On Sunday, 8 March 2026, Shehersaaz hosted a heartfelt Iftar gathering at SOS Children’s Home, an integral part of SOS Children’s Villages, formally inaugurating the year-long project “Naya Safar: A Journey of Hope, Growth and Resilience.” The event brought together 45 children residing at the SOS Children’s Home along with their five foster mothers, creating an evening defined by warmth, compassion, and collective hope.

Held in the spirit of Ramadan, the gathering served both as a moment of community connection and as an introduction to the vision and objectives of the initiative. Children, foster mothers, staff, partners and members of the Shehersaaz team shared Iftar together, fostering a deeply meaningful and uplifting atmosphere that reflected a shared commitment to the well-being and holistic development of the children.

The event was graced by the presence of Ms. Almas Shakoor, Executive Director of Shehersaaz, and Mr. Abdul Shakoor, Chairperson of Shehersaaz, alongside key team members and partners. Their presence underscored the organization’s strong dedication to ensuring the success of the initiative.

The gathering was also attended by valued partners and supporters from Sunbeams, Adventurers, and S&P Global, the project’s principal sponsor. The Project Director from SOS Children’s Home also participated in the collective meeting held alongside the event.

During the meeting, members of the management and project partners engaged in constructive dialogue regarding the challenges faced by the children and their caregivers while outlining the strategic direction and next steps for the project’s implementation. Ms. Anahita Sajjad, Manager Communications & Networking at Shehersaaz and Project Lead for Naya Safar, presented the vision of the initiative, emphasizing the importance of creating safe, nurturing, and empowering environments where children can grow, heal, and thrive.
 

 
The initiative is closely aligned with PROGRESSIVE, Shehersaaz’s program dedicated to creating safe, resilient, inclusive, and sustainable education places for all. Through this alignment, Naya Safar aims to strengthen both the emotional well-being and the physical learning environments of children. The project will support foster mothers, build resilience among children, and promote greener and safer living and learning spaces within the SOS community.

Beginning in March 2026, Shehersaaz will actively initiate program activities as part of this year-long effort. Implemented in collaboration with partners, the project will focus on resilience building, emotional well-being, and strengthening caregiving environments. It will also contribute to transforming children’s homes into greener, more sustainable, and climate-resilient spaces.

The evening concluded with gratitude and optimism. Shehersaaz extends sincere thanks to all partners, guests, and team members who joined the inaugural gathering and contributed to making the event memorable. With the generous support of S&P Global and the continued commitment of all partners involved, Naya Safar promises to bring strength, resilience, and opportunity into the lives of the children and their foster mothers—paving the way for a brighter and more hopeful future.

In a significant step toward safer and more resilient communities, Shehersaaz formally signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Rescue 1122 Rawalpindi on 4th March.



This agreement marks the continuation of a fruitful collaboration that has been ongoing since early 2023 and underscores Shehersaaz’s commitment to building communities and educational institutions that are prepared, informed, and capable of responding to emergencies.



Over the past years, Shehersaaz has facilitated numerous initiatives in partnership with Rescue 1122, ranging from first aid training in public schools to the development of emergency response kits and the provision of technical guidance for community safety measures. The MoU now formalizes these efforts and paves the way for an expanded, structured collaboration aimed at strengthening the city’s resilience to natural and human-made disasters, while promoting inclusive and safe spaces for all.



Under the renewed partnership, Rescue 1122 will continue to lead first aid and community emergency response trainings, targeting schools and vulnerable Union Councils of Rawalpindi. Shehersaaz will play a critical role in identifying participants, providing logistical support, and developing resources such as a certified Community Safety Manual for use by trained responders and educational institutions. Additionally, both institutions will work jointly on initiatives including plantation campaigns, environmental regeneration, wall murals, and the placement of emergency response equipment to enhance safety infrastructure in communities.

The MoU also emphasizes inclusivity, with dedicated programs for transgender individuals and strategies addressing vulnerable points along River Lai, ensuring that interventions reach those who need them most. Importantly, this partnership is founded on mutual cooperation, technical guidance, and shared responsibility, reflecting Shehersaaz’s ethos of building resilient cities through collaboration and community engagement.

By formalizing this agreement, Shehersaaz continues to demonstrate its leadership in urban safety, disaster preparedness, and climate resilience, bringing institutions and communities together for a shared vision. Together with Rescue 1122, Shehersaaz is taking a meaningful step toward empowered communities that can respond, adapt, and thrive, reinforcing the organization’s mission to create safe, inclusive, and sustainable urban spaces in Pakistan.

Shehersaaz took a leading role at ICRE 2025 as the primary strategic partner and training lead, shaping conversations on climate resilience and inclusive urban development. Technical sessions led by Mr. Abdul Shakoor Sindhu addressed Pakistan’s climate vulnerabilities and low-cost adaptation solutions, while Ms. Almas Shakoor championed inclusive urban design at the “People-Centered Streets” panel, promoting safe and walkable public spaces for all.

Mr. Shakoor delivered an engaging session on the critical role of society and the state in building climate resilience, emphasizing collective responsibility, inclusive governance, and community-driven action. His session highlighted practical insights and policy-linked guidance, showing how empowered citizens and responsive institutions form the foundation of sustainable, future-ready communities.

The training program concluded with a meaningful closing ceremony led by Ms. Almas Shakoor, who appreciated participants’ efforts and distributed shields and hampers to teachers and students. Shehersaaz proudly celebrated the dedication of partners, educators, and young learners shaping a more informed, resilient, and climate-ready generation.

Shehersaaz, accomplished yet another milestone by successfully concluding its PROGRESSIVE program, for which a ceremony was held in Rawalpindi. This included a formal handing over of Rainwater Harvesting Units to 18 government schools-a new benchmark toward climate-resilient and eco-sensitive learning spaces.

This occasion brought together officials from the education department, school principals, project teams, and community partners, and other stakeholders to celebrate this milestone. The CEO, District Education Authority Rawalpindi, Tariq Mehmood appreciated Shehersaaz for being a strong advocate of sustainable education through strengthening school-level resilience via practical community-centered solutions.

Project Manager Dr. Beenish gave an insightful overview of the PROGRESSIVE initiative within the project PUCCAR. She explained how each Rainwater Harvesting Unit was designed, installed, and integrated within school routines for better water security and increased environmental awareness among students and teachers alike.

A dynamic question-and-answer session with on-site engineer Abdullah further highlighted technical processes, key challenges, and the collaboration that shaped the success of the program.

The Disaster Risk Reduction component in the PROGRESSIVE program is very robust, preparing the students for real-life challenges. Specifically targeted trainings in first aid, solid waste management, and care for the environment have equipped the students with the skills to segregate wastes, produce compost, and establish kitchen gardens in their respective schools. All these activities give hands-on practice to the students while building a culture of responsibility, preparedness, and climate consciousness.

The signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation with principals of the 18 participating schools was the defining moment of the ceremony. This is where each school formalizes its commitment to maintain the systems provided and takes full ownership of all components contributing to its transformation into a PROGRESSIVE SCHOOL.

The program, which is implemented in partnership with UN Habitat and the Adaptation Fund, comprises far more than just water-related solutions-it involves urban farming and energy-efficient measures, too, thereby transforming schools into active hubs of both resilience and sustainability.

It was followed by the 29th anniversary celebration of Shehersaaz, which marked almost three decades of leading sustainable urban development and community-based climate action. PROGRESSIVE reflects the unwavering vision and capability that constitute Shehersaaz's success. Combining innovation and collaboration to engage with communities, Shehersaaz further shapes smarter, safer, and more sustainable cities for future generations.