Sarah Hashwani, chairperson of Pakistan’s Hashoo Foundation, on creating projects to help the country’s NEEDY stand on their own feet

Life Lessons: (above) A woman learns honeybee farming, as part of the Foundation’s award-winning empowerment project 

Thirty-four-year old Sarah Hashwani is the youngest of five siblings born to business tycoon Sadruddin Hashwani. By the time she was born, there was probably not a trace of the humble beginnings her father — now owner of the prestigious Hashoo Group that has interests in tourism, real estate, pharmaceuticals, IT, and oil and gas — had grown up in. But that hasn’t made her any less empathetic towards the less fortunate.

 

“I’ve always been inclined to philanthropy since I was a young girl,” says the Islamabad-born expat, who chairs the humanitarian wing of her father’s multimillion-dollar empire, the Hashoo Foundation. Mr Hashwani — whose own story, of going from sleeping in the back of trucks in the cold, snake-infested deserts of Baluchistan to now owning a brand of luxury hotels, among other businesses, is highly inspirational — started the foundation in 1988. Sarah only took over in 2007, but she’d, nonetheless, been involved in various projects in the years leading up to the takeover. What she doesn’t like is calling it philanthropy. “It’s just a central part of practising our faith of Islam,” she believes.

 

When it first began, the foundation was mostly working in the “charitable” area — responding to various requests and donating funds. They started with supporting Afghani refugees in Pakistan, says Sarah. “The objective was to help the refugees develop skills so that when they migrated to other countries — or even returned to Afghanistan — they could easily access the job market. Many programmes were set up alongside, in response to their requirements, including a widows’ support programme, health centre, school, prosthetics for those who lost their limbs etc.”

(…)

For those who want to help but don’t know where to begin, Sarah suggests the Pakistan Center for Philanthropy (www.pcp.org.pk). “The PCP was set up by the Aga Khan Foundation in Pakistan, funded by the Rockefeller Foundation. They have certified 232 NGOs through a very rigorous process, so you can rest assured that these organisations are appropriate to donate to and collaborate with. As for any youngsters looking to help, they can get in touch with me,” she offers. “I would be happy to discuss their options.”

 

Read full on Khaleej Times com, UAE

*****

 

Some related posts on PBSJ Blog archives

• Hashoo Foundation at the Synergos’ 25th Anniversary & Reflection in London – Hashoo Foundation USA blog org
• Hashoo Foundation seeks to empower Pakistani women – By Murtaza Ali Shah at The News com Pakistan
• Pakistan: US to help small farm businesses increase profits – Daily Times com
• Transcript of a Conversation between His Highness the Aga Khan and Synergos Founder Peggy Dulany at the Synergos University for a Night Event

*****

Also see:

About Hashoo Foundation Pakistan

Who We Are

Hashoo Foundation (HF) is a progressive and dynamic non-profit organization, leading the way in human development and poverty alleviation by implementing viable economic development, educational and capacity-building programs in Pakistan since 1988.The Foundation is also focused on the needs of special children and provides care and support services to the less privileged and vulnerable members of society

See more on: http://www.hashoofoundation.org/index.php

*****

Also read the PDF version on Empowering Women

http://www.hashoofoundation.org/pdf/empowering_women.pdf

 

->>>>><<<<<-