Hoggit

Everyone

On March 11th, a Heritage Foundation team of artisans, mobilized from Khairpur, led by Mr. Naheem Shah, PM, Heritage Foundation, arrived in Makli.  The work of providing supports has been completed under the direction of Engr. Mushtaq Dawood.

During this time, samples of mortar was also collected.

On March 10th, work of physical survey of tombs of Samma Noble I and Samma Noble II undertaken.

On March 5th, Ar. Yasmeen Lari, CEO, Heritage Foundation, along with Engr. Mushtaq Dawood visited the site to make a preliminary evaluation of the state structure of Tomb of Samma Noble I.

  • Many parts of the Samma Noble I and II were found to be in a highly damaged state and were found to be in imminent danger of collapse.
  • Those portions facing the prevailing wind, i.e. south elevation and interior brick work was found to be highly eroded. The endangered portions are due to the loss of the base and loss of wall masonry. There is extensive loss of mortar resulting in extensive loss of brick masonry.
  • The foundation stones on the west side were also found to be exposed with major loss of mortar.

Because of the highly degraded state of the monument, it was decided to provide temporary supports on a priority basis to those parts identified as being most endangered, in both the tombs of Samma Noble I and II. It was decided that arrangements would be made by Heritage Foundation to provide temporary supports within the next ten days to avoid any mishap during documentation and conservation work.

Description

Promoting Cultural Industries Mansehra, 2011

A collaboration with UNESCO and UNDP

Mansehra, a historic city that lies on the Karakoram Highway. It is the second largest city in Hazara Division.
Over the past decades, its municipal services have been greatly neglected, and In spite of its potential as a tourist destination, many areas of Mansehra suffer from urban degradation. It is host to Afghan refugees and many other communities who have arrived here in search of livelihoods. It is a thriving centre with considerable trade.

The project was begun on 1st April 2011. A well designed structure was developed when initiating the work. The structure has been developed based on the project Reviving Livelihood through Handicraft in Post-conflict Areas that was undertaken in Swat in 2010 as well as the work of Heritage Foundation undertaken in post Earthquake 2005 work undertaken in the Siran Valley for women’s empowerment through development of crafts. Accordingly, capacity building has been carried out by focusing on mohallahs and enabling women to carry out income generating activities within their homes.

In pursuance to the objectives, defined in the concept note by UNESCO, 102 women were trained, who belonged to the most marginalized communities. 5 Mini Craft Centres (MCC) were established in But Pul, Kohistan Abad, But Dariyan, Afghan Camp 1 and Afghan 2. Altogether 42 females from the Afghan community, 40 from Local community and another 20 from Kohistani community were trained, who were selected from the initial list of 178 women.

From the initial survey that was carried out, it became clear that local and Afghani women excelled in embroidery, while Kohistani women were proficient with beadwork. They were accordingly trained in making small products with emphasis on finishing the items. At the same time, women have also produced environmentally responsive products using recycled jut bags. All 102 women have been provided with tool kits, while sewing machines have been pro- vided to trainers and the training centre, to enable them to make quality products.

Earlier methodologies that underscored the success of the HF-UNESCO Swat Project 2010 were followed to enhance the craft skills of the trainees. Regular training sessions have been held by the Master Trainer under the supervision of Field Coordinator, focusing on product design, quality assurance and marketing skills. The trainees were pro- vided with toolkits, requisite materials, and samples of materials as well as finished products that were produced in Swat. As in the past all products were graded with A+, A and B categories, and it proved equally successful with the trainees. Because of a higher payment to A+, marked improvement has been noticed in their work, all of them now aiming for A+.

It was decided to begin exploring the possibility of sales of the products and outlets in Mansehra Bazaars have been identified. The products are beginning to be sold and the sales provide a direction to the trainers and trainees both to produce work that has a ready market.

For sustainability and assurance of regular income to the trainees, market linkages are essential. Since certain shops were already beginning to sell the trainees’ products, these have been asked to continue to market the products since all trainees are highly conscious of the quality of the product.

From the past experience and in view of the entrepreneurship demonstrated by some of the trainers in Swat, the Field Coordinator and Master Trainer have begun to start marketing the products of the trainees even after the project has ended. Since they themselves have been trained in the production and evaluation of products to ensure good quality, they are optimistic and enthusiastic to carry on the work that has been initiated.

Among other marketing avenues are exhibitions in colleges and universities in Mansehra and Abbottabad, the first one of which has been organized in Mansehra with satisfactory results. As in the case of Swat products, Heritage Foundation will also help in the sale of products in Karachi. Seeing the potential for sale, male members of the trainees have been encouraged to procure orders from the market, which process is already underway.

Crafts for Women’s Livelihoods, Swat 2010

A Collaboration with UNESCO and DFID

Having had close interaction with the brave women and children of Swat, in spite of the harsh conditions in the area, Heritage Foundation took up the gauntlet when the opportunity was presented by UNESCO-DFID to provide further assistance - indeed it was with considerable trepidation that the project was undertaken. The women, by returning to their homes in Swat, had shown their determination to withstand the onslaught of militancy, we felt it was now our duty as a civil society organization to be on hand during their hour of need.

Since Earthquake 2005 struck in October 2005 the support provided to traditional bead craft, under Heritage for Rehabilitation and Development Program organized by Heritage Foundation-Nokia-Nokia Siemens Network, has lead to women’s empowerment and better quality of life. We were therefore confident that a programme organized on similar lines for revitalization of traditional crafts would also lead to income generation and empowerment of women.

At the outset the requirements of
the project to achieve craft training of 500 women in just over three months seemed unattainable. Even under normal circumstances the task of identification and selection for training of such a large number of skilled women from marginalized communities seems unattainable. Usually, it would take several months for training and awareness regarding

acceptable quality of artisanship and product finishing. The realization of these objectives in post-disaster Swat, where militancy continues to surface, required a great deal of grit, and a resolute determination for showing solidarity and support at this perilous juncture in Swat history.

The programme structure was designed with sensitivity towards prevalent norms and ground conditions, along with built-in motivational factors to ensure enhanced results.

The outcome was beyond our expectations. The women came forward with extraordinary zeal to make a success of the programme. They worked hard to become skilled and made products that they had not been aware of - indeed had never seen before.

Initially almost 700 women were registered. Those selected for further training in 6 Union Councils comprised 337 women attaining grade A and B in embroidery products, 110 women for revitalizing handloom industry of Islampur, and another

53 women became engaged in the production of almost extinct woolen yarn on their spinning wheels.

It became our resolve that the journey we have embarked on must be continued. A package of luxuriantland in Islampur was acquired to build a Green Community Centre. The objective was to carry out further capacity building and training, entrepreneur-shipfor sustained livelihoods, informal education, hygiene and primary healthcare, and computer literacy classes. The building, to be built with sustainable materials of construction i.e. bamboo, local stone, mud and lime, was finally started in August 2011 and completed by the early 2012 with support from Nokia Siemens Network.

Description

NSN Green Community Centre in Islamapur, Swat

The NSN Green Community Centre is in continuation of the work that has been carried out with Swat communities since 2009. Even though the work of building shelters had been completed, Heritage Foundation felt compelled to provide further facilities to a large number of women who were trained under the UNESCO-DFID program for Crafts for livelihood.

Through the generosity of Nokia Siemens Network, headed by Mr. Saad Warraich and Ms. Atifa Asghar, funding was placed at the disposal of Heritage Foundation to embark on construction of a modest community centre to provide facilities to the community.

The work on 3 modules of the centre was started in the first week of August 2011. The site acquired consisted of approximately 1500 sq. yds and is located along a main road.

The community has been very enthusiastic in welcoming the HF teams and have provided help in getting the project going. There have been difficulties in starting the project. Lack of water supply in the area and many hours of load shedding have meant that the work could not be taken up with great speed. A considerable amount of time had to be devoted to arranging water by laying a pipe to bring water from some distance. This was essential to be able to provide water for mixing and curing the stone masonry in the foundations. Similarly, in order to carry out the work of bamboo cutting and jointing etc. a generator had to be arranged to allow the work to be carried out in an unhindered manner.

Accommodation

Three modules have been taken up for construction. These are being devoted to the following activities:

Module 1: Women’s Centre and vocational training area.

Module 2: Display area for the products of women.

Module 3: Dispensary for primary healthcare

The work has been completed and a health facility and women’s centre have begun to function for the benefit of the community.

Heritage Foundation’s Association with Swat

Swat, once a verdant land of peace and promise, has been shaken entirely by militancy and strife in the last few years. The launching of military operation in 2009, forced a huge exodus into relief camps that were set up in various parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (NWFP).

The association with Swat communities of the Heritage Foundation began when we set up camp for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) at Shaikh Shahzad Camp in Mardan. Working mainly with women and children, the project began with the distribution of food and non-food items that had been collected through the generosity of friends and well wishers. In cooperation with the camp authorities, lead by Mr. Muddassir Malik, community kitchens were constructed, providing a cool haven in the intense heat of Mardan. The speedy construction of the superstructure was based on the use of sustainable materials, such as bamboo, mud, lime and matting that provided eminently suitable accommodation.

In addition, a large tent was set up as an assembly venue for women where activities such as sewing for livelihoods literacy classes, and instructions on hygiene practices were carried out. In another large tent daily classes were held for children to encourage sports and crafts activities. The assembly tents were ‘summarized’ i.e. made cool through the use of sustainable construction materials on the same pattern as the community kitchens. Since many IDPs had arrived near the HF Base Camp in Hazara, they were also provided as much assistance as possible, while those residing in Abbottabad were provided machines and garments, gifts for children and food items.

Having had close interaction with the brave women and children of Swat, in spite of the harsh conditions in the area, we took up the gauntlet when the opportunity was presented to provide further assistance – Though in fact it was with considerable trepidation that the project was undertaken. Since the women, by returning to their homes in Swat, had shown their determination to withstand the onslaught of militancy, we felt it was now our duty as a civil society organization to be on hand during their hour of need.

Since Earthquake 2005 struck in October 2005 the support provided to traditional bead craft, under the Heritage for Rehabilitation and Development Program organized by Heritage Foundation-Nokia-Nokia Siemens Network, has led to women’s empowerment and better quality of life. We were therefore confident that a programme organized on similar lines for revitalization of traditional crafts would also lead to income generation and empowerment of women.

Initially, the UNESCO-DFID program requirement of achieving craft training of 500 women in just over three months seemed unattainable. Even under normal circumstances the task of identification and selection for training of such a large number of skilled women from marginalized communities seems daunting. Usually, it would take several months for training and awareness regarding acceptable quality of artisanship and product finishing. The realization of these objectives in post-disaster Swat, where militancy continued to surface, required a great deal of grit, and a resolute determination for showing solidarity and support at this perilous juncture in Swat’s history.

The programme structure was designed with sensitivity towards prevalent norms and ground conditions, along with built-in motivational factors to ensure enhanced results. The outcome was beyond our expectations. The women came forward with extraordinary zeal to make a success of the programme. They worked hard to become skilled and made products that they had not been aware of – indeed had never seen before. Through the project selected for further training in 6 union councils over 300 became proficient with embroidery products, while another 200 women, who had been provided with small household handlooms, became instrumental in revitalizing handloom industry of Islampur. A majority of the women trained through the programme have become wage earners through their craft skills. The women from our programme are now providing handloom skills to women in Upper Swat, in the Women’s Center built by HF in Biha, and a vocational training centre built by Pakistan Army in Piyochar.

The next major disaster that hit the country was the 2010 floods that played havoc with lives of millions of people. Swat was the first victim of the devastating floods. Having had considerable experience in working with post-disaster communities, Heritage Foundation felt compelled to provide relief in the form of food packages and household goods to 500 affected families in Lower Swat, who had been part of the Crafts programme earlier in the year. Soon it became clear that more than rations and supplies were needed on an urgent basis – it was a roof over their heads that most families were in desperate need of.

HF immediately began to review options for shelter. Having built almost 1200 KaravanGhar (emergency units) after 2005 Earthquake utilizing salvaged material from collapsed houses, HF had continued to experiment with local materials and techniques over the years. Among the most promising was the experimentation with bamboo structures that was being carried out at the Kirat Campus, HF Base Camp in Chattar, Hazara. A single room accommodation 15’x10’ was constructed on priority basis for the flood affectees, which was completed through the cooperation of Civil Engineer Mr. Amin Tariq.

The Green KaravanGhar thus evolved as a robust, low carbon footprint, low cost unit that could be built quickly in order for the communities to restart their lives on an immediate basis. During the winter of 2011 it has successfully proved to be strong enough to withstand loads of 3’0” of snow as well as excessive rain. The philosophical basis of the Green KaravanGhar is the use of local materials, engagement of local workforce, involvement of community and student volunteers.

The structure relies on the use of bamboo, extensively grown in Swabi in KP and in Lower Punjab and Upper Sindh and is readily available in local markets. It is extremely economical in its use as an alternative building material that, if popularized, can result in the protection of the few surviving wooded areas in Pakistan.

The process of ‘Green KaravanGhar’ (GKG) is as significant as the finished shelter itself. The mechanism provides an opportunity to young student volunteers to participate in activities which are at the same time technical as they are humanitarian in nature, allowing them to work side by side with the affected communities in rebuilding their lives. The design of the unit encourages community participation in order to develop a sense of ownership and fosters pride in local traditions and cultural norms. The sustainable nature of materials being used addresses issues of global warming and reduction of carbon footprint. The building of GKG is undertaken as a collective activity, however, one that must be built in a technically sound manner.

The construction of almost 300 units was accomplished with 60% of the funding due to the generosity of the Scottish Government who channeled the funds to Heritage Foundation through Glasgow University. The remaining funding came through scores of friends who went out of their way to help raise funds for the completion of the project. The work in post-disaster Swat, particularly Upper Swat, became possible due to outstanding hospitality and facilitation provided to us by Pakistan Army under the command of Maj. Gen. Javed Ramday and his officers, particularly the host Punjab Regiment.

Description

The journey towards sustainable green construction began in 2005 after a massive 7.8 Richter scale earthquake hit Hazara and Kashmir in Northern Pakistan. Since 2005, the Lari vision requires elimination of materials that contribute to global warming, and methodologies for its propagation in the form of Mobile Barefoot Karavan Teams (MBKT) utilizing student volunteers, local trained artisans and villagers. The Lari strategy of involving the youth and capacity building of the local communities will provide effective communication and economical and speedy construction without depletion of critical resources of the country.

Shelter for All in Pakistan

The Green KaravanGhar (GKG), built in Swat and Khairpur in 2010-2011 as well as the adobe/mud walls and KravanRoof have been designed as low cost low carbon footprint shelters. Using local materials and local technologies these sustainable structures have been designed after a great deal of experimentation carried out since 2005 Earthquake.

This sustainable green construction can provide shelter at a very economical cost to the disadvantaged population all over Pakistan. The methodologies tried out since 2005 and during 2011 and 2012 in Sindh demonstrate that if good technical advice can be provided, through a participatory mechanism, shelter construction can take place at a rapid pace. This is true not only in disaster-affected areas but all over the country. The combination of adobe/mud walls and strong bamboo KaravanRoofs is suitable for rural areas of Pakistan, the bamboo cross braced structure with KaravanRoofs employs a very economical footprint and is thus suitable for the urban areas as well. The size of the house could vary from a single room shelter (as being carried out by Heritage Foundation in Lower Sindh) to one with a 10’x18’ room (suitable for 5 persons), verandah, kitchen, WC and bath (as in Khairpur and Swat) and even in the form of two storeys structures (as seen in Women’s Centre, Khairpur).

Deployment of Mobile Barefoot Karavan Teams (MBKT)

The MBKTs are already in the field in Sindh. Each team is able to build 50 shelters within a month. With large scale deployment and low costs it would be possible to spread the message to all parts of the country.

Emphasis on training and capacity building will be essential for successful implementation of the programme.

The following training programmes are envisaged:

  • Workshops for master trainers, master artisans, and artisans.
  • Workshops for Mobile Barefoot Karavan Teams.

  • Workshops and mentoring arrangement for other partners.
  • Workshops for Heritage Control Centre Personnel

KaravanGhar in Northern Pakistan

The first emergency shelters that became known as KaravanGhar were designed by Yasmeen Lari for those affected by the Earthquake 2005. During 2005-2006 over 1150 units were built in 75 hamlets in Hazara, and another 300 were built by Japanese NGO NICCO in Kashmir, all above 5,000 feet.The design utilized material such as stone and wood from the debris of collapsed houses, along with the use of lime (instead of cement) in mortars, with provision for bond stones, g.i. sheets in corners and horizontal bracing in stone masonry walls. Galvanized sheet roofs were used due to scare of mud roofs that had collapsed during the earthquake. Structural advice was provided by Engr. Amin Tariq.

While studying local techniques of construction, the value of dhijii (cross bracing) had become clear as an effective and seismic resistant structural technique. From 2007, Lari decided to first use this technique in small structures such as bathrooms for executive accommodation at the Heritage Foundation Base Camp in Hazara and later in household kitchens and almost 140 household bathrooms that were built in Kodar villages in the Siran Valley.

Elimination of Galvanized Iron Roofs

By 2007 it had also become clear that galvanized iron sheets, that had been officially promoted, had been playing havoc with the environment and must be discouraged. The local technique of mud layers over wooden planks was far more suitable to the mountainous environment. The application of lime and mud layers on roof provided a weather resistant roof. From then on, all construction by Heritage Foundation began utilizing lime-mud roofs and several structures, including the Research House, where Lari lives when visiting the area, were built with this technique at the base camp.

Elimination of Use of Wood

Even though sustainable materials had been used, the use of wood in construction needed to be avoided. The turning point came in 2009. By this time sufficient research in mud mortars and mixes had been accomplished. The displacement of communities due to army action to curb militancy in Swat (North Pakistan), resulted in camps being set up in Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Sitting in the camp, in a tent under intense heat of Mardan, Lari designed the first bamboo structure for community kitchens. The speed (it took 3 days to construct) and the insulation value of the combination of lime and mud (8-10 degree temperature difference) was extraordinary.

The Green KaravanGhar in Swat and Khairpur

It was decided then to pursue the path of construction without wood, cement or steel. The experimentation carried out for all-bamboo construction has resulted in Green KaravanGhar as well as many other green structures for community use.

The techniques of construction had been tried out when the 2010 floods struck in Pakistan. The first project undertaken was in Swat where 300 Green KaravanGhar were constructed in remote mountainous areas from October 2010 to February 2011. These have been published as Green KaravanGhar: Swat Implementation Report.

Over 100 Green KaravaGhar were also built in the katcha area (the perennially flooded area) in Khairpur and an implementation report has been published regarding the methodology.

Green Community Structures

More innovation was brought here by construction two-storey floating bamboo structures on stilts, first as women’s centres and later for school and health facility as well. These structures have performed well during the 2011 floods by providing refuge to the community on the upper levels while the waters flowed through the stilts.

Research in Vernacular Methodologies in Sindh

In October 2011, field work was undertaken for surveying existing vernacular construction methods. The cataloguing of traditional methodologies utilized in Lower Sindh yielded rare data from all tehsils/talukas of 8 priority districts. The data consists of sketches, notes and photographs of different kinds of structures and other related information regarding selected villages. It is available in the form of Reports.

Advantages of Green Construction

This approach makes people part of working out their own solution with added benefits in fostering pride and encouragement to take charge of their own lives.

  • The involvement of communities in construction of their own 
shelter and other buildings, on the one hand fosters pride, on the other hand en- gages them in productive work, forestalling a culture of apathy and dependence.
  • Since indigenous materials or locally produced items are utilized, this results in quick economic regeneration within affected communities.
  • The main material, the clay soil, is available in abundance. It
is at no cost and can be used either as layers of mud or sun dried brick, both of which can be made by families themselves.
  • Lime is available in abundance.
  • The bamboo for DRR-driven KaravanRoof is a fast growing 
reed, and is widely available in the country at a reasonable cost. By training local artisans the production of these roofs provides local workforce with livelihoods.
  • The DRR-driven KaravanRoofs, because of their strength have been designed for accessibility and refuge.
  • The resultant products are economical and will help in providing accommodation to many times more than possible through conventional methodologies.
  • Mud structures, especially with the use of lime renderings become well insulated and provide comfortable habitat.
  • The use of local materials ensures that women are able to 
continue to contribute in home-making. Thus, each structure can be 
personalized and acquires its own identity.
  • Extensive use of lime, bamboo and mud provides eco-friendly 
habitat, providing comfort in extreme climates.

Description

2022 Floods

by Ar. Yasmeen Lari

The devastation is unprecedented. 33 million people have been displaced which means over 5 million families consisting of women and children are shelter-less and vulnerable, soon with winter months to deal with.

 

The traditional ways particularly the International Colonial Charity model which relies on handouts and intermediaries have proven to be ineffective in the face of major disasters because of their limited outreach and treatment of affected people as supplicants and fostering dependency. I would like for it to be replaced by humanistic humanitarianism.

The enormity of the present 2022 Flood requires a paradigm shift in the structure of the culture of giving.

For many years now I have been working on developing and fine-tuning the philosophical basis of Barefoot Social Architecture, the tenets of which have been used extensively in the last few years in the projects implemented by the Heritage Foundation of Pakistan.

 

Barefoot Social Architecture (BASA) Tenets

  1. Maximizing the potential of the existing ‘Barefoot Ecosystem’ - applying 3 Zeros: Zero Cost (to the donor)/Zero Carbon/Zero Waste methodologies leading to Zero Poverty.
  2. Focus on social and ecological justice through humanistic architecture fostering pride, dignity, and well-being, and preventing depletion of the planet’s resources.
  3. Delivery of unmet needs through Barefoot Entrepreneurs or BEs with a particular focus on women – Barefoot Incubator for Social Good and Environmental Sustainability(BISGES) for training in affordable products for BOP.
  4. Low tech, low-impact non-engineered structures for shrinking the ecological footprint in construction, using green skills and sustainable, locally sourced materials.

 

BASA Culture of Giving:

To handle the enormous calamity, we need a paradigm shift from charity to empowerment, from dependence to self-reliance, from women being suppressed to placing them in the lead. I want knowledge sharing for and capacity building of communities and most of all women. I want to use technology and connectivity for direct communication. I want large-scale training and knowledge transfer to enable communities to take care of themselves.

Principles:

No to handouts, no to charity!

No intermediaries. Don’t put money into a black hole.

Raise funds for long-term engagement with chosen communities.

 

Components of BASA Giving:

  1. Adopt a Village – Guardians take up a village or cluster of villages for an emergency, rehabilitation, development, and long-term engagement.
  2. Barefoot Knowledge Depository with a worldwide contribution
  3. Climate-smart Training by experts around the world

 

Following these principles, Heritage Foundation with several partners has begun implementing several methodologies to relate to different situations:

 

  1. Adopt a Village

Utilization of funds available with Guardians for establishing a basic level for living on an incremental basis through participatory approaches and appropriate training,

 

Emergency Phase:

  • Emergency LOG shelters
  • Emergency Eco Toilets
  • Half scale LOG for classrooms and play areas for children

 

After return to Previous Habitat:

  1. Rights-based elements:
  • LOG converted into a permanent structure
  • Eco toilets made permanent – making compost from solid waste
  • Water supply (raised hand pump)
  • Pakistan Chulah stove on an earthen platform

 

  1. Flood water drainage and protection:
  • Aquifer trenches and wells
  • Using excavated earth for making protective low walls
  • Earth lime boundary walls (prevent hazardous bushes in boundary walls)

 

  1. Preparedness for Disaster
  • Lime earth raised platforms to prevent flood damage
  • Storing water and food items
  • Solar rays water purification
  • Large platforms for storing grains or use for village performances during non-disaster times
  • Community forests on the boundary
  • Aquifer trenches and aquifer wells
  • Using earth from excavation to make bunds.
  • Plant Neem and lemon trees close to shelters.
  1. Community buildings
  • Women’s Centre with monitor and computer for meetings and connectivity
  • Low-cost health center
  • Low cost school
  • Re-erect half scale LOG for school children
  • Low-cost dispensary

 

  1. Livelihoods:

Shelter-related livelihoods to be organized during the emergency shelter phase

Other livelihoods to be taken up after return should include the following for which training can be arranged:

  • Providing unmet needs of surrounding communities by making affordable products
  • Green products: earth lime brick making, lime slaking
  • Kashi/terra cotta products: terra cotta tiles, toilet basins etc.
  • Bamboo products: vegetable containers, doors /windows, prefab products, benches, tables etc.
  • Nursery products: saplings, vegetable gardening, community forests and plantation
  • Mother earth products: cow dung/wood dust briquettes, organic soap
  • Pakistan chulah making and marketing
  • Other green products and crafts may be possible in the area.

 

What is Barefoot Knowledge Depository:

Low impact, low tech, locally sourced, locally fabricated products and procedures:

  • Construction techniques
  • Waste- less Sanitation
  • Water conservation
  • Aquifer related procedures
  • Environment related
  • Water-related livelihoods – fish farming, making ponds for next year
  • Alternative farming practices
  • Preventive health procedures
  • Compendium of local knowledge and remedies
  • Disaster preparedness (cont.)

 

What is Climate Smart Training:

  • Zero/low carbon construction
  • Dealing with displacement – women, children, men
  • Flood protection techniques
  • New farming techniques
  • Living with flood threats
  • Occupations after floods (contd.)

 

Floods of 2010

As in the rest of the country, the province of Sindh also suffered enormously through the Floods of 2010. Even before the affected communities were able to pick up the pieces, excessive rains in Lower Sindh produced a greater disaster than ever before.

Clearly, the enormity of the disaster in the aftermath of the 2011 floods requires innovative solutions for providing shelter to a vast majority at an accelerated pace.

The latest figures indicate that at least 0.8 million houses are either fully or partially damaged (PDM A Sindh/OCH A). When viewed in the context of the background of the 2010 floods, we know that last year only a fraction of the required housing units could be built due to various constraints. It is clear that conventional approaches are once again likely to prove inadequate in the face of a much greater calamity, where the devastation has spread over a vastly extended area with a much greater number of displaced households.

Clearly, it has become imperative to devise low cost alternative approaches to provide shelter options which would include maximum participation of affected households themselves. At the same time, in view of the danger of annual flooding, it has become increasingly important that DRR capabilities are built-in within the new struc- tures to enable the communities to survive within their original habitat during the course of floods. The strategies and approaches to deal with the present crisis must be worked out with a view to enable the affected households to restart their lives immediately after the waters begin to recede, with minimum dislocation, least loss of life and minimum loss of livestock.

In collaboration with DFID and IOM, in October 2011, Heritage Foundation undertook the task of creating a training and implementation framework for innovative architectural/engineering solutions for speedy rehabilitation/reconstruction of shelters, based on DRR cross cutting theme. These methodologies have been developed to enable affected communities, donors and IPOs in undertaking shelter rehabilitation and shelter reconstruction at an accelerated pace. The framework thus developed maximizes participation of households including women by utilizing their own skills and capabilities.

Basis of Lari Strategy

The strategy has been developed by Heritage Foundation CEO Ar. Yasmeen Lari, in the light of research on construction materials and techniques carried out in various districts of Sindh, as well as experience gained in working in post-disaster communities since 2005Earthquake in Northern Pakistan. The approach is based on provision of sustainable and low cost options derived from traditional techniques and participatory mechanisms that would lead to attain- ing immediate shelter by strengthening the capabilities and skills of communities themselves.

Guiding Principles

  • Utilize Heritage and tradition for involvement of communities and for fostering pride and self-confidence.
  • Use sustainable materials to prevent environmental degradation.
  • Use local skills and techniques for speedy delivery.
  • Incorporate DRR-driven Methodologies to withstand next flooding.
  • Utilize Shelter provision for entrée into communities for larger benefits and for initiating women’s economic empowerment strategies.
  • Develop holistic models aiming at MDGs: hygiene, WASH, food security, nutrition, literacy.
  • In the long term develop training modules for implementing partners, volunteers, artisans, and communities.

Guidelines for scaling up and speedy implementation

  • Create an implementation structure for speedy delivery.
  • Establish certification procedures for artisans for production of technically sound vernacular constructions.
  • Form Mobile teams for ease of access to villages.
  • Demonstrate improved vernacular methodologies through prototype/model units.
  • Establish reporting, monitoring and evaluation procedures based on agreed-upon indicators.
  • Establish technical back-Stopper arrangement using internet and technology.
  • Ensure that each unit has certification as a DRR-compliant structure.

Mechanismm

Awareness in DRR measures and sensitivities towards gender empowerment and conflict resolution measures will be built-in in the learning outcomes of the training programme.

Throughout the programme, a mechanism of quality control and certification will be put in place, for which Mobile Barefoot KaravanTeams (MBJT) will be trained for field work and monitoring, in coordination with Heritage control centre (HCC). HCC will develop training modules, technical guidance and information, as well as liaison with CSC, MBKT and Implementing Partners.

For smooth functioning of the project and transparent procedures, the disbursement of funds will be the responsibility of the Imple- menting Partners, and will be distinct from training, monitoring, evaluation and certification, which will be the responsibility of Heritage Foundation..

We are confident that based on improved vernacular construction techniques incorporating DRR methods developed by Heritage Foundation over the years, these sustainable and economical op- tions will provide the critical direction for communities to become strong, self reliant and resilient. The implementation procedures through a process of certification and several monitoring tiers will ensure that all shelters constructed using Heritage Foundation methodology will have strong walls and safe haven KaravanRoofs for safety during next floods. In addition to safety of life, other DRR methodologies being recommended by Heritage Foundation, will provide safety of rations, potable water, livestock and fodder. Such interventions, comprising raised earthen platforms, will also provide the much needed sports and cultural nodes, which we are confident, will lead to transformation in the lives of village communities.

Description

Karachi Municipal Records, stuffed in gunny bags, were discovered in 2005 by Ms. Nasreen Jalil, Naib Nazim, City District Government Karachi (CDGK). At the same time a large number of iron tubes were found containing historic maps of Karachi in an extremely fragile condition. This was followed by shifting the bags and tubes from the clock tower to a secure place, until the nature of records could be determined.

At the time Heritage Foundation, on an honorary basis helped to set up the display of selected maps and records on the occasion of city-wide celebrations by Hamara Karachi Foundation..

In 2009, through the generous support over one year from the Royal Embassy of the Netherlands, the Heritage Foundation initiated the process of scientific safeguarding of the records. The valuable archives spanning from the 19th century to 1950, comprising papers, ledgers, files, drawings and maps etc. are being conserved. The work has continued through the generous support of the Consulate General of Federal Republic of Germany over 18 months.

The Karachi Municipal Records unit has been set up on the ground floor of the historic KMC Building where the process of methodical sifting, cleaning, numbering & cataloguing, repairing & conserving, photographing and scanning etc. has been organized.

In view of extensive and varied nature of the records the work is being carried out meticulously according to archival procedures. For long-term storage, after cleaning and repairs the records are placed in acid-free folders and archival boxes.

Over two thousand gunny bags and 59 tubes containing maps have been found to contain archival material. The earliest document found so far is dated 1910, while the earliest maps were prepared in 1874. As the work of opening and cleaning documents and files is undertaken, a large number of drawings of Karachi’s architecture continue to be revealed.

The Karachi e-Library

Through the process of scanning and digitization, the unique and valuable collection of Karachi Municipal Records is being made available in the form of a digital depository for scholars and researchers.

The Karachi e-Library (TKeL) is designed as a comprehensive resource for Karachi research. It will act as a storage depository to ensure long term survival of Pakistan’s intellectual heritage which will serve the future generation of researchers. Its aim is to be one of the world’s largest and most comprehensive collections on Karachi. This global dissemination of primary and secondary source material on Karachi will advance the world’s awareness and knowledge of South Asia - its historiography, cartography, tangible and intangible heritage.