Starlings, Gusto of Wind Studio
Causes we support
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Mahwari Justice- Sustainability Drive
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Tinku and Co
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Impact Lebanon
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Black Lives Matter
Mahwari Justice Instagram @mahwarijustice22
Mahwari Justice- Sustainability Drive
In the wake of one of the worst climate disasters affecting Pakistan (in 2022), two university students banded together to provide women in the areas impacted some much-needed period relief. Anum Kahlid and Bushra Mahnoor set up the Mahwari Justice Campaign to send sanitation kits to women and girls across Pakistan. Our contributor Kainat Hussain, aims to make this campaign more sustainable through supporting the sourcing of and production of biodegradable pads.
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Why we need to make this campaign sustainable:
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though reusable pads are ideal, cleaning reusable pads is an issue as there is no/limited clean water available; the floods have wiped away basic infrastructure and water supply is an issue
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there is no/limited waste management in the areas that have been flooded, it is in these situations where sustainable solutions are critical so that waste does not pile up and cause further sanitation issues
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Mahwari Justice the original campaign: is focused on providing sanitary kits and educating women and young girls affected by the floods in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and Sindh. Women's struggles are amplified in such crises. July 2023 Update: Mahwari Justice is still active and has now pivoted to enabling women to sew sustainable period underwear using cotton pads, which are then provided to those affected most. They are also working hard to improve period education to the rural areas affected and are creating educational storybooks and music.
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Updated: July 2023
Tinku and Co Instagram
Tinku and Co.
We heard of Tinku and Co. on the British Council Pakistan Instagram page whilst listening to Maham Zehra talk about her efforts to support low-income artisans who are students of Ali Model English School.
The school was founded by Maham’s father to educate children from the Awami Colony in Karachi. Children attending the school mostly belong to families who migrated from villages in the northern regions of Pakistan. Due to Covid-19 the school had to close and many of the families returned to their villages due to financial restraints. Students had no access to remote learning due to lack of basic infrastructure such as regular electricity. Maham wanted to keep them engaged creatively and so set up a Tinku and Co. This project has not only helped students stay busy but also allowed some of the older students and their mothers who have needlework skills to become financially independent.
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Maham stated that the project operates in a deficit and was funded by herself and any sales they make. Maham provides the materials herself and her students send back the finished products and samples for new creations.
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Unfortunately we can’t buy the beautiful, whimsical creations in the U.K. as this would require international shipping and an ecommerce license which is not something Maham can manage at the moment due to low funds and the project being only a few months old. But we can raise awareness and support the children who attend the school which is at the heart of all this work, Ali Model English School.
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If you would like to donate please contact the school directly through the website.
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You can get the latest updates on the Tinku and Co project through their Instagram account.
Impact Lebanon Website
Impact Lebanon
On the 4th of August, 2 powerful explosions took place in Beirut, Lebanon. The explosions claimed countless lives, injured 1000s, drove people to homelessness and caused billions of dollars of property damage. The effects of the explosion have gone beyond this initial damage and has affected people in ways we couldn’t begin to imagine. The cause of the explosion was unknown for the first few days and then the news broke that hazardous ammonium nitrate had been unsafely stored and had detonated on that day.
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The London-based organisation was created by folks of the Lebanese diaspora, offering support to their homeland as well as to those living outside of Lebanon. During Covid, the org has been offering consistent support, food packages and other essentials to those who needed it most in Lebanon. Following on from the explosion they are partnering with NGOs on the ground in Beirut, who have been properly vetted and all funds are split between the different orgs depending on their needs and what they’re offering to citizens in Lebanon. They are also fully transparent and keep donors up to date on where the funds are being directed.
The news cycle may have moved on, but those who have been affected by the explosion in Beirut are still grappling with the implications. So how can we help the citizens of Beirut?
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If you happen to be in Lebanon, there is an urgent need for blood donations.
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If you are not in Lebanon the best way to continue to help is to donate money to organisations working on the ground (like Impact Lebanon and the Lebanese Red Cross) and by staying aware/informed and sharing things we discover.
There are so many tragic things that happen in our world everyday and it’s impossible to think we can help everyone, but do not dismiss the impact of small actions.
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Image source unknown
Black Lives Matter
#BlackLivesMatter was founded in 2013 in response to the acquittal of Trayvon Martin’s murderer. Black Lives Matter Foundation, Inc is a global organization in the US, UK, and Canada, whose mission is to eradicate white supremacy and build local power to intervene in violence inflicted on Black communities by the state and vigilantes. By combating and countering acts of violence, creating space for Black imagination and innovation, and centring Black joy, we are winning immediate improvements in our lives.
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We are supporting:
The Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust was founded on the premise that inequality must be tackled in all its forms. This includes inequality of access, and of opportunity, wherever it occurs.
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The 4Front Project is a member-led youth organisation empowering young people and communities to fight for justice, peace and freedom.
Southall Black Sisters, a not-for-profit, secular and inclusive organisation, was established in 1979 to meet the needs of Black (Asian and African-Caribbean) women. Our aims are to highlight and challenge all forms gender-related violence against women, empower them to gain more control over their lives. ​
Petitions you can sign