Who are you trying to help? What issue are you trying to address?

Faisalabad is an industrial and textile city of Pakistan. People of the area especially women are deprived part of the society. The women realized that their unity would change their marginalized life and after a few community meetings it was decided to form an organization which can assist to solve the problems. The organization was founded in 2000 and named Social Transformation and Educational Prosperity – STEP.

STEP is working directly with the grassroots level community. We have surveyed 25 villages and slum areas where the community has pointed out problems and issues. The survey revealed that the main issues are a lack of health facilities and basic education.

What is your project and how will it help?

Our project is therefore to open a family health centre for women and girls – these being an especially marginalized group in the community. Countless women die every year, due to not having access to basic facilities. Many problems can be solved simply by increasing the knowledge about hygiene and sanitation.

STEP also wishes to educate and help the community in the progress of self development; raising awareness about the roots for the community’s poverty.
Children living in the slum areas do not have access to basic education; therefore STEP is taking actions in providing primary education for them.

Other projects from STEP includes vocational training for adults where men can learn driving, printing, book binding, motor vehicles and air conditions repairing. Women learn skills such as toy making, candle making, basket making, bag making and knowledge how to run a small business.

How can other people partner with you on your project?

We happily accept gifts in-kind as well as donations. International, national and local organizations can support us in different ways, such as donations of material, suggestions and project assistance.
VGIF International and Tides Foundation already supported us on health issues and education but still there is need for more and more projects.

Please detail the resources that you need.

Financial support US$ 12,000 for family health centre and $ 9,000 for the primary and the vocational school. Hospital equipment as well as food is also needed.