How you can help Rural Development projects
The Starfish Asia Fund
32 Beck Lane
Beckenham
Kent BR3 4RE
UK
Telephone
+44 (0)20 8402 1914
Email
mike@starfishasia.com
Rural Development
Many Christians live in villages and the Starfish Asia fund is helping several local people whose concern is for the future of these deprived communities. |
Pakistan is a land of villages. Though millions have
moved into the sprawling cities -- and it is the urban
poor that consitute the greatest tragedy -- more than
65% of Pakistanis live in a village and agriculture is their
way of life. Rural Pakistan has a charm of its own,
though life is tough and comforts are few in the villages.Samuel Memorial Foundation Education Centre Sambhal, Chak 113, near Khanewal
With help from generous supporters, Sohail built a High School school in the heart of his village. It has a clearly Christian ethos and curriculum but serves all communities. There are currently 170 students, served by nine full-time staff.
Sohail writes: 'We provide free education. All children come from very poor families and are being cared for to demonstrate our Christian character and to promote fraternity on Christian values.'
The Starfish Asia Fund supplements support given by another foundation, providing scholarships for 100 children and some help towards the running a clinic. We are considering how we can help other aspects of this fine work.
And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching.. and preaching... and healing...
Matthew 9:35
|
Donkey carts for the poor
He launched a project initially to help fifteen poor families with provision of a donkey and cart (or in some cases horse and tanga -- a rural taxi) on reasonable terms. The Starfish Asia fund agreed to help with the project, as funds become available.
Three families have so far been helped with a horse and tanga or donkey and cart.
"I was a cycle repairer before getting the donkey cart... I lived mostly with empty hands in rainy days. I am thankful to God that after a long time God has provided me opportunity to raise income for me and my family." So said Nasir Binyamin from Village Qila Kalar Wala in Punjab.
Samuel Memorial Foundation
Goats and fruit trees
Sohail Samuel has a dream to provide more help for village 113. A project to give cows to widows has been funded by another Charity, and Sohail hasalso launched a Goat and Tree project for the poor in his village. The project will provide goats to 300 families to provide income to enable them to send their children to school. In similar manner he will provide fruit trees and advice on growing and harvesting fruit. The Starfish Asia fund has helped with this project.
|
|
|
Sohail Samuel comes
from village 113 near
Khanewal in central
Punjab. After serving
10 years in a Christian
College in Lahore, he
returned to his village,
passionate to provide
education and hope to
his backward rural community. 
Aziz Khursheed worked
for many years in a Bank
before becoming pastor
of a young church in
Lahore. However, his
roots are in a village
north of Lahore and he
has a passion to help
village Christians, having first-hand experience of
the hardships faced by many in the villages,
especially Christians who usually come from the
poorest levels of society.
