Background:

In patriarchal structure of society, where lineage is very important and where men are mostly responsible for earning bread for the family. The serious illness and the deaths of bread earners (usually male) make the family (widow and children) very vulnerable leaving them in state of destitute. In a study entitled “Social Security and Social Networks among the Urban Poor in Pakistan” widows were perceived to be the poorest in the community, particularly those without family support. A sudden loss of livelihood brings tremendous hardship and suffering to the orphan and his/her mother. Due to this financial crisis, the family is forced to withdraw children from schools and make them to work in hazardous places like auto workshops, kilns, factories etc.

One to One (OTO) Orphan Sponsorship is one of Islamic Relief’s (IR) primary initiatives being carried out since Islamic Relief was set up in 1984. In Pakistan this programme was started in 1993 with a modest number of 35 orphans from Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK) and Mansehra. The current number of sponsored orphans stands at around 2266 from AJK and Pakistan. This is achieved through the identification of the neediest families with young children living within the IR programme areas and to provide them financial assistance for their education, health, nutrition and other basic needs. The communities selected for this purpose are those with least socio economic status.