Muzaffarabad, AJK, September 7, 2024 – Taaleem Foundation (TF) celebrated the successful completion of the first phase of its groundbreaking project, “Youth Empowerment and Energy Conservation for Supporting STEM, NRM, and Rural Development,” at a local hotel in Muzaffarabad, Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK). The project aims to integrate education, natural resource management, and community development in remote areas, establishing schools as hubs for community engagement and sustainable development.
The ceremony was attended by esteemed guests including Mr. Syed Saleem Gardezi, Special Secretary Elementary & Secondary Education (E&SE) GOAJK; Mr. Raja Nawaz, Secretary GOAJK; Mr. Yousaf Qureshi, Director (Retired) Wildlife and Fisheries Department GOAJK; Mr. Asim Mushtaq, CEO Taaleem Foundation; Miss Shagufta Noreen, COO Taaleem Foundation; Syeda Durray Shahwar Naqvi, DEO (E&SE) GOAJK; and school principals, head teachers, community members, trainers, and students from the project area. Mr. Ashiq Ahmed Khan, Advisor on NRM and Dr. Zafar Qadir, Chairman of Taaleem Foundation, joined the ceremony virtually.
During his address, Mr. Asim Mushtaq briefed the audience about the various initiatives undertaken by Taaleem Foundation in Pakistan and AJK, highlighting the transformative potential of community-driven projects. The initiative has already made schools in the region serve as dynamic community hubs, where local youth, school management, and community members collaborate on biodiversity conservation, capacity building, and economic development.
Speakers at the event praised Taaleem Foundation’s efforts in driving social change in remote areas and emphasized the importance of continuing these valuable interventions. Mr. Syed Saleem Gardezi, the Chief Guest, lauded the innovative approach of engaging educational institutions as vehicles for community transformation and urged development sector organizations to assist in replicating these initiatives in other schools under the E&SE GOAJK.
In his virtual address, Dr. Zafar Qadir, Chairman of Taaleem Foundation, discussed the project’s scope, challenges, and the need for sustained community engagement for long-term success. He reiterated the need for national and international donor support to ensure the sustainability and scaling-up of the initiative, which has so far been largely funded by Taaleem Foundation, contributing over 60% of the required financial resources.
Mr. Ashiq Ahmed Khan, Advisor on NRM, emphasized the importance of long-term programs in protected areas, pointing out that short-term projects can only have limited impacts. He called for sustained efforts to protect these vital natural resources and ensure long-lasting benefits for the community.
Taaleem Foundation remains committed to fostering sustainable development and education in AJK and beyond, with a vision of empowering communities and building capacity for future generations.
