1. Hashoo Foundation Wins Hearts & Medals
Prime Minister Youth Skills
Development Programme
English Language Course Launched
DG NAVTTC Visited
Project Office Rawalpindi
Hiking and Exposure
Towards a Safer Tomorrow - School Safety
Winter Camp for Children
Country Director Ayesha Khan
Visits Regional Office Lahore
Prosperity in Skillfulness
Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) visited HF
Picture Gallery
Feature Story
Video Gallery
Updates
Plan Bee Empowering Women through Honey Bee Farming Project
Feature Story
Empowering Women Through Honey Bee Farming
In the News
Hashoo Foundation joined hands with Government & Civil
Society in KPK
Early Childhood Development Training
HF-Chronicles
HF attended Workshop titled “Devising our own Destiny”HF participated in Consultative Workshop on Ecotourism

2. Feature Story
Empowering Women Through Honey Bee Farming
Entrepreneurship development is Hashoo
Foundation's (HF) main thematic area. The programs
under this theme are designed to improve the
economic conditions of targeted communities that
result in improving their quality of life. HF works on
business models that are sustainable, so that they
operate successfully even after HF's exit.
For the last X years the Hashoo Foundation has been
leading economic development and education
projects to empower vulnerable communities and
help promote a more peaceful and inclusive society
in areas of high levels of poverty and illiteracy in
Pakistan.
The main focus is on Women's Empowerment
through Honey Bee Farming Project, Plan Bee
Project, winner of the prestigious BBC 2008 World
Challenge, Competition Global Award and Clinton
Global Initiative Featured Commitment. Plan Bee
trains rural women in honey bee farming and creates
employment opportunities through the sale of high-
quality honey in the remote and isolated mountains
of northern Pakistan.
The aim of this intervention is to empower women
beekeepers and their families through quality
training along with provision of beehives and
accessories necessary to start a small scale business
in the remote areas of Gilgit, Baltistan, Mansehra and
Chitral (KPK). After the increased production of
honey is ensured, HF links the women honeybee
farmers to lucrative markets for maximum profits
which are invested back into the businesses by these
entrepreneurs.
To date, HF has successfully trained 1116 women in
honeybee farming and has created 35 honey
business groups of women honeybee farmers, some
of the business groups have developed their own
honey brands and are operating as separate business
entities.
HF has also developed its own brand known as
'Mountain Honey'. This brand is marketed and
distributed to selected outlets across Pakistan,
catering mostly to five star hotels. HF's involvement
in strengthening the entire value chain cycle from
production to distribution has allowed the women
beekeepers to enjoy a lifestyle that they could not
afford before.
The first and foremost necessities catered are
education and nutritional needs of the women
beekeeper's children. Even though HF faces many
complications during the implementation of such
interventions such as harsh weather and remote
locations, still there is a need to assist the vulnerable
group in that area to become self-sustaining.
The project has served as a sustainable social-
business model which uses a multi-sector approach
and promotes women as the means of their own
economies. Women that participated in the project
have gone on to hold key leadership positions within
the local Honey Bee Associations. They say that now
they feel more socially integrated in a male-
dominated enterprise.
The project has served to bring about considerable
improvement in the socio-economic status of the
local communities, particularly women.
The Foundation is exploring and devising future
strategies to further strengthen the business side of
the project keeping in view the external factors such
as climatic conditions, competition and profit
forecasts.

3. In The News
Early Childhood Development Training
Hashoo Foundation's Regional Office Chitral (ROC)
launched Early Childhood Development classes in Balach
Chitral.
The event was attended by officials from Aga Khan
Economic Planning Board (AKEPB), staff of ROC and parents
of the new trainees. 60 trainees were enrolled for this 3
months' ECD program.
The objective of the programme is to create employment
opportunities for young, energetic girls by building their
skills in Early Childhood Education (ECD) During the session,
the trainers of the ECD programme , Ms. Faryal Baber and
Ms. Majida Jan, highlighted different aspects and priorities
through formal presentation.
Muhammad Afzal, Manager NCHD Chitral, congratulated
the selected ECD trainees, he advised the them to transmit
their knowledge to children of their families and villages,
which is critical for nation-building.
Mr Shams Uddin, Senior Programme Development Officer,
highlighted the significance of ECD in determining
appropriate career for a child in subsequent life. He also
emphasized that mothers have key role to play to create
Hashoo Foundation joined hands with Government & Civil Society in KPK
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed
between NAVTTC & HF to further strengthen HF's Skill
Development Programmes. Director Programmes , Mr.
Amir Hussain and Head of Training and Skill
Development, Mr. Javaid Akhtar met with Government
officials and discussed in detail about enhancing the
training modules and mechanisms. Mr. Qasim Shah
Director General NAVTTC (KPK & FATA) and Usman Khan
Deputy Director NAVTTC appreciated the efforts and
cooperation of Hashoo Foundation and mentioned that
they are likely to engage HF again in their upcoming
Hospitality Management Trainings.
Later Senior Management of Hashoo Foundation also
met with Chairperson of 'In Search Of Justice' (ISJ), a non-
profit organization, where both parties planned to pursue
more skills development initiatives for the youth of
FATA and Dera Ismail Khan.
educational values amongst their children right
from the childhood as learnings from childhood
remain permanent.
Ms Salma, HF's ECD professional, who had
travelled from Islamabad to supervise the launch
of ECD, gave a detailed presentation on the ECD
initiative from sociological and psychological
perspective. She also advised the trainees to take
optimum benefit from the programme.
The event came to an end with vote of thanks
from ECD trainers and organizer of the event.

4. In The News
HF participated in Consultative Workshop on Ecotourism
Hashoo Foundation (HF) participated in a 'Consultative
Workshop on the Promotion of Ecotourism in Kalash Valley
of District Chitral' organized by UNESCO in Islamabad.
The workshop was opened by Ms Vibeke Jensen, Country
Director of UNESCO Pakistan, she thanked the participants
for sparing time and travel from far-flung areas to attend
the workshop.
The purpose of the workshop was to prepare a viable
strategy for the promotion of ecotourism in the Kalash
valley by bringing together decision-makers, head of
private and public sectors, tourism experts and
stakeholders.
Kalash valley is a well-known destination having
huge potential to attract both national and
international tourists. But this is going to greatly
damage the indigenous Kalash culture and their
pristine natural environment with which their
animist faith is so inextricably linked. In recent
years, the said culture and natural environment
has largely been eroded partially by tourists but
largely by global warming and worsening
prospect of deforestation.
Ecotourism is considered as a well-tested tool
technology to add economic incentives to
indigenous culture and natural environment and
make them source of income generation for
remote and least developed region, where
people are hugely dependent on land or natural
resources, as is the case with the indigenous
Kalash communities.
The participants from the Kalash valley had
particularly been invited to the event to share
their vision, priorities and experience on how to
protect their indigenous culture and natural
environment by making it a source of income
generation.

5. In The News
HF attended Workshop titled “Devising our own Destiny”
The Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF) in
collaboration with the Federal, Provincial and District
Governments of Chitral, hosted a roundtable
workshop, 'Devising our own Destiny: A Model for
Collaborative Partnership for Inclusive and
Sustainable Growth in Chitral' on January 11, 2017 at
Serena Hotel Islamabad.
The event was attended by wide spectrum of
stakeholder organizations, political leadership and
representatives of public and private sectors from
district Chitral including regional Hashoo
Foundation's regional team Chitral.
The workshop aimed at evolving a model for
collaborative partnership for inclusive and
sustainable growth in Chitral and to launch well-
thought-out interventions for the least developed
regions of district Chitral, which is the largest district
of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (14850 square kilometers)
with smallest population scattered in the
confinement of inaccessible mountains.
Mr. Ahsan Iqbal, Federal Minister for Planning,
Development & Reform, graced the event as chief
guest, H.E. Stefano Pontecorvo, Italian Ambassador
to Pakistan and H.E. Thomas Drew, British High
Commissioner to Pakistan were also present at the
event.
Hashoo Foundation (HF) has been working in close
collaboration with PPAF in implementing different
skill development initiatives for eradication of
poverty amongst the vulnerable segment of the
society. As PPAF's all-encompassing development
strategy for Chitral is likely to be unfolded in near
future, the Hashoo Foundation is looking forward to
enter into a fruitful partnership with PPAF to improve
the life standard of the impoverished communities in
district Chitral.

6. Updates
Hashoo Foundation Wins Hearts & Medals
Hashoo Foundation's trainees of Food Preparation
and Culinary Arts, Sana Naz and Muhammad were
awarded with the Gold & Silver medals at the
Pakistan Culinary Festival. The festival was arranged
by various hospitality organizations at Al-Hamra
Cultural Complex Lahore.
Representatives of various training service providers,
Hotels and Non-Government Organizations
participated in this competition along with the
Hashoo Foundation.
Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) visited HF
A delegation from Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO)
visited regional and project offices of Hashoo
Foundation in Rawalpindi. The delegation comprised
of Regional Youth Programme Specialist, VSO
International, Ms. Natchawi (Nat) Wadman . Director
Programmes, Mr. Amir Hussain briefed the visitors
about Skills Development Programmes and
highlighted the achievements of training more than
70,000 youth under this initiative of the Foundation.
Director Strategic Unit, Mr. Jalal uddin and Head of
Education Mr. Fida Karim were also accompanying
the delegation.
Prime Minister Youth Skills Development Programme
This month, Hashoo Foundation under the Prime Minister's
Youth Skills Development Programme commenced trainings
of 5 Trades in Rawalpindi, Peshawar and Gilgit regions,
funded by National Vocational & Technical Training
Commission. 18 Trainees were successfully inducted in
trade of Professional Cooking, 25 Trainees for Domestic
Skilled Worker, 20 for Information Technology Training
Diploma, 25 Trainees for Wood Carving & Carpentry and 20
Trainees for Front Office Training.
Hashoo Foundation strongly believes in the value and
professional development of its trainees so that they have
the best possible opportunity to gain knowledge and enter
into progressive employment. NAVTTC has played a
significant role in supporting Hashoo Foundation for the
successful implementation of Skills Development
Programmes in order to enhance social and economic lives
of the beneficiaries.

7. Updates
English Language Course Launched
Hashoo Foundation's Regional Office Chitral
launched English Language Training for youth in
District Chitral, the journey of this course begun with
10 trainees whilst an increase with each passing day.
The purpose of this training is to improve the
interpersonal communication skills of youth from
marginal family background who, because of
financial constraints, do not have access to better
educational institutions within the district and
outside.
HF has a staunch belief in the need of English
language to enable youth from disadvantaged
background to compete in the highly competitive
modern job market. The initiative is also aimed at
preparing youth for different test and interview at
highly reputed educational institutions across the
country.
DG NAVTTC visited Project Office Rawalpindi
Mr. Zubair Hashmi Director General Operations
(National Vocational & Technical Training
Commission) visited the Hashoo Foundation's project
office in Rawalpindi. During his visit, he appreciated
the efforts of HF in the area of skills development
and said that the Foundation is one of the best in the
country and is playing a vital role in polishing the
skills of the trainees and grooming their
personalities.
Mr Hashmi also mention that the government is
collaborating with various national and multinational
organizations, which would ultimately result in better
job opportunities for the trainees upon completion
of the course. He also announced that during the
training, various skill competitions would be held and
the best performers would have a big edge in terms
of securing jobs.
The teaching modules of International English
Language Test System (IELTS) reading, writing,
speaking and listening are followed in this training
programme.

8. Updates
Hiking and Exposure
Hashoo Foundation organized an exposure visit to
Margalla Hills Trail 3 & 5, Islamabad for the trainees
Early Childhood Development Programme. Thirty-
nine trainees of ECD and Montessori training
participated in this activity. The visit was an
informative and educational activity aimed to provide
trainees an opportunity to interact with nature and
to sensitize the trainees so that they can apply
environmental education in lesson planning and
understand the importance of nature study for the
students. The trainees were oriented about clean
environment and its importance.
Moreover, the trainees actively participated in the
“Tree Hugging Activity”, where group of trainees
identified different trees and collected the trash and
litter around the trees on the hiking track. And at the
end of the activity, they hugged the trees as a symbol
of care for clean environment.
Towards a Safer Tomorrow - School Safety
Hashoo Foundation's Regional Office Chitral (ROC)
has launched 'Towards a Safer Tomorrow”, A School
Safety Project funded by Plan International Pakistan
in Shoghor & Charun which are two highly vulnerable
Union Councils (UCs) to natural disasters.
The overarching goal of this initiative is to enlist
support of the government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
in formulating disaster resilience policies to stimulate
safe and secure learning environment for children in
30 selected schools, 10 each government boys' and
girls' schools plus 10 private schools in the selected
Ucs.
The strategic focus of the project is to build viable
partnership with both private and public sectors at
district and province level to ensure sustainability of
the intervention, seeking future funding
opportunities to work with schools by building on the
rich experience of the project, scaling up and
expanding the programme and encourage
opportunities to engage with youth within the
districts.

9. Updates
Winter Camp for Children
Work, Problem Solving, Creativity and
Communications.
This winter camping initiative for children is
implemented in a way that it has become enjoyable
for children who daily attend to actively participate in
the activities braving enormous harsh and snowy
weather in the region.
Country Director Ayesha Khan visits Regional Office Lahore
Country Director Hashoo Foundation, Ms Ayesha
Khan visited HF Office Lahore to meet with the entire
staff. During the meeting, Country Director briefed
the staff about the new developments and strategic
planning in the Foundation.
Ms Khan appreciated the services of staff and
assured her good cooperation to facilitate them in
deliverance of their duties and in execution of their
plans.
HF Regional office Chitral (ROC) conducted a Winter
Camp for children in Chitral.
The purpose of the camp is to instill confidence in
children and promote their creativeness enabling
them to learn things by doing. To this end, Hashoo
Foundation (HF) has provided them adequate tools
with primary focus on the thematic areas like Team
Prosperity in Skillfulness
Hashoo Foundation with the partnership of Punjab
Skills Development Fund (PSDF) has launched
trainings in hospitality management trades in its
regional centers of Lahore and Rawalpindi.
About 139 trainees are receiving training under
various trades of Food Preparation & Culinary Arts,
Food & Beverage Services, Bakery & Pastry and in
Reception Operation Services Free books, uniforms,
stationery items and 1,500 PKR stipends are also
being awarded to these trainees. While on
completion, all of them will be certified by City &
Guilds UK and HF.

10. Our Partners
All these results were possible with the support of our donors and in
partnership with the Government of Pakistan.
FOUNDATION
MEDICINE
REAL
Mennonite Economic Development
Associates
O PII
Humanitarian Aid
and Civil Protection
CLINTON GLOBAL INITIATIVE
Canadian International Development Agency CHURCH WORLD SERVICE
Publication Team For Suggestions
Publication Editor: Hiba Siddiqui
Contributors: Shamsuddin,
Hira Anum and Arslan Ahmed
Design: Mazhar Yaseen
Hiba Siddiqui
hibasiddiqui@hashoofoundation.org
www.hashoofoundation.org