Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR)
Climate change, urban pressure and lack of disaster preparedness, are increasingly transforming natural hazards, such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions or tsunamis into disastrous events causing life and economic losses. The risk of disasters caused by natural hazards is rising.
USWS is acting across the board, in advocating for risk awareness, prevention, and preparedness and build back better, in fostering learning and in building capacity. Operating at the interface between the natural and education, culture and communication, USWS seeks to strengthen the resilience of societies - through capacity building, knowledge sharing and networking, early warning and policy advice, working with governments, civil society, research institutions, other UN agencies and international organizations, and all key actors.
USWS Contribution to Disaster Risk Reduction
• Early Warning Systems
• The built environment
• Education and school safety
• Disaster Risk Reduction for culture & sites
• Environment & ecosystem based Disaster Risk Reduction
• Post disaster response
• Risk governance and social resilience
Humanitarian Assistance Programme
USWS Humanitarian Assistance Programme is focused on urgent needs, usually as a result of large-scale emergencies, most often armed conflict and natural disasters. These humanitarian emergencies are characterized by unstable environments and problems of security and safety. Often, there are demands for rapid responses to basic human needs — protection, food, water, shelter, health care, social services, and basic education for children.
USWS responds quickly and directly, always in a collaborative manner. This usually means organizing and assisting the affected populations to address the most urgent basic needs as well as prevent conflict and suffering. Psychosocial interventions commonly include mobilizing and training community-based care-providers for traumatized and vulnerable individuals. Over time, the transition from relief to rehabilitation and recovery becomes both possible and the priority. The USWS approach in all such relief and recovery situations is participatory in nature and empowerment-oriented.
Prevention and mitigation as well as advocacy are other elements of the Humanitarian Assistance Programme. USWS actively participates in emergency management preparation, disaster risk reduction efforts, and training exercises at the national and international levels.
Social Development Programme
The Social Development Programme is focused on capacity-building and quite often related to the transition from relief and recovery to reconstruction and development. The environment is generally peaceful and stable, thus allowing for medium to long-term planning and programming.
USWS interventions usually include, at the minimum, literacy training, basic education at the community level, and the training of service providers. All of these efforts include the promotion of psychosocial well-being.
USWS is often involved in enhancing the capacities of other organizations and facilitating the formation and development of networks. In addition, USWS provides field placements for interns and fellows from the local and national academic community.
Child and Family Welfare Programme
The child and family welfare program me was established at USWS to draw special attention to the plight of children, particularly those in exceptionally difficult circumstances and in need of special protection. It is child rights-oriented and focused on the psychosocial needs of children who are: sexually abused and exploited, in situations of armed conflict, combatants, homeless, and/or separated from their parents owing to the socio-political situation in their homeland.
Recognizing the important role of family in protecting and nurturing children, the programme promotes family-based interventions. Community effort is also considered important to child growth and development. USWS interventions often include training community-based, care-providers and professional service providers. Basic education is actively promoted. Advocacy is an important element of the child and family welfare programme.
End Child Marriage
United Social Welfare Society (USWS) is deeply committed to promoting social development and empowering communities to build a better future for all. Among our primary focus areas is the eradication of child marriage, a harmful practice that deprives children of their childhood and future prospects. Child marriage remains a pressing issue globally, with significant social, economic, and health consequences for those affected. Aligned with our dedication to human rights and gender equality, USWS has implemented various initiatives to address this critical issue and foster lasting change:
Health Promotion Programme
USWS Health Promotion Programme focuses primarily on occupational health &Wash, and reproductive health. The emphasis is on capacity building within the service provider communities, particularly illness prevention and health promotion. This includes a strong emphasis on stress management consultation, training, and advocacy services.
Direct services in the form of crisis intervention, counseling, and psychosocial care are also provided in some settings. HIV-AIDS is an area of USWS concern and experience. Primary health care and health education are often key components of other programmers’ at USWS.
TRANSFORMING LIVES: EMPOWERING TRANSGENDER COMMUNITIES
United Social Welfare Society (USWS) is dedicated to promoting social inclusion and advancing the rights of marginalized communities. Recognizing the unique challenges faced by transgender individuals, USWS is committed to empowering transgender communities and fostering an environment of equality and acceptance.
Transgender individuals often face discrimination, stigma, and exclusion from mainstream society, limiting their access to education, employment, healthcare, and other essential services. Through our initiatives, USWS strives to address these disparities and create opportunities for transgender individuals to lead fulfilling and dignified lives.
Women's Economic Empowerment
The economic empowerment of women in Pakistan is challenged by various factors such as limited mobility, restricted access to skills, informal business practices, and lack of access to markets, technology, and finance.
At the community level, USWS works to empower women, with specific attention to the most excluded and marginalized, residing in rural, underdeveloped, and hard-to-reach areas, particularly microenterprises, home-based workers, and low-skilled women, to increase their employability and livelihood through need-based, market-oriented technical training opportunities The capacity-building programs focus on marketable skills, entrepreneurship, financial literacy, digital enablement, and business development.
Youth Program
Focused on empowering leaders, USWS provides resources, programs and young-focused events that encourage leadership in youth. With participants from all around the Pakistan, Youth Leadership offers opportunities for younger generations to make a difference in their communities through the power of contribution.
WASH: Water, sanitation and hygiene Services
Pakistan’s vulnerability to disasters including earthquakes, floods, droughts, and internal displacement due to conflict, often leaves hundreds of thousands of affected people in need of emergency water and sanitation support. Sustainable access to water, sanitation and hygiene in health centers and schools also remains a challenge especially for girls and children’s who lack adequate facilities to manage their menstruation. The effects of climate change and rapid urbanization also contribute to challenge of improving access to safe water and sanitation.
