The 2005 earthquake devastated communities across Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK). Infrastructure collapsed. Schools were destroyed. Children stopped learning. And communities – traumatized and displaced – needed more than just buildings rebuilt. They needed their institutions restored.
The Assignment:
The Department of Education, AJK, with funding from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), launched the Earthquake Emergency Assistance Program – Soft Component. SEC was engaged to support 328 schools across Muzaffarabad, Neelum, Bagh, and Rawalakot.
What SEC Delivered:
| Component | SEC’s Work |
|---|---|
| Assessment | Existing status report of 328 schools and SMCs; validation of schools according to ADB criteria |
| Mobilization | Formation of 165 new SMCs; revitalization of 163 existing SMCs |
| Capacity Building | Training for SMCs on governance, roles, and responsibilities |
| Disaster Preparedness | Detailed disaster risk management training in all ADB-selected schools |
| Reconstruction Orientation | Orientation of 328 SMCs (approx 3,000 beneficiaries) on reconstruction |
| Materials Development | Orientation manuals for reconstruction; SMC training manuals for capacity building |
| Governance | Organized elections in 165 SMCs to elect representative leadership |
| Follow-up | Midterm assessment, monitoring, and ongoing support |
The Human Impact:
Beyond the numbers – 328 schools, 3,000 beneficiaries, 165 newly elected SMC representatives – the real story is one of recovery and resilience. Schools reopened. Communities organized. Parents and teachers worked together. And children returned to classrooms with not just books and desks, but with disaster preparedness knowledge that could save lives in future emergencies.
A Lasting Legacy:
The training manuals SEC developed for SMC capacity building and reconstruction continue to be used as resources. The disaster risk management orientation remains relevant in an earthquake-prone region. And the relationships built between communities and their schools have endured long after the project’s official end date in 2010.
SEC’s Commitment:
For SEC, this project exemplifies our ongoing commitment to social development in Pakistan – not as a one-time intervention, but as an enduring endeavor. Whether responding to earthquakes in AJK, supporting education in Balochistan, or mobilizing communities in Sindh, we bring the same principles: partnership, participation, and persistence.
