F O C U S - Activities

FOCUS is working since 2001 in the neglected & underprivileged areas and has intervened in various sectors of development. FOCUS concluded that the basic philosophy of community development cannot be achieved without addressing the sustainability issue. Nevertheless, community both men & women play a critical role for effective and sustainable development and at later stage they will have to adopt the community development program at their own.

Since its inception 'Foundation for Outraged Communities Uplift & Support (FOCUS)' is striving to provide the best services for well-being and uplifting of deprived and/or neglected part of the society. A number of people are directly being benefited with its programs, yet the amounts of people who got indirect benefits are even more

It is an admitted fact that informal ways of information disseminations are comparatively longer memory impact than the formal ways of delivering messages. Generally people take more interests in a person addressing their problems or talking about their interests. Reciprocating the philosophy our TB awareness activities during the entry level skills training sessions have proved remarkable qualitative and quantitative success.

The elevated interests of the participants owe duel reasons. Firstly, they feel that we understand their problem better (removal of communicational barrier) and secondly they are obliged for giving them something of value that will last with them for the rest of their lives. The topics have been selected very carefully keeping in mind the interests of local participants, the market value of the topics (i.e. in-demand and marketable topics) as well as with the consideration of logistic-wise feasibility of the topic.

Female folk being the mother, sister, daughter, wife and future mother generally influences household affairs. The message communicated to female gender will play a remarkable role in achieving the overall objective of the project i.e. 'Stop TB Before it Spread'. Moreover, these activities also contribute the society in eliminating the poverty by converting the non-earning portion in a household structure into the earning portion. It is notable that the voice of female, financially supportive to their male members, carries more weight. So, our message delivered to female during the gender sensitive skills training sessions will have enduring results.

Poverty leads to general economic backwardness of women in a male dominated society; and this ultimately account for the deprivation of women enjoying equal rights and opportunities with men. FOCUS has resolved to empower such deprived women with the education, skills development, income generation opportunities and career counseling.

The whole activities of FOCUS revolve around the well being of deprived and under-privileged individuals. Our major activities are:

The women being a dedicated force of education, skill development and income generating activities are targeted with a view to uplift their living standard as well as sharing their responsibilities in the country's economic uplift. FOCUShas carried out 'Skill Development Program' in under-privileged and marginalized areas in District Lahore for women, who do not have the access to jobs, regarding cutting, sewing, stitching and embroidery etc.

These programs have helped a number of disadvantaged and underprivileged women in enhancing their income and sharing the burden of their families through self-employment and/or cottage based business activities

Advancement in communication has changed our world into 'Global Village'. The business sector, by the consequences of such advancement, is being tainted in terms of productivity, professionalism, innovation and quality standards etc. This change has increased the demand of professional and skilled manpower. Under this scenario, the survival of un-skilled and/or uneducated people is at high stake.

Considering the above needs FOCUS has started a gender sensitive skill development center, under the name of Dar-Ul-Hunar, at government owned building, with the collaboration and support of government to provide high level skills training of marketable/in-demand courses required for entry-level job's pre-requisitions and self employment opportunities to the disadvantaged women at almost free of cost. We are also providing carrier counseling, job placement assistance, educate & prepare our students for job interviews and resume writing. We further provide awareness/education to our students about the problems generally women faces during practical life and share with them the enduring solutions & remedial action of such problems. Above all we are striving to provide self employment opportunities and guidance to our motivated students.

Dar-Ul-Hunar especially focus on women who have histories of chronic unemployment or under employment due to lack of education, poverty, domestic & substance abuse, divorce or the death of a spouse, which serves as obstacles for securing jobs and ensuring the growth and stability.

Better environment, better health is the slogan adapted by the organization. For this purpose FOCUS organized different activities.

Different sessions were organized at the community level in different low income area of Lahore. The project was self funded and was appreciated by the community. On the world environment day, the organization organized a walk in township area for the awareness of the public at large. More than 200 students and activists from the community participated in the walk. They were holding different banners and posters with message of environment protection and safe drinking water. The walk was also attended by Mr. Nisar Ahmed Bhatti, Deputy District Officer Community development, Government of Punjab.

It was being observed that most of the doctors, particularly 'General Practitioner', discard used syringes/needles without their proper disposal which is a great threat to our heath and environment. Keeping in view the above scenario, the organization decided that it would try to motivate the doctors for the proper disposal of used syringes in environmental friendly manners. Moreover, 1000 bottles/bins for disposal were provided by the organization to different private clinics in low income areas.

Healthy living is the right of every person as per Government of Pakistan Policy Document. Believing in the 'Health For All' program, FOCUS organized a number of activities in that respect.

Free medical camps were organized for the gynecological problems being faced by the women and reproductive health for the residents of urban slums of Bagrian, Yuhanabad, Q-Block Model Town (most disadvantaged and low income area of Lahore where the infant and maternal mortality rate as well as fertility rate is high). Free checkups, antenatal, postnatal and treatments were provided to the disadvantaged women of these areas who cannot afford the treatment cost.

We are a society which is fighting for survival, as majority of the population still do not have access to basic needs and thus living below the poverty line. Male dominance, bigotry and simple male chauvinism failed to accept women as part of their main-stream, customs and traditions. All these factors are creating anxiety, hypertension and insecurity in society resulting in the increased rate of crime against women, juvenile injustice, abuse of drugs, physical torture and street crimes etc.

FOCUS has restored and taken preventive measures through 'Legal Justice System' against women violence and rehabilitation of them in the boundaries of safe custody. FOCUS has also conducted programs to give awareness to women lacking knowledge about their rights and guides them how to secure their rights. Women are facing lot of problems in filing/registering their cases in the court of law against "Social Injustice ' and Violence. FOCUS provided them psychological, ethical and legal support under such circumstances.

In the present social scenario of our country, the concept of 'Public Interest Litigation' is being overlooked. The main reasons are that either people are unaware of their rights or they are reluctant to fight for their rights due to poverty, lack of knowledge, job insecurity, time constraints etc. FOCUS has resolved to work for the equal right for everyone irrespective of sect, cast, creed, gender or social status etc.

Furthermore, due to lack of knowledge and awareness, a considerable number of people used to start their business within their limited resources without having knowledge of their intellectual property rights and duties but later they found that they have to change their business name due to some legal instructions which becomes a huge setback for a newly established business. FOCUS resolved to create awareness among the small enterprises and educate them regarding the issues related to intellectual property rights like trade mark, copy right and patent etc.

The earthquake on 8th October's 2005 morning has left behind the sign of disaster and destruction. This earthquake pushed uncountable people towards the 'Death's Valley' and make millions of people shelter-less. This incident has ruined countless races. The valleys that attracted tourists due to their natural beauties and sceneries are now converted into wreckage. The death of children, who died under the 'Rubbles of Schools', is very pathetic. The people saw their dearer ones burring alive under the rubbles in front of them and later succumbed to death but they were helpless.

Immediately after the news of mass destruction FOCUS established temporary relief camps in Lahore for collection of donations in form of kind on 10th October. Goods including tents, blankets, food, clean drinking water, utensils, medicines and cloths for winter etc. were sent to the affected areas and distributed amongst the affected people through our staff and volunteers who personally went there with goods.

FOCUS also organized a ceremony to highlight the issue among the public at large. Government officials, elected members, businessmen, executives as well as youngsters participated the occasion. The main participants includes: Mr. Nisar Ahmed Bhatti (Deputy District Officer Community development, Government of Punjab), Mr. Farid Muneer (Nazim UC-126 District Government), Mr. Saif-Ur-Rehman (Nazim UC-127 District Government), Mr. Asim Raza (Secretary Shah-Faisal Club), Mr. Bilal Bashir (Executive WorldCall) and other people from different sects of life.