Notes from the Field

Little Man

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 16:34:43 GMT

by Rick Perera, Media & Communications Officer

Just 12 years old, he carries the weight of the world on his narrow shoulders. The eldest of five children of a widowed mother, Sajjad Ahmad feels responsible for his family. It’s not easy being the man of the house at such a young age.

A crime against hope

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 16:06:01 GMT

Blog by Rick Perera, Media Officer, CARE International in Pakistan:

ISLAMABAD – It’s become depressingly familiar: a tragic attack on civilians. Tuesday’s hotel bombing in Peshawar is just the latest in a string of events marring this beautiful country.

Can't we do more?

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 15:36:37 GMT

Blog by Rick Perera, Media Officer, CARE International in Pakistan:

ISLAMABAD -- It’s frustrating to sit in an air-conditioned office while 150 kilometers away people are crowded dozens to a room in the simple homes of generous but poor compatriots. To sleep in a comfortable bed while families lie under open skies for lack of shelter, their children kept awake all night by mosquito bites. I know CARE and other humanitarian agencies are doing everything in our power to get help to Pakistan’s millions of internally displaced persons (IDPs), but it still seems like too little, too slow.

The spirit of the Pakistani people

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 14:48:15 GMT

Blog by Thomas Schwarz of CARE Germany-Luxemburg, May 28, 2009:

It is about noon up here in the northwestern province, or maybe a little later. In one of the camps for displaced people we meet a teacher, who is now volunteering to help his fellow countrymen. He tells us his story: "When all of the refugees arrived, I did not hesitate. I contacted the government to register as a volunteer. 'What can I do,' I asked them. 'How can I help?'"

Thousands of people and a baby

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 17:26:23 GMT

Blog by Thomas Schwarz of CARE Germany-Luxemburg
May 27, 2009

While travelling to places like Pakistan, I naturally meet many different people. All of them have their own story and background, their traditions, cultures and personal experiences. Talking to the displaced people in Pakistan, I realized right away how different their path of life is compared to my own. Living in Buner, Kohistan, Dir and the village of Swat bears no resemblance at all to lifestyles in so many western countries. The gap could not be much bigger.

Cars, trains and refugees

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 17:26:03 GMT

Blog by Thomas Schwarz of CARE Germany-Luxemburg
May 26, 2009

Today I visited a place close to Mardan, where tens of thousands took refuge from the ongoing fighting in Dir, Buner and the village of Swat. Their overall situation is horrible.

There is a good plan

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 17:24:52 GMT

Blog by Thomas Schwarz of CARE Germany-Luxemburg
May 23, 2009

Yesterday I was invited to attend a meeting of the United Nations. A dozen people – diplomats, government officials and organizations like CARE – met at the national library of Pakistan, located directly next to the prime minister’s house. The only topic of the meeting was: How can we help the refugees in the best, most efficient and safest manner?

Today, Pakistan is a different place

Fri, 29 May 2009 11:19:30 GMT

Blog by Thomas Schwarz of CARE Germany-Luxemburg, May 22, 2009

It’s been two and a half years since I last visited Pakistan. At that time, I was in the valley of Allai, in the north western part of the country. In October 2005, a massive earthquake struck the province. I visited the region twice: right after the disaster and a year later. CARE was able to help, in great part due to donations. Together, with the affected population, we built new schools – ones that many girls attend for the first time. This continues to be a big step, because girls’ education is not a given in this part of the world. In cooperation with Pakistani engineers, CARE offered trainings for housing construction so that buildings would be more stable and, hopefully, not collapse when another earthquake hits the region. With CARE’s support, Pakistani experts also built ditches in order to support agricultural activities.

Make a Powerful Noise on International Women's Day

Wed, 04 Mar 2009 19:48:52 GMT

On March 5, I’ll be attending APN Live, a one-night event being held at hundreds of theaters across the U.S. in celebration of international women’s day. I’ll be at the Regal Cinemas Hollywood 24 event and hope you will join me.

We’ll be watching the film “A Powerful Noise” and participating in a live town hall discussion with panelists Madeleine Albright, Natalie Portman, Nicholas Kristof, Christy Turlington Burns and Helene Gayle. Can you imagine – being able to discuss women’s empowerment and fighting poverty with the likes of them?

Madagascar, the Island of "Mora Mora", Faces More

Tue, 17 Feb 2009 16:43:07 GMT

And it’s not over yet. A ravishing island nation of intense contrasts – immense poverty embedded in luscious landscapes, people who are gentle and smiling, in spite of the deadly cyclones they face year after year – Madagascar is now embroiled in a new disaster, but this time it's man made. And largely due to poverty.

In late January, Andry Rajoelina, the former mayor of the country's capitol called for the removal of President Marc Ravalomanana, proclaiming himself as the country’s new leader. Tapping into a nation where more than three quarters of its inhabitants live on less than two dollars a day, opposition rallies have shook the country, and you don’t have to be standing in the "red zones" to feel it.

Given the speed of these developments, I anxiously look forward to Skype updates by my friends at CARE Madagascar. This morning, Laureat Mandresilahatra, CARE's bureau chief in Manantenina, shared the following: