27 September 2006

Mansehra, Pakistan: Welcome to Camp Kodarbala, district Mansehra, Pakistan. An area deprived of life’s basic necessities. You will not find any health facility, electricity, transportation or mode of communication here. What you will find is a group of dedicated, enthusiastic students working for the National Volunteer Movement (NVM), led by a UNV volunteer. The volunteers are helping reconstruct the damage done by earthquake last year.

The 8 October 2005 earthquake was not only devastating for the people, but also for the environment. Some 50 volunteers, led by UNV volunteer Hafeez Lashari who is the Field Coordinator, took up the task of planting trees and rebuilding schools and mosques in Kodar Balla. They have re-planted around 8,800 saplings in Kodar Balla (7000) and Richbanr (1800), an area in the Neeli Shang Valley, near Battagram.

Keeping sensibilities of the local community in mind, men volunteers were sent out in the field for the plantation drive and other activities. Three women volunteers conducted a door-to-door survey in surrounding villages to discuss issues affecting their communities.
 
One of the villagers’ major concerns was the rebuilding of schools. So a makeshift school was opened in the camp and started with three students. The school now caters to 27 children - 19 boys and 8 girls – and is run by the volunteers.

The children are encouraged to participate in sports activities after their study sessions. Each evening, the volleyball net is set up and teams assembled. The children gather around with other community members and a match gets underway. This is the ideal opportunity for the volunteers and community to come together.

This is just the beginning for the Kodarbala Camp. UNV volunteer Hafeez Lashari and NVM volunteers plan to negotiate and coordinate with civil society groups and other UN agencies for future projects. There is also a plan to provide much needed medical services to nearby villages. As more and more volunteers keep arriving in this area, life can only get better in the camp.