Aims


The Kashmir Community Fund, formerly known as the Kashmir Earthquake Community Fund, has two main aims, to help provide community-wide projects, such as education and training and skills development and to help local people become self-sufficient by encouraging entrepreneurship rather than aid dependency. In discussions, the people themselves have asked for help, leadership and direction but stressed that they don’t want to rely on charity. Both of these aims will support and complement the work of the AHS Foundation, currently constructing a Health Centre in Noon Bagla, and the AAPKI Foundation (Sweden) that is working to improve educational accommodation and standards as well as supporting orphans.

 
Through its work KCF will also aim to forge closer relations between communities separated by race, religion and culture. It will be administered independently but will work with other agencies to maximise investment, ensure value for money and to engender a structured and co-ordinated approach to regeneration.

Priorities and Objectives

A survey has been carried out in Noon Bagla to identify priorities. Based on this the Fund’s key objectives will be:-

i) to aid social development, including education and training;
 

i) to improve health provision.


 iii) to help develop the local economy, including business start-ups;

Operation and Administration

The Fund is being supported financially by a small group of people in the UK to April 2012. For this period a UK Director, Geoff Needham, and a Kashmir-based Co-ordinator, Waheed Gilani, have been appointed. The Director will have responsibility for management and implementation of the Fund in the early years of operation. From April 2012 it is hoped the Fund can be supported, operated and administered solely by the people of Kashmir.

A KCF Council made of up of representatives from Noon Bagla and surrounding villages is currently being established to develop and implement the Community Fund locally. Details to follow.

Up to April 2012 progress will be monitored continuously by the Fund Co-ordinator in Kashmir and a comprehensive Review will be carried out by the Director at the end of each year. A monthly progress report will be prepared by the Fund Co-ordinator and sent to the Director who will advise UK investors on the Fund's progress and impact.

There are hundreds if not thousands of villages in need of help unfortunately the Fund can only help Noon Bagla and its immediate area, possibly thirty smaller villages. If the limited resources available are spread too thinly they won’t have the desired impact although the Fund could be rolled out to other areas in the future.