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Jagriti International Programs: Awakening
Journeys
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| Pakistan:
A Society at the Crossroads -- Culture, Rights, Islam
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| Country |
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Cities to be Visited |
| Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar |
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Duration |
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Participants |
| Mixed (male and female), all ages |
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Country Context |
| Pakistan presents a unique opportunity
for Western women to understand life for women living
in a conservative Islamic society. Founded in 1947, Pakistan
was envisioned as a homeland for the Muslims of the Indian
subcontinent. For centuries, traders, warriors and adventurers
such as Alexander the Great, Marco Polo and Genghis Khan
have entered the area around the fertile Indus River basin
in search of fortune. The historical significance of the
area is visible in ruined cities, marble tombs, Mughal
Forts and decorated mosques. Today's historical significance
as a crossroad continues, as Pakistan houses nearly 3
million refugees fleeing more than two decades of war
and civil strife in neighboring Afghanistan. |
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Women's Organizations |
| Both Pakistani and Afghan women's
organizations are very active in Pakistan. Despite some
earlier antecedents, the modern non-governmental organization
(NGO) sector traces most of its growth back only to the
1980s. In most instances, the government is presumed to
have the responsibility for social welfare issues, but
economic costs and politics tends to leave a large share
of the responsibility for these issues in the hands of
the NGO sector. While the government acknowledges the
significant contribution of NGOs, multiple constraints
exist, making it extremely difficult for many groups,
especially those run by women, to be officially registered
and acknowledged by the Pakistani government. Afghan NGOs,
in most instances, are not legally authorized to operate
because the UN is unwilling to grant official refugee
status to the more than 3 million Afghans residing in
Pakistan. |
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Journey Focus Areas |
Women's groups working with domestic
violence, schools for Afghan children, hospitals for Afghan
women, refugee camps, and women's rights.
Women's groups working with domestic violence, schools
for Afghan children, hospitals for Afghan women, refugee
camps, and women's rights.In Islamabad, Pakistani groups
are combating domestic violence by providing shelters
and mental health counseling to abused women. A number
of groups led by women have created primary and secondary
schools for Afghan refugee children who are not allowed
to attend Pakistani schools. In Peshawar, a very active
Afghan NGO community is working on issues related to women's
health and human rights, both inside and outside the official
U.N.-sponsored refugee camps. The lives and living conditions
of the women and children within these camps are beyond
description. In Lahore, one of the best known and most
outspoken critics of the Pakistani government is the women's
organization Shirkat Gah, which is actively trying
to establish laws to abolish so-called "honor killings"
wherein Muslim men execute sisters or daughters accused
of sexual activity or infidelity. |
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Preliminary Itinerary |
| Day |
Activity |
| 1 |
Arrival in Islamabad in the morning; sightseeing
and shopping. |
| 2 |
Breakfast meeting and orientation; visit women’s
organization. |
| 3 |
Visit Afghan schools; travel to Lahore; evening
reception. |
| 4 |
Meet with women’s group in the morning; sightseeing
in the afternoon. |
| 5 |
Shopping & sightseeing; meet women’s
group in the afternoon |
| 6 |
Travel to Peshawar; evening reception with Afghan
women’s groups. |
| 7 |
Visit refugee camp and meet with women’s
group. |
| 8 |
Shopping in Peshawar; travel to Islamabad;
departure. |
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Sites of Interest |
- Lahore: the former Mughal capital is the cultural
and intellectual center of the country, with interesting
archeological sites and museums, graceful mosques
and tombs. Lahore Fort, Badshahi Mosque, Shalimar
Garden, Lahore Museum, Anarkali Bazaar.
- Islamabad: the federal capital is a modern garden
city with wide, tree-lined boulevards and many examples
of contemporary architecture. A large number of Afghan
refugees reside in Islamabad
- Peshawar: located on the Pakistan end of the Khyber
Pass to Afghanistan, a city straight out of the Arabian
Nights, where turbaned tribesmen and women covered
in "burkhas" stroll through colorful bazaars.
- Shopping — of particular note are the local
carpets, scarves, and other textiles.
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Featured Organizations |
The Afghan Women Welfare Department,
serving the needs of the large population of Afghan refugee
women living in Peshawar, seeks to raise the literacy
rate and to provide education and income generation training
opportunities for Afghan women.
Struggle for Change (SACH) in Islamabad was created
to address the concerns of victims of all forms of violence
and torture. SACH has created a women's shelter serving
Pakistani women and refugees from Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan,
and occupied Kashmir who have been victims of abuse.
Shirkat Gah in Lahore, one of the best known and
most outspoken critics of the Pakistani government, is
actively trying to establish laws to abolish so-called
"honor killings" where Muslim men execute sisters or daughters
accused of sexual impropriety. |
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Costs |
$2000.00, plus airfare.
Costs include: Hotels (double occupancy; add $400 for
single occupancy), two reception/dinner events; ground
transportation, sightseeing; and $100 per person donation
to be given to the women's organizations visited.
Costs exclude: airfare to and from Pakistan, meals, incidentals
and visas.
Special Note: The dress code is very conservative in Pakistan.
Jagriti participants must be willing to completely cover
their bodies with loose fitting clothing, i.e. long skirts
or pants and long-sleeved shirts. In Peshawar a scarf
as head covering may also be required. |
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Additional Information |
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Contact us to design an Awakening Journey for your group
of friends or colleagues |
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© 2001-2002 Jagriti International. All rights reserved.
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