CRS Work in Pakistan
CRS promotes peace, justice and reconciliation within Pakistan by improving access to food and credit, and by increasing the capacity of community-based organizations. Furthermore, CRS fosters harmony and collaboration between people of different faiths, supports education and human capacity development, and assists those unable to provide for themselves.
Pakistan has had issues regarding poverty, poor access to health care and education, and inadequate hygiene facilities, which were exacerbated by the October 8, 2005 earthquake that shook northern Pakistan. CRS has one major goal to serve the communities affected by the earthquake: to assist earthquake-affected rural families to rebuild their lives. Working with local partner organizations and Caritas, CRS has implemented four strategic objectives to achieve this goal.
- Earthquake-affected families live in a secure environment in their community of origin
- Earthquake-affected communities have improved access to water and sanitation facilities
- Earthquake-affected children have resumed their primary education in their communities of origin
- Earthquake-affected communities have resumed their livelihoods
In addition, CRS has strengthened its focus on nonformal education, care and support to people living with HIV and AIDS, and teaching people how to support themselves in the long term in drought-prone areas. Some specific examples of our other work include:
Drought Mitigation Program
The U.S. Department of Agriculture funds this program, which is serving over 21,000 individuals in the provinces of Sindh and Balochistan. The program improves people's access to water for consumption and production, with a particular emphasis on the role of women.
Nonformal Education
This program improves education opportunities for out-of-school children and adolescents in four provinces by developing stronger parent-teacher associations; creating nonformal schools to serve older and otherwise marginalized children, and training teachers in modern, participatory education methods.
HIV and AIDS Program
CRS has worked with local institutions and partners to provide nutritional, social and financial assistance to HIV-positive people, and trained health care providers to be sensitive towards patients with HIV and AIDS, who are often reluctant to seek treatment for fear they may face discrimination in health care facilities.
