1- What is Ahsaas Trust?
Ahsaas was made in 1995 by a group of IBA students and today is run by IBA Alumni as well as other individuals from the corporate sector. We have alhamdulillah run our operations non-stop since 26 years. Our FB page has albums that show case some of earlier work.
Today, we support nearly 500 women-only families with monthly Rashan delivered to their door step.
2- Why women-only families?
We have seen the social dynamic of Karachi change. Due to extreme poverty and lack of opportunities, women whose husbands have died or divorced them or abandoned them are in an extremely vulnerable position. Their families can not afford nor have the space to let the woman and her children live with them. The women we serve, live on the fringes of Karachi and hence job opportunities are limited. 80% of them have young children who can not be left alone.
Hence, the single women families on our panel are those with zero safety net & (near) zero income.
3- How is providing Rashan really helping?
Unless her children are assured of food, a mother will never have the mind-space to think of anything beyond provision of food. When she is assured of some subsistence, she is able to explore opportunities like education or earning from home. So Ahsaas Trust is like a First Responder helping women get back on their feet after their personal traumas.
4- Why only Rashan? Why not give jobs to women or teach them something?
In our 26 years of experience we have learnt that different people have different circumstances, outlooks and problems. Provision of Rashan is actually an ENABLER. It helps the woman deal with her own unique problems herself. Of course we are always on the look out to help women in any endeavour that they need help with.
5-How do you help other than Rashan?
We sponsor the education of the children of single-women families but only if they are in TCF schools. We not only provide fees but also transportation charges. If a woman shows interest in some endeavour we encourage it
A widowed lady on our Rashan panel asked for help to buy a fridge. When we inquired further, she told us she wants to sell cold water bottles in her neighbourhood. With our small intervention she now sells cold water bottles in her area and makes a profit of Rs10-15 per bottle ensuring she makes Rs150 extra each day apart from the buttons she makes at home.
6-How can you help?
By simply sponsoring a family’s Rashan for just Rs.7,000/family/month. You may sponsor as many families as you like. We accept Zakat, Sadqa as well as regular donation. All the families we help are deserving of zakat. We also help families of other faiths through our regular donation account.