Day 4- Pakistan Visit: Saidpur Village

9 April 2014. Day 4 did not quite start right. We were supposed to go to another slum community at 9AM.  Earlier, however, there was a bomb blast in one of the markets close to that community. The Security Officer called up and asked us to wait at the office for another hour, and then he will give us another advice.

We decided to just continue with our system and document review.  After an hour or so, we were given the clearance to go.

On the way to the community...beautiful park turned into clothes drying area :)

We went to another Christian community and had the meetings in another small church. It felt good to be able to talk to some project beneficiaries- it does validate the work that we do. We talked with some youth volunteer health educators  and I was amazed to find out how much they are learning and how their involvement are helping them develop themselves.

Meeting with children and community

 After the meeting, we headed to Saidpur Village for lunch. On the way, I cannot help but notice the lovely roses lining the major streets. Wish we have this too in Manila- but then that might not be possible due to the terrible air pollution.

Aren't they lovely

 Situated at the foot of a hill, Saidpur Village is a heritage place.  It is an old village and the government are taking pains to maintain it and they are not anymore allowed to build more houses there.  The hill, flowers, blue skies and good weather all together made it the lovely place that it is.  

We enjoyed  a good Pakistani lunch and then headed back to the Program Unit office for a quick presentation of our findings and recommendations.