12 November 2008,
Wednesday

Press Release

Hashoo Foundation is pleased to announce the selection of its project “Women Empowerment through Honeybee Farming” as one of the twelve finalists of BBC World Challenge 2008. Each year the BBC World Challenge competition, which is co-sponsored by Shell Oil Company and Newsweek magazine, invites organizations from around the globe to submit a development project that has been inventive, beneficial to the community and environmentally friendly.

While addressing to the dignitaries, representatives of the Government and corporate the Chief Executive Officer of Hashoo Foundation Dr. Imam Yar Baig said that; Hashoo Foundation’s project “Women Empowerment through Honeybee Farming” is designed to improve the status of women by giving them an opportunity to contribute to their family’s economic well being. He further unfolded the work of Hashoo Foundation and said that; Hashoo Foundation’s mandate is Human Development through Economic Empowerment and Social Services for less privileged humanity, Hashoo Foundation synchronize its thematic interventions paving passage to poverty alleviation through; Social Enterprise Development, On & Off-farm livelihood projects, Skills Development, Needs of Special People, Education, Social Welfare, and Health.

Talking about the project’s uniqueness and the global contest “BBC World Challenge 08” the Sr. Manager Marketing Mr. Amjad Pervaiz said that; Hashoo Foundation conducted extensive assessments in the Northern Areas of Pakistan which is known for its hardship and low per capita income. Hashoo Foundation responded to the need of intervention for the poor households with an income generating intervention and a complete package of enterprise development activities (i.e. from efficient production to secure sale with high revenue coming back to the families). The project “Women empowerment through honeybee farming” is a beacon of economic development for the less privileged women living in these isolated and remote valleys of three mighty mountains of Pakistan.

He further shared that; the lives of five hundred and sixty dependants (mostly young children) are now supported by ninety women beekeepers. In just over a year their lives have improved substantially as a result of this pilot intervention initiated by Hashoo Foundation. This pilot project demonstrated the true essence of entrepreneurial model and power of ninety determined women. This model (bee keeping) is environmentally friendly, enhances nature and uses simple, locally available technology. Hashoo Foundation has introduced modern bee keeping methods that ensure low cost of production, a more efficient collection process, and improved hygienic bulk and unit packaging. The honey produced has ethical brand name, and is cost based priced for competitive sale. Most importantly the project provides secure channels of sale due to the unmatched support extended by the Hashoo Group of Hotels. These five star hotels provide an excellent opportunity to showcase the honey and at the same time offer a unique quality of pure mountain honey to their international and national guests. The honey is purchased by all nine hotels of Hashoo Group, and is also placed at Embassy commissaries. The highlight of the intervention is the impact it has had on the families of the women involved in the project and the dramatic improvements it has made in their lives. This home based source of earning has enabled them to pay for their children’s school fee, books and uniform. They now have the resources and can afford to spend money on their family’s health and nutrition.

He assertively deciphered that; this is a unique opportunity for all of us to flag Pakistan at the top and it all will only be possible when all of you vote for the project. He said that the Voting period is 1st of October- 21st of November 2008, and for voting please hit www.theworldchallenge.co.uk or visit our website www.hashoofoundation.org and click on vote for women empowerment in Pakistan.

The chief guest of the presentation session Mr. Mutahir Shah the Secretary Finance Northern Areas; commended the work of Hashoo Foundation and congratulated Hashoo Foundation for becoming the first ever Pakistani Organization for making to such a reputable global contest. He expressed his full support for the spread of cause and finally cast his electronic vote for the project.

One of the beneficiary of the project Mehr Parveen Bibi thanked Hashoo Foundation for being their savior and said that; “Money I earn through this project helps me to send my children to school, take care of their health and improve the living standard”.

The regional Manager Hashoo Foundation Mr. Bulbal Jan Shams expressed his indebt and thanked the participants for gracing the occasion. He further shared that; Hashoo Foundation is determined to take this initiative a long way and has already begun to expand the project’s geographic location and increase the product line to include jam making. Hashoo Foundation has started implementing this women empowerment intervention in a similar fashion in the District of Chitral and has added more districts of Northern Areas of Pakistan. It is planned the Hashoo foundation will reach an additional two hundred and twenty families by the end of next year.