village has been studied and examined by the Heritage Foundation Pakistan.
The solution that’s been brought up is to create an aquifer trench (4’-0’’x4’-0’’) that will act as a natural drain for the rainwater.
As drawn on the map, in red is shown the path that must be followed in order to dig the aquifer trench. The latter will follow the left side of the main road surrounding the right side of the village.The Project will be later on be developed into a more structured one, that will include the creation of a forest along the main road and a boundary wall positioned right next the aquifer trench.
Sep 11, 2022
Lari Octa Green Emergency Shelters
In order to deal with the shelter emergency, Heritage Foundation Pakistan has provided the displaced families of the flood sticken village, Pono Village with the ‘Lari Octa Green’ shelters, a sustainable green construction. The structure can be fabricated and erected at a very rapid pace. It takes in fact only a couple of hours to build one bamboo shelter, making it extremely time saving considering the emergency at hand. Up till now 15 shelters have been made and more are under construction.
Sep 5, 2015
DRR Compliant Karavan Handpumps - PSO and HF program
http://www.heritagefoundationpak.org/BlogPage/68/Newsblog
Aug 10, 2015
HF - TIP WOMEN’S ASSEMBLIES TANDO ALLAHYAR
The first Women’s Assembly session was held on 16th Dec, 2014 at Village Mithu Khaskheli and Village Obrayo Durs, Tando Allahyar. The women were introduced to the concepts of the importance of education and the part it plays in the well being of their children.
Location: News Blog
Aug 10, 2015
Refresher training workshop at ECO-Village Moak Shareef.
A refresher training workshop was held in village MokShareef, for village master trainers.
Location: News Blog
May 4, 2015
HF - TIP Children’s Painting Activity, Tando Allahyar
Apr 16, 2015
UNISDR World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction, Sendai, Japan
Jan 26, 2015
Karavan PakoSwiss Chulah 2 Day Training at Sayani DRR Park, Kot Diji
Dec 1, 2014
World Habitat Awards 2014-15 – team visit to HF Villages Moak Sharif and Hashim Macchi as well as two IOM-HF Villages in Mirpur Khas
Nov 20, 2014
IOM Project-Shelter Technical Training, Monitoring and Training on Smokeless Stove; DRR Assembly and Karavan PakoSwiss Chulah Training
Nov 20, 2014
IOM Project-Shelter Technical Training, Monitoring and Training on Smokeless Stove
Oct 16, 2014
Global Handwashing Day 2014, held at Kot Diji DRR Park
Aug 18, 2014
14th August - Independence Day Celebrations held at villages of Tando Allahyar
Jul 2, 2014
ILO PROJECT - Livelihood restoration & sustainable Empowerment of vulnerable communities - Skills Development Training - Tiba (Platform) Making
Jul 2, 2014
ILO PROJECT - Livelihood restoration & sustainable Empowerment of vulnerable communities - Skills Development Training - Roof Farming
Jul 2, 2014
ILO PROJECT - Livelihood restoration & sustainable Empowerment of vulnerable communities - Skills Development Training - Raised Bed Farming
Jul 2, 2014
ILO PROJECT - Livelihood restoration & sustainable Empowerment of vulnerable communities - Skills Development Training - Organic Soap
Jul 2, 2014
ILO PROJECT - Livelihood restoration & sustainable Empowerment of vulnerable communities - Skills Development Training - Organic Fertilizer
May 19, 2014
ILO PROJECT - Livelihood restoration & sustainable Empowerment of vulnerable communities - DRR Training
May 9, 2014
ILO PROJECT - Livelihood restoration & sustainable Empowerment of vulnerable communities - Training for Lime Slaking
May 9, 2014
ILO PROJECT - Livelihood restoration & sustainable Empowerment of vulnerable communities - Training for Mud Brick Making
Jul 11, 2013
Site Report: Rehabilitation of Flood Affected Communities - Supported by Spiritual Chords, South Africa
Jan 29, 2013
Something's Cookin': smokeless stoves
Oct 22, 2012
Site Report - Village Shelter Program for Households Affected by Floods
Jul 13, 2012
Site Report - Monitoring for BBSwVM for IOM Implementing Partners
Jul 13, 2012
enews - IAP Workshop at Mohak Sharif
Jul 13, 2012
enews - BBSwVM Technical Training workshop (2nd - 9th June)
Mar 29, 2012
On March 16th, a visit to HF projects in village Mohak Sharif and village Dost Mohammad Khokar in Tandi Allahyar was made by teams of DFID and IOM along with Mr. Mahmood Shah, landlord of Mohak Sharf. Mr. Naheem Shah, PM, HF conducted the teams to the two villages where they were shown the work so far completed including 49 shelters, 46 emergency shelters as well as a 24’x16’ Village Centre and a Women’s Centre.
As of March 12th, a 3-room primary school and a small health facility constructed in Village Darya Khan Shaikh, District Khairpur have been completed. Construction of a 1-room school has been started in Village Uthero. The work in Darya Khan Shaikh and Uthero has been undertaken with support from Swiss Pakistan Society.
As of March 1st, with the completion of 50 emergency shelters in village Dost Mohammad Khokar in District Tando Allahyar to date the following shelters/housing units have been completed:
| Village Darya Khan Shaikh & Village Uthero, District Khairpur (March to August 2011) | 104 |
| Village Mohak Sharif, District Tando Allahyar (from October to December 2011) | 45 |
| In 35 talukas/tehsils of Lower Sindh (October to November 2011) | 69 |
| Village Dost Mohammad Khokar, District Tando Allahyar (February 2012) | 50 |
| Total completed upto 1 March 2012 | 268 |
As of January 15th, construction of the Village Centre completed (size 16’x24’), where a Masters’ Training Programme was conducted by Mr. Saad Khan and Mr. Naheem Shah. A circular ‘Chora’ room of 15’ diameter has also been completed dedicated to gathering of women.