Literate Masses
Profile
1. Eibrary Project of Literate Masses:
Literate Masses has built an Elibrary which is archiving books published in Pashto language. Its still in developmental stages which is going to evolve as the largest Elibrary of Pashto books in the world. The criterion for archival of books at Literate Masses is very generalized and simple, i.e. any published book, regardless of politics, religion or race.
2. Writers Network
When a book is archived at the Elibrary of Literate Masses, the author is offered a membership of it Elibrary which bridge them to the Writers Network. One of the main purposes of the Writers Network is to provide an alternative source of intervention for the community development organization, which are far more effective than mullas and maliks. Due to Writers Network new authors are encouraged and the well known authors are motivated to utilize their intellect for their people.
3. Free Education Sponsorship Through Philanthropists
In 1994, three private schools, two in district Swat and one in Buner were established. These schools, called National School of Basic Education were committed to provide quality education in English medium to the marginalized communities of the area. It was based on philanthropists’ sponsorship that sponsored free education for the deserving students. They were also provided free uniform and free books (partially). In 2002 the school in Buner was handled over to the local community who took the oath to manage it in the same pattern in future. One of them is still under the management of Literate Masses. Till date throughout the three schools, the total numbers of students’ benefited are as follow:
SNo. School 50% free 75% free 100% free Total
1 Buner, Torwarsak 167 135 200(free books) 502
2 Swat, Mingora 180 40 155(free books and uniform) 375
3 Swat, Sangota 180 90 170 440
4. Food Preservation and Processing For Women Farmers:
District Swat is known to be a land of orchards. Due to over production of certain crop, market value drops to the extent that even transportation cost for carrying it to the market is not met. In that circumstances food processing and preservation is a best option, especially for women. Women preserve food for their children and sell the rest in the market for earning valuable money for their domestic needs. We conducted our first training workshop in 1997 in Tehseel Mata. Due to high appreciation of the local community, we extended it to some other areas also and involved competent master trainers. Till 2004 we conducted seasonal training workshops every year. It resulted in multifold outcomes, like; fruits were no more wasted, hygienic food was preserved for children, turned as a good source of income generation and laid the foundation for community involvement.
SNo. Year Juices and beverages Fruits Drying Prickles n jams Bee keeping Total
1 1997-98 40 120 60 70 290
2 1998-2000 30 90 40 50 210
3 2000-02 25 100 46 15 186
4 2002-04 20 60 30 30 140
5. Intellectual Survey of IDPs
Literate Masses felt the need to study and analyze the 4 million, historic human displacement on account of war against terror, in Malakand division. The main focus was to study the reasons behind this mega displacement, the public opinion about the international community and its organizations, its impression on the minds of children and women, its impact on the regional and global peace and the ways to combat such events in the future. For this purpose a survey of about 500 IDPs both in camps and outside camps and their opinion was recorded.
6. Distribution of Mospel and ORS in IDPs
Literate Masses targeted people outside camps for providing two most wanted items that is Mospel for avoiding mosquito and ORS. This distribution was carried out by the help of local nazims and councilors in 10 UCs of District Sawabi. The main source was philanthropists, pharmaceutical companies and businessman of the medicine industry. Two bottles of Mospel and a box of ORS were distributed to a total of about 650 households.
Sno. Item Quantity
1 Mospel 1250 bottles
2 ORS 650 Boxes
7. Establishment & Facilitation of CCBs
Under the umbrella of Literate Masses, communities were motivated to establish CCBs for the uplift of their societies. First the people were oriented about the role and importance of CCBs, they were assisted in diagnosing community problems, identifying resources. They were assisted in dealing with different matters of government departments and finally the documentation and registration process. Their capacity was built on activities like Financial matters, Record keeping and Management and Monitoring of development schemes Till now 25 CCBs has been established which are functional in their communities.
8. Literate Farmers:
Literate Masses enjoys the experience in horticulture since 1964 when a pioneer nursery grower started his first ever nursery in malaknd division. That pioneer person formed a local NGO “Agricultural Welfare Organization” in 1989. They continued efforts in all dimensions of horticulture making Swat the “Land of Orchards”. That pioneer person, Sher Nawab than joined us as a Director for the Literate Farmers chapter of Literate Masses. Now our focus is to promote and encourage new nursery growers, build their capacity on technical grounds and provide them different trainings like that of cultivation, budding, pruning and marketing etc. On the other side farmers are motivated to plant orchards on their own lands or leased lands. In this regard they are oriented about the best species available and training on various horticultural techniques and recommended practices of pesticides and fertilizers.
9. Khawateen Dastakaree Center:
Khawateen dastakaree center was established in Kabal. In the initial stage five sewing machines were provided with the collaboration of Baitul Mall. Later on they were able to increase the number of sewing machines and extend their tailoring business to the local market. The center was at the verge of market success when the unfortunate intervention of extreme elements forcefully decelerated the activity.
10. Volunteer Plantation Campaign:
In the past 15 years about one million plants are planted through volunteers or through land owners. It not only provides fuel wood for the local communities but also help greatly in the preservation of wildlife and a better environment. Certain types of trees are capable of growing to its maximum size in 10 to 15 years and have added to the livelihood of the local community.
11. Mankyal Health Facilitation Program
An MCHC is in the process of establishment in one of the backward area of Behrain. This would be equipped with all the basic facilities. Previously it was approved fund from the local government, however, later on due to political interests of the opposing agents the grants were denied. Now the main funders of this MCHC is philanthropist and others having stack in the medical industry.
12. Tarbeet Baraye Khawateen Councilor
100 women councilors were trained in different workshops with the collaboration of local government. Their capacity was built on various aspects of roles and responsibilities of the women councilor to achieve the goal of devolution of power. All the expenses were met by the local government but master trainers and management was provided by Literate Masses.
13. Training and Advocacy for Women Economic Empowerment
Women Councilor Network with the collaboration of CCB, CESSD and Literate Masses was established in which form each union council at least one female councilor was selected. Their capacity was built on addressing the local issues of their community like violence on women and basic women rights including fight for divorce and inheritance etc. Assistance of Shirkat Gah was taken in this regard who had developed very elaborative material in this regard.
14. Establishment of Kohe Daman CCB:
This CCB was established with the direct efforts of Literate Masses and the local community in the Kwazakela Tehsil. One of its basic achievement is infrastructure development in the local primary school which directly benifited more than 600 students.
15. Student Counseling Center
Student counseling center was established in Mingora city at the premises of National School of Basic Education with the help of local Philanthropists in 2001. In this center those students who were weak in their studies were provide extra attention to overcome their academic deficiencies and bring them to the normal position. Parents were motivated to take interest in the studies of their children and they were made bound to visit the Student Counseling Center at least twice a week. In general three to four months was enough time to overcome the academic deficiencies of a weak student.
16. Adult Education Center:
Adult Education Center was established with the help of Wazereazam Ka program baray khwandage in Tehsil Mata. In total we had 14 centers in which seven were male centers and seven were female.
17. Women Literacy Center:
Eight Literacy Centers with established in different UCs Manglawar, Sangota, Charbagh and Watkay with the collaboration of Convent Public School Sangota.
18. Computer Literacy for Women:
In this program one computer center was established with the financial assistance of Local Government in Tehsiel Mata. Basic courses were taught like that of MS office and basic hardware of computer. Besides their capacity was built on writing applications and letters etc so that they could easily communicate with the government departments for solving their problems.
19. Polio days and Walks:
We have participated in a number of Polio campaigns and walks conducted by the health department in different areas, mostly the remote one.
