Making the most of your mercy in Tharparkar

Your mercy is bringing life, farming and crop growth to Tharparkar

Years of cyclical drought have decimated rural communities in Tharparkar. Without access to clean water, people are at risk of waterborne diseases, viruses and infections. Since 2019, Human Appeal has been transforming villages in remote areas of Tharparkar. We have been solving the complex challenges brought about by drought through a project that addresses its effect on livelihoods, food supply, crops, livestock, hygiene and security in a sustainable and robust way.

1.6 million people in Tharparkar don’t have access to safe clean water. Crops don’t survive long enough to nourish families, livestock pass away from malnourishment and disease and women routinely trek four to six hours per day just to fetch water. Often forced to bring along small children with them.

These communities are so isolated that no other charity is working where we are; our project lifechanging for the villages we support, as well as their surrounding areas.

Multi-pronged approach

We’ve transformed 70 villages since the start of this project, including 11 in 2024. In every village, our specialist staff assess the soil and water potential as well as local need before we implement a multi-pronged approach. Each intervention complements the others, helping to ensure the best chance of success and sustainability.

If we were to provide these villages with only livestock or training on kitchen gardening, without providing a sustainable water source, the project would not succeed. Likewise, if we provided a solar-powered water well, but didn’t train the community on drought mitigation, or drought-resistant agriculture, the project would not succeed.

By integrating each element of this project together in a holistic method, we’re not just relieving the effect of drought today, but equipping the community to cope and adapt to drought for years to come.

What are the different interventions in each village?

A solar powered water well, access points, supply lines to sub-villages nearby.
A water storage tank with enough water stored for 2,000 people that can refill in just one hour.
An average of 32 solar panels in each village, which can be rotated to the sun’s direction.
12 toilets for men and women in each village.
Drought-resistant kitchen garden seeds, tools and training, with a model kitchen garden established as a guide.
Solar-powered street lighting, supporting safety at night.
Livestock vaccination and deworming, and livestock management training.
A pair of goats for producing milk provided to 20 of the most vulnerable families in each village, helping to produce an income.

Each village we transform benefits an average of 414 people.

How do we ensure sustainability?

Every village that we work in has a dedicated civil engineer on-site, ensuring all construction, earthworks and structures are safe, resilient and built-to-last. Our civil engineers are overseen by a highly skilled lead structural engineer with over 16 years of experience. Our solar-powered water pumps are designed with the landscape in mind, with long hours of sun ensuring that they continue working combined with analyses of the groundwater providing a plentiful supply for years to come.

We coordinate with government departments, such as agricultural and welfare departments to ensure our work contributes in parallel with local programmes. The farmers who we work with receive training on livestock management so that they can take the change we implement and apply it independently in the future.

We establish and train a local committee in each village, giving them the skills to maintain the new facilities. All items are locally-sourced and easily replaceable. Once we’ve completed the project, we monitor and assess the progress of each community so that we can improve our future projects and continue to support the most vulnerable.

When you support this project with your mercy, you’re not simply providing a well or vaccinations; you’re helping an entire community to have the resources, skills, training and tools to lift themselves towards a brighter future - one with plentiful water, sustainable incomes and improved health.

We’re proud to highlight the transformative power of your mercy. It’s a transformation that has provided 17,000 people with access to clean water, street lighting and toilets in 2023 alone.

Meet Shahid. Livelihood expert and caretaker of your mercy

You’ve entrusted us with your donation so that we can make the most of your mercy. Let’s hear from Shahid, Human Appeal Pakistan’s Food Security and Livelihoods Programme Manager on how your mercy allows us to transform one of the most remote, drought – hit regions of Pakistan - Tharparkar.

“I’ve been working with Human Appeal for 15 years, and I have two master’s degrees. I’ve seen how there is so much potential in every community in Pakistan. I work to identify and empower that potential so that people can become self-sustaining and resilient to challenges to their food and livelihoods, such as drought and other climate shocks.

“Studies show that villages that have integrated solutions are impacted far less by drought or famine. The idea of an integrated village is quite unique. It's a multisectoral approach, at first we provide water. But in order for that water to become food to eat, we also provide the community with tools and seeds. In order for that food to be available each year, we provide training on kitchen gardening, as well as a demo kitchen that provides seeds each season.

“We link our beneficiaries with the government departments, which helps to create sustainability and an ongoing connection that can support them in case of diseases or pests. We also work with government specialists who understand the local soil and water, and who have all sorts of projects to minimise the impact of climate change.

“This project is simply sustainable. The solar panels have an average life of 25 years, the demo kitchen garden provides seeds each season, and the community is trained to service their street lights and toilets, and with a small contribution from each family every month, a community budget is available for any maintenance or repairs.

“Before this project, there was no life in those villages after sunset. But now, Alhamdulillah, after sunset, a lot happens: children play and study and women do embroidery to earn a living.”

Our water engineers determine the right location for water pumps and wells; they assess water quality and tell us how much is needed. Civil engineers ensure our construction standards are well met, and the structures we build are lasting and durable and disaster resilient. Solar engineers ensure our systems are sufficient enough to pump water from far off sources and are capable of filling water storage tanks in a minimum possible time to avoid interruptions to the water supply.

Also, food security and agriculture experts ensure the crops we grow and the seeds we provide are drought resistant and consume less water, thereby improving the resilience to drought and extreme temperatures.

From our staff to our vendors, every team member is well trained and sensitive to important safeguarding measures to ensure the protection and wellbeing of the communities we work with.

Meet Malooka. Your mercy lifted her life.

Mother-of-three Malooka used to have to walk three to four hours a day, just to fetch water, causing pain to her head. Since we transformed her village of Chibhriyal, not only is she spared the hours of walking, but she now has time to earn a living to support her children.

“Now, it does not take me any time [to get water], and my body feels better now. I can make tea and food without needing to rest. And we just open the tap and wash our clothes.

“I have expanded my garden only after getting access to water. Before, it was on a very small scale. We received training [on kitchen gardening] and we also received seeds. [I’ve grown] turnips, okra, chilies, spinach, and carrots.

“[Before this project] even getting water to drink was a problem. How could I water the plants?

There was no light, no bulbs. It used to be dark at night. We feared getting bitten by snakes when we used to go out to answer nature’s call.”

By installing solar-powered lights, not only is Malooka protected from the dangers of darkness, but her day is extended, enabling her to tend her garden, cook, or work in the evenings.

Our admin fee enables us to make the most of your mercy

Delivering life-changing projects, overseen by experts who ensure safety, in some of the most dangerous and inaccessible places on earth is not an easy task. We are hands-on custodians of your charity, ensuring it reaches the right people with the maximum effect. To do this we use a transparent admin fee of 4 pence in each £1 that supports the staff and the logistics of ensuring that your mercy is delivered as you intended it, wherever that might be in the world. 83p goes straight to our projects in 30 countries, transforming and empowering the most vulnerable communities. Finally, we further invest 13p in the £1 to continue raising funds for the charity. Between 2019 and 2023, we grew our income by a huge 190% by raising funds through that small 13 pence.

A maximum of 12.5% of your Zakat goes to support our admin costs, which covers our monitoring of projects, protection of those we work with and the raising of more funds; helping to keep our projects safe, sustainable and of the greatest impact.

Charity is a gift, offering endless mercy to those who give, as well as mercy to the vulnerable people who receive it. Our admin fee helps us to get your donation to where you intended it. That’s why we like to think of it as the stamp on the envelope of your mercy.

Making the most of your mercy in Tharparkar