Community Building

To facilitate orientation and awareness sessions

These sessions are about importance of saving, sustainable development, poverty reduction, the importance of educating children, especially girls and other relevant issues. They are conducted in targeted villages in order to achieve identified goals. Once the cooperation of a village is secured, PCDP sets up male and female Village Development Committees (VDCs) and trains them to carry out and oversee PCDP’s programs. PCDP also invites the village to become a member of the Parkari governing system. ‘Community Development Network (CDN)’; 5 villages become a unit, 5 units become a cluster and 5 clusters become a Zone. In this way, Parkaris start working in unity rather than as a fragmented people group. Participation in Cluster and Unit based discussion groups has helped develop grassroots leadership among the Parkaris, giving them a clear direction for sustainability and reducing their feelings of lack of self-confidence. The emergence of male and female village committees has promoted gender fairness and a sense of unity within the Parkari community by improving the working relationship between men and women and encouraging a sense of shared responsibility. These developments are clear signs that the Parkaris have made significant progress in their livelihood, education and towards taking control of their own development.

Both male and female Village Committees in these respective communities, and in other Village Communities in the Sindh area, run discussion groups. In the rural areas where the Parkari Community live, group facilitators are also trained to effectively facilitate any pre-determined Community Building objectives.

Economic Stability for the Community

To increase awareness concerning the importance of saving

Sessions about the importance of saving, and promoting awareness about ways to save through various saving schemes are conducted. People are also made aware about some of the underlying reasons for their poverty, by various pertinent questions being asked, e.g. Why are you in such huge debt? How might the use of drugs be creating economic problems? Why is a lot of your money spent on curing diseases?

Initially, Saving Groups are organized to help people save through the “Clay money pots” saving scheme. Once the groups are strengthened they organize their savings in a formal way. This saving scheme not only helps people to have money for meeting their small everyday needs, but it also helps them to avoid having to pay interest when loans are taken out. This saving scheme also indirectly motivates people to adopt improved health & hygiene habits, to evade drugs such as alcohol, opium, etc., and to obtain an education. For those who are able to save their money, this not only improves their health conditions and increases the number of educated people in the community, it also brings them economical stability and a growth in respect and status within their society.

Official Registration Of Adults

Parkari adults receiving their National Identity Cards

With collaboration of National Database Registration Authority (NADRA), PCDP provides the opportunity for adult villagers from rural villages to register with the National Database Registration Authority (NADRA) so they obtain their computerized National Identity Cards (CNIC). The CNIC is the main document for giving proof of citizenship, and gives rightful access to all available government facilities and opportunities. PCDP team organizes orientation session with rural communities and teach about registration procedures and also visits people’s houses with NADRA officials, so residents are able to receive their CNICs without even leaving their homes.