1) OMV Pakistan has established 63 primary schools in rural Sindh to provide education to deprived communities and empower them through learning. They see education as a basic human right. 2) In addition to schools, OMV supports a training center for teachers and provides scholarships to model schools to ensure quality education. They have built trust with local communities who now support the projects. 3) OMV also implements a hepatitis vaccination project, having inoculated over 9,500 people so far. They work with local governments and an NGO to prevent the disease and raise awareness in remote villages.

1. Case Studies On
Community Development Projects
In District Khairpur & Sukkur
Community Development Program
OMV Pakistan
Written by Tajreen Midhat

2. 19 August 2010
‘Rising through Education’
According to one saying, a little knowledge is a dangerous thing: drink deep from
the well, or taste not the spring. There are people in the world who will spend
lifetimes pushing the boundaries of their intellect. For many others, the very first
step on a million-mile long path, of true knowledge and understanding, will be
denied.
Sindh is one example of this inherent inequity that lies in
the world. The rural population here remains predominantly
deprived of the basic rights of proper health care,
education, rule-of-law, and access to clean drinking water
and other essential amenities. However, the people of this
land, like the people of any other land possess a faculty of
wonder. They aren’t oblivious to the world that tries to comprehend the universe,
and with the government of their thought, they continue to dream about the lands
afar.
Education has been recognized as a basic
human right; a right which nurtures the
human mind to recognize other rights and
responsibilities which contribute to economic
and social development. It empowers
people to take part in the transformation of
their lives and the societies they inhabit.
The Community Development Program (CDP) of OMV Pakistan, following the
principle of need-based programming started the Primary Education Project in
2003. It has endeavored to take the ‘first step’ towards education, towards
acquainting the local community with their basic right. It established schools in the
operational areas, and currently sixty three primary schools are being run by OMV,
in partnership with the local populace and the Education Departments of District
Government Sukkur and Khairpur.

3. ‘Rising through Education’ is the slogan of OMV’s education program. OMV believes that
the local community will only be empowered through education, and sustainable
development is only possible with education.
“I want to become a doctor when I grow up and serve my people”
says young Mujahid, from village Muhammad Buksh Bhunbaro who
is a student of grade fourth. The United Nations declared primary
education to be one of its Millennium Development Goals
(MDG).Goal 2 states: Achieve universal primary education.
OMV’s presence can be seen in the remotest of areas where
the district governments are barely present. Children of village
Garhar, Taluka Salehpat are gathered and studying under the
shade of a tree, as their primary school building is under
construction. These children show enthusiasm for learning. “We
are happy that in a few days we will have our school building
ready, where we will have swings” says young Ali, student of grade fifth who has wonderful
recitation skills.
On further moving to the rough terrains, one comes across another
remote village called Baari. Young Pari, who is only seven years
old, wants to study to the great dismal of her parents, who want to
get her married. “I want to study and become a teacher” says Pari.
Gender inequality is rampant in Sindh. The position of women is
characterized by unequal power relations and their roles are
confined to the walls of their homes. Changing
the mindset of the community is not easy. It can take generations.
However, the good news is that almost 40% of the total enrolment in OMV’s primary
schools is of girls. OMV understands that to ensure the standard of the primary schools, a
facilitating body has to be present which can monitor the performance of these schools,
because in the long run these schools will not mean anything if their standard is poor. For
this, OMV set up a Training Resource Centre (TRC) in Chundko city, which monitors these
schools,

4. identifies academic needs of teachers, and provides school based academic support and
professional development of teachers through formal trainings.
“We have built a relationship of trust through transparency with the local community. They
have started owning up to the projects. That is the only way to sustainability in the long
run” says Shakeel Shah Hussaini, the Community Development Coordinator and incharge
“The aim is to institutionalize TRC and work towards capacity building” Mr Shakeel
explains.
“A society is known by the teachers that educate the young minds, and our job is to
nurture the minds of those teachers because they will transfer their knowledge to the
children” says Zulfiqar, who works as Professional Development Trainer. A young
individual, Zulfiqar wants to make a difference, “I could have left my city and worked
somewhere else, but I want to give back to my community. If I leave, who will stay?”
In Salehpat, teachers at the Citizens
Foundation (TCF) are getting ready for the
next session. The teachers are decorating
the classrooms with bright colored
paintings. “We are working to ensure that
our children are at par with the students of
the best schools of big cities” tells Saima
Parveen, the principal of TCF. Her words seem promising considering
the credible history of TCF making a difference.
OMV also provides infrastructural support to the Pakistan Rangers
Public School (PRPS). The laboratory block which will be
completed in 2010, will further enhance school’s capacity to
provide quality education to the children of Nara.
The idea behind providing financial assistance to The Citizens
Foundation School and Pakistan Rangers Public School is that
considering the paucity of resources, ensuring quality education in
villages will always have its limitations. Thus, TCF and PRPS are model schools till grade
twelfth, established in the nearest urban towns to these village primary schools. These
schools provide an opportunity to the students of primary schools to complete their
education.

5. “Education is the only beacon of hope. The change in attitude of children when they first
came and what we see now is remarkable. It shows that with hard work and dedication,
we can really bring about a constructive change” explains Sara, a teacher at TCF. OMV’s
endeavors may only be a drop in the ocean, but equally a drop in the ocean cannot be
deemed as futile, as it can serve as a catalyst for a greater change, just like education is a
catalyst for solving the many socio-cultural ills that plague us.
Where the million-mile path leads is a mystery to us all, but there
are ways to arm and embellish and what accomplishes that best
is the learning to be found within the pages of books.

6. OMV’s Hepatitis Prophylaxis Project
It’s a strenuous journey, driving down the remote villages of Taluka Salehpat, District
Sukkur. There are no roads in this area, just the howling wilderness, scorching heat and
barrenness of the desert as far as the eye can reach. Human
settlements scattered over miles of distances, are a rare sight due to
the outlandishness of these areas. The physical environment has
rendered the land basically inaccessible and uninhabitable. Yet,
people inhabit this land. But there aren’t many who understand that
the remoteness of the area makes the needs of the people greater,
as education, health and the bare necessities like water remain out of reach for many.
The children and women of village Meherwari, just one of the few villages located on this
terrain have received vaccination for Hepatitis B. Shahzadi; a
local villager explains the preventive measures for Hepatitis.
The children listen intently. One is surprised by the level of
awareness that these people show of the disease, considering
the detachment of the area, and where there is no visible
presence of the District Government. When asked if these
people know who is conducting the vaccination. The children,
enthusiastic about answering first, tell that it’s OMV. And what
does OMV do? “They build schools, and give us water and health care” says Najaf, a
young lad. That is all they know of OMV.
OMV has built a relationship of trust with the local communities.
The Hepatitis Prophylaxis Project of OMV Pakistan is being
executed in the areas where OMV is operating. The project is a
joint effort of OMV-AG, Austrian Development Agency (ADA)
and District Governments of Sukkur and Khairpur. It successfully
completed its first

7. phase in 2009 for raising awareness about the disease in the rural communities, and
vaccinated 9500 women and children against Hepatitis-B. The second phase is in
progress and targets to vaccinate 15000 men, women and children against Hepatitis B.
The project is other than the PCA obligation, and has set an example for those who want
to work with the District Governments and make a difference on the ground level in real,
substantial terms.
Dr Gotam Kumar, who is heading
the Hepatitis Prophylaxis Project, is being the
change he wishes to see in the world. An
inspiration for the whole project team, he
believes it to be his moral duty to vaccinate each
and every child. To achieve
that, his team
travels around these rough
terrains over and over again to
curb the drop out rate, which is due to many reasons such as health
problems and seasonal migration. Dr Gotam believes that it is easy to
blame the government and point fingers at those who are not doing their job responsibly
enough, but that will never solve the problem.
Back in Taluka Nara, District Khairpur the children of village Muhammad
Buksh Bhanbhro are gathered in their school building. Today, they get the second dose of
vaccination. One can see the twinkle in their smiles as they try to hide their fear of the
syringe.
“I wash my hands before every meal
now, and my father doesn’t use second hand blades
anymore” answers Syeda, when inquired about the
preventive measures of the disease. The project
completed its first phase in 2009, which focused on
raising awareness about the disease in OMV’s
operational areas.
“My father died of Hepatitis B. No one knew about the disease when he was suffering from
it. I am thankful to Allah that my children will be prevented from

8. catching this disease” tells tearful Saiba, who inhabits the remote village of Baari, Taluka
Salehpat. One in 12 people worldwide is living with either chronic Hepatitis-B or chronic
Hepatitis-C. Through this project, OMV is meeting the Millennium Development Goal set
by the United Nations which states: Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases.
“Hepatitis is an epidemic, and epidemics are more harmful
than diseases. They can kill societies, eradicate races”
said Muhammad of Tor village, Taluka
Salehpat, situated just eight kilometers away
from the Indian border. This level of
awareness shown by the villagers speaks for
the success of OMV’s Hepatitis Prophylaxis
Project and the commitment and the
dedication with which the project team continues to work. It is also an
example for those who think it’s difficult to educate the rural population, as OMV’s
endeavors of educating the local community are bearing fruits today.

9. ‘Bringing light to life’
The world we inhabit lives in many centuries. On the one hand we see an ever growing
interconnectedness, and on the other, we see a land, detached from the developments
that are taking place in the world. In many parts of Sindh, time seems to have stood still for
years. With the complete dearth of basic facilities of life such as education, health care,
access to clean drinking water and electricity, what are necessities for the developed
world, remain much prized luxuries for most part of rural Sindh.
Today, rural poverty and lack of access to modern energy reside in symbiosis. The
facilitation of electricity has profound and far reaching economic, socio-cultural and
demographic impact on life and the standard of living of the rural population. Thus, access
to modern energy services is a prerequisite for development.
OMV Pakistan, committed to supporting the local communities in improving their living
conditions, has endeavored to provide sustainable
energy solutions. The Electricity Installation
Project completed in partnership with Hyderabad
Electric Supply Company (HESCO) and Taluka
Municipal Administration (TMA) Nara, provided
electricity in six villages of Sawan in 2009 in
addition to the seven previously electrified villages.
The project was funded by the CSR Program OMV
Pakistan, with 20% share contributed by TMA Nara.
“I can now divide my time very easily. I teach in the morning and at night I can do all the
household work. Because we have a fridge now, I cook food at night for the next day” says
Rukhsana, a primary school teacher, resident of village Muhammad Buksh Bhunbaro.
Access to electricity has significant and sustained impact on the reduction of both, income
poverty and all dimensions of human poverty ranging from health, education to women
empowerment. Rukhsana, who before the arrival of electricity was

10. only a housewife, is now teaching at the local primary
school. Apart from better time management, she is also
earning, which would not have been possible had there
been no access to electricity in her village. “I feel more
empowered, and now I can raise my opinion at home too,
just like the men are allowed to do” says Rukhsana who is
enjoying this new sense of empowerment.
“Going to school is fun now, as due to the heat we often didn’t feel like studying before.
Now we have fans and we enjoy learning more” admits Naseer, a student of fifth grade in
village Bhunbaro. It is a generally accepted fact that electricity plays a vital role in
enhancing the quality of education, both by making it possible to study in the evenings and
by playing a part in creating a learning-friendly environment through advanced technology.
Zahida, a Lady Health Worker (LHW) of village Datardino Mallah reports a significant
reduction in the incidence of malaria as people spend relatively more time indoors now.
Zahida also takes care of the household work. “The provision of electricity has made my
life easier now. I can give equal time to home in the evening and take care of the first aid
center in the morning and water problem has also been solved” says Zahida Because of
the provision of electricity, the problem of water storage has also been greatly reduced as
many households have motors now.
Hanifa, a thirteen year old girl from village Muhammad Buksh Bhunbaro, deprived of the
ability to speak does all the household work when all her siblings and friends attend
school. A very vibrant girl, she tries to explain that her only form of learning and
entertainment is television which keeps her connected to the rest of the
world and also keeps her entertained. She tells that because of the
washing machine, she can now wash the clothes quickly as she
laughingly complains about the amount of work she has to do.

11. “We are thankful to OMV for giving us access to electricity. Our standard of living has
been modernized now, and we have a new sense
of motivation to work harder and develop our
community” says Momin Ali, a primary school
teacher from village Datardino Mallah. He explains
that due to the availability of electricity, efficiency at
work has been enhanced. Momin also tells us that
electricity is new for her children of his village. “I
see a sense of quest in them for exploring new
ways to improve their standard of living, which is new for me too”
Apart from the economic benefits, access to electricity has impact on human capital
development through knowledge building mediated as a result of economic growth and a
better standard of living. As Momin Ali puts it, “electricity does not just lighten the house
but also the hearts and minds of those inhabiting the house”. His words are a reassurance
to OMV, which believes in sustainability and making the local community stand on its own
feet.

12. Women Empowerment
In today’s rhetoric of a globalized world, encompassing the ‘oneness’ of mankind, there
remains many lands where human beings are viciously divided into men and women. The
relationship signifies amplifying oppositions, of that of the powerful and the weak, the
superior and the inferior, the dominant and the dominated. This relationship lays down the
foundations of the socio-cultural dimensions of rural Sindh, where women are deprived of
their basic rights, where apart from facing injustice at the state level, they are victims of
injustice in their homes.
The United Nations has made women empowerment and gender equality a top priority by
declaring it a Millennium Development Goal. Goal 3 states: Promote gender equality and
empower women. Community Development Program of OMV Pakistan, realizing the need
for women empowerment in its operational areas, has initiated certain programs that help
empower women financially and thus socially.
The Skill Development Centre (SDC) established in Chundko town trains young girls in
basic skills of cutting and sewing. Most of the girls belong to Chundko town. Once they
acquire the skills, they save a significant amount of money by
sewing clothes for their families. Many do not use their skills as a
means of earning, due to family restrictions.
Pushi, a young girl who completed her course in 2007, stitches
clothes for her six married sisters and their in-laws too. When
asked if she charges money for the stitching, she explained that her family would never
allow that, and the fact that they can save all the money that they were previously paying
to tailors equates as a means of earning for her family.
“I would have liked to become a trainer, but since my family doesn’t allow me I teach
stitching to my younger sister only” told Pushi. Her friend Geeta, who also completed the
course with her does not pursue stitching or embroidery professionally.
With the position of women characterized by unequal power relations, limited mobility,
confinement to domestic and subsistence spheres, OMV thought it necessary to equip
village women with these skills too.

13. OMV launched craft trainings in village Datardino Mallah, where women
took craft courses. Bai, who learnt sewing, is now using her skill as a
means of earning. “Though I don’t earn as much as my husband does, I
still feel empowered as I am making a contribution at home financially and
that has given me a voice at home” tells Bai.
The purpose of these training programs is very well thought out. When
these women acquire skills and achieve some level of financial
independence, they get empowered. Although they may not be earning a very large
amount, they realize the importance of being financially independent, and aspire a better
future for their daughters. “I want my daughter to have a better future. She should become
a doctor or a teacher, who doesn’t have to depend on her husband for money” says Bai. It
is a form of education for these women, and education increases the likelihood of women
choosing to have smaller families, and deciding to send their own children to school.
Being culturally rich, handicrafts of Sindh are highly
valued due to their diversity and richness of craft.
The traditional Rilli work, mainly found in Miano
(Salehpat) is very distinct and famous for its unique
cuts and designs. However, since the local
community has little access to national or
international markets, this work is not getting the
deserved promotion. If adequately marketed, the
handicraft
can become a vital source of livelihood for the artisans. These
women do not get appropriate price for the hard work, effort and
time that they put in. OMV’s project includes the handicraft
project which aims to promote their work in national and
international markets.
“Although in recent years
significant steps have been taken to promote
our work, but I hope more can be done and
this work can be taken

14. internationally and we can represent
Pakistan” tells Sabahi Bibi from Meherwari village, Salehpat. The women of Meherwari
village have been engaged in Rilli making for generations, but due to tough economic
conditions and severe lack of access to markets, Rilli making is becoming extinct. OMV’s
project is trying to keep the art alive as well as empower those who can earn a living from
it.
The change in the status of women can not come overnight. It can take generations.
OMV’s attempt is sincere in empowering women, and it will in the long run bear fruits.
However, there is no escaping the fact that the achievement of gender equality broadly
depends on the will and commitment of a country’s leadership.

15. Village Datardino Mallah
Village Datardino Mallah is OMV’s model village. A beautiful
village, located in Taluka Nara, District Khairpur, is reminiscent
of lush green African landscapes, whose people show a real
zest for life, and are happy with the changes brought about in
their standard of living through OMV’s endeavors. OMV has
done work in sectors of education, health, energy and livelihood
in this village. The village has a population of four hundred people. Not only the inhabitants
of Datardino Mallah benefit from OMV’s development projects, but people from nearby
villages also benefit from these facilities.
The primary school was established in 2003 in this village.
Around seventy five children attend this school, forty of them
are girls. Momin Ali, one of the teachers, is happy with the
functioning of the school. He has also taken training programs
from the Training Resource Centre and has requested more
training sessions for teaching subjects such as Math and
English. A young and vibrant individual, he believes that OMV’s
assistance has brought about a positive change in the lives of
the villagers. They are satisfied with the way the education
process is running. There is a middle school just 1.5 kilometers
away from the village, where children can study after completing their primary education.
Samea, a young girl from village Datardino Mallah is doing her Matriculation privately from
the nearest town of Chundko as the middle school nearby is only till grade eighth. She
aspires to become a teacher one day and educate the children of local community. Momin
hopes that one day his school can be upgraded to the secondary level, but doesn’t see the
situation as even vaguely bleak presently.

16. The village health centre was set up by OMV in the year 2004.It is a
first aid village health centre, and people from nearby villages also
benefit from it. A local lady, named Zahida runs it. She received
training for this job. The emergency cases are taken to Chundko.
This village, like many other villages has also been a part of
Hepatitis Prophylaxis Project, and the community shows awareness
about the disease and the preventive measures needed to
be taken. Momin and Zahida, both educate the villagers about
Hepatitis.
Datardino Mallah is one of the thirteen villages to have gotten electricity as a result of
OMV’s village electrification project. The lives of women have greatly improved because of
the availability of electricity in their village. Zahida says that she can now work for the
dispensary as well as give proper time to the household work. Electricity has certainly
made her life a lot less convoluted. She can now do the household work and look after the
dispensary during the day. With washing machines, irons, bulbs and pedestal fans, the
women feel that their work load has decreased and the efficiency has greatly improved on
the fields.
OMV also established a temporary Skill Development
Program in this village, where women take courses of
tailoring and embroidery. Now they are using their skills
as a means of earning. Bai, who took this course, is now
stitching clothes for many village women and earning a
decent amount of money, she feels more empowered
now. Although her husband’s income is more than what
she earns, she feels she is making a good contribution
and enjoys the new sense of financial freedom. These
women, who are now using their skills as means of
in the society. Now that they are earning, they realize the
importance of financial independence. This has given them
the awareness to better educate their daughters, so that
they may have a brighter future. The implication of this is
earning are a great change

17. very well thought out. When the girls get educated, they will automatically be better aware
of their
rights and will be able to stand up for them. This can help fight many socio-economic ills,
large population and no family planning being one of them.
Momin Ali’s words epitomize all that is needed to be said about the community
development work by OMV. That, it has educated the community about their rights, and of
a world they were previously oblivious to, a world where people get educated, a world
where communities do not stay stagnant for decades but strive to improve their lives, both,
materially as well as intellectually.

18. Shahi Bibi
If human beings are a mere reflection of the socio-political
circumstances and the history that encompasses them, then
Shahi Bibi is one individual whose story is worth pondering
upon. Coming from a remote village of Sindh, Shahi Bibi can
be the conscience of those who have dictated the course of
her life and are responsible for plunging her into an ordeal that
she was never prepared to undertake.
I was unaware of her real story when I first met her. A woman in her sixties, with some real
spunk, she did not hesitate to entertain her with her singing. The wrinkles on her face
showed that she had stood the test of times. I went to meet her because of her active
participation in the Hepatitis Prophylaxis Project. I did not expect a sixty year old woman,
coming from such a remote area, to be aware of the importance of hepatitis vaccination.
Yet, this was a woman who would go to any lengths to secure a better future for the
younger generation, so that the sun that rises tomorrow is brighter and enlighten previously
darkened ways for them.
Shahi Bibi’s lifestyle was meager to say the least. Yet her hospitality showed that she had
a heart bigger than the harshness of her economic circumstances. Her whole family
humbled me by offering me lunch. I wanted a detailed account of what she wanted for her
own betterment, and secondary school was the first and last on her list. For me, it was just
another story, the same old story of corrupt feudal politics, the same routine of meeting
different faces, but hearing the same old pleas.
Only later I got to know of her real story.Shahi Bibi’s daughter back in the 1980s was
kidnapped by the local feudal. Such cases were not a rarity, and there wasn’t much the
villagers could do about their rights. But, Shahi Bibi chose to stand up against the
injustice and vowed to get her daughter back in all circumstances. Then followed a long
period of struggle and hardships, with no one’s support, Shahi Bibi’s own belief in herself
was her greatest strength. After selling her property, presenting her case in khuli
kehchehris (Open Courts), seeing the dual faces of those who agreed to stand along

19. against the injustice, government not responding to her pleas, she had no other option but
to meet the then President. With her story now hitting the press, the pressure mounted on
the feudal to release the girl. He finally decided to release her, how, no one could have
imagined. When Shahi Bibi’s daughter returned to her family, her minutes were numbered
as she had been slow poisoned by the feudal’s men. She died a few hours later after
reuniting with her family. To this day, the feudal remains a fugitive from justice.
Shahi Bibi epitomizes yesterday’s and today’s Sindh. That those in power are too blinded
by the temporary pleasures of the world to see that no matter how much power they may
have, they will be weak and hollow in the face of a courageous and pure heart that abides
by the universal instinct of a mother fighting for her child’s rights.
Substantial reforms, both at the macro as well as the grass root level are needed to
change the reality on ground. However, it can take generations for socio-cultural changes
to come to fruition. The corporate world can show that Corporate Social Responsibility is a
lot more than just rhetoric. Following the approach of sincerity and bringing about
sustainable changes in its operational areas, the Community Development Program of
OMV Pakistan endeavors to sow seeds for a better and fruitful tomorrow. It has taken
steps that will show results in the long run; when children will be going to schools, when
girls will be empowered with education and the vision to choose, and when people will be
aware of their rights and duties.