Success Stories (Case Studies)

Miraculous Excavation of a 300 years old Karez- Kharan:

75 years of age, Haji Ali Muhammad told that the existing Karez in Kharan is 300 years old and at that time it was running across an unpopulated piece of land. The local tribes met with Mir Azad Khan, the then Nawab of the area and decided to inhabitate the land which is present Kharan, but they found the land with inadequate clean water resources. Later, Mir met with the elders of the community and decided that an under ground 3km long water channel should be constructed that would provide the water to the newly settled population. The people at that time were poor but they agreed to work on digging the Karez without any nominal returns.  

The Karez has provided water for last three hundred years yet often been damaged by the natural disasters, two earth shattering earthquakes, and the recent floods completely eradicated the water channel. Soon after the floods, ARC team assessed the amount of damage and found that if excavated, the existing Karez would benefit the life of a 18,000 people suffering from worst situation. The team excavated and repaired the ancient Karez system which apparently has not been done in three hundred years and the water abundantly poured out. The ARC team is further laying 6800 RFT RCC pipes to make it protective against uncertain weather conditions.  45% of pipe laying work has been completed and we are planning to open 3 channels of Karez in Kharan district.  As the reconstruction and rehabilitation completes, it will provide decade's solution for the clean drinking water needs of the poor people of the area. A miraculous achievement by the ARC team !!

WATSAN Bagh

Shakila Begum, a widow, mother of 4 sons and 3 daughters, lived a miserable life in a far flung small village of Sari Awera,7 kilometers outlying from the Bagh City. Shakila's husband died in 2005 leaving the poor family helpless and later on the devastating earthquake completely stranded the momentum of life. It destroyed everything, the life, the hope, and all belongings. The infrastructure and the clean water resources were ruthlessly swept away as if they never existed. Her daughters were young and she was worried for their future. Besides other miseries of life, the poor girls used to walk miles away from home and fetch drinking water from a spring in a nearby village. It was very difficult, culturally inappropriate, and not very secure in some ways, but no other option was available to the village people.

ARC WATSAN team visited the area and found deplorable water conditions. The ARC survey team found the possible source of drinking water 27 kilometers away from Shakila's village which was completely destroyed by the earthquake 2005. ARC in participation with stake holders, particularly community, launched a pilot project on provision of safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene program laying water pipe line 20820-00 RFT, 7000 meters above the sea level. This was a miraculous achievement of the project which provided clean drinking water to 31,200 population of Sari Awera.

Naseera's Story

Naseera is an old lady living in a village Kahna Mori of Union Council Bagh. Her husband was working as a housekeeper in the local session court. Naseera narrated her story saying “He is diabetic and this fateful disease has taken his sight since the past 4 years. He was the sole breadwinner for our family. But after losing his sight, we lost all hopes to survive, which worsened after the earthquake. Our home was almost destroyed in the earthquake, and we had no other means to look for but a meager amount of his pension money. My two daughters are grown up now, Nahid, 23 and Shamim, 25. Every passing day was adding to our miseries as hopes were dying very quickly.” ARC had started its Livelihood project in that area. The survey team was given an important task to identify extremely vulnerable individuals in this area. They visited Naseera's home and were deeply shocked to see her living conditions. Providing shelter was the first priority for this household. A semi-permanent structure was built for this lady and then the task for rehabilitation of this household through self-employment was taken up. Naseera was provided with basic training and supplies for maize and vegetable cultivation in a small piece of land near her house, which belonged to her. She also benefited from ARC's livestock replacement scheme and received a goat. Naseera was very happy and determined to change living circumstances for her family. On the visit to the area, Ms. Louise Paterson, Regional Coordinator ARC, appreciated the hard work of this striving family and promised to provide employment for one of Naseera's daughters at the ARC camp. Now Shamim, 25 a brilliant girl, full of determination and a graduate from a local college is a part of ARC's social activation team. Naseera has been able to produce a decent yield from maize and vegetables cultivation. “ARC has changed my life. Who better than me can understand this fact. I really thank ARC for its kindness and hard work. I pray that all vulnerable people and families like mine receive similar benefits from such schemes, Ameen.” Naseera added very humbly.

Restoring Health and Dignity of Women with Pit Latrines

Rashid Zaman, a 24 year old shopkeeper, and his family survived the massive earthquake of October 8, 2005. At present, Rashid is living with his family in Savor Matoli, 5 kilometer away from Padder District in Bagh Thesil in Azad Jammu Kashmir. The Zaman family is the beneficiaries of ARC-UNICEF Water and Sanitation project.

Rashid says, “No shelter and cover was there to protect ourselves because every thing was destroyed in the earthquake. We were really in need by all means. Many national and international relief organizations provided us with relief goods. However, our mothers, wives and children had difficulties using the washrooms because nothing remained after the earthquake”.

“According to the Islamic and cultural values our women observe purdah or seclusion so it is difficult for them to go outside in the fields to relieve themselves. Therefore, the women can only go outside after nightfall which increases their vulnerability”.

The goal of the ARC-UNICEF Water and Sanitation project was to improve the health of beneficiaries by providing pit latrines, water purification materials, jerry cans and hygiene awareness sessions to the community.  However, the latrine component also addressed the protection needs of women in these conservative communities and therefore had a greater impact on women by restoring their health and dignity.

“ARC International provided us with pit latrines, purr sachet, jerry cans and health and hygiene trainings to improve our health. We are satisfied and very happy that our females and children have no vulnerability to go outside. Now, women can use washroom within the safety of the house at all hours”.

Fatima Bibi is the 53 year old grandmother of Rashid Zaman. She says “We are very happy that we have the washroom facilities within our home. We use the facility without waiting for nightfall and now we are secure here in our homes”.