Member Focus: Weaving People to Grow Foundation receives Peacebuilding Award
WPTG Foundation promotes peaceful coexistence among diverse communities in Pakistan through the practical implementation of the Biblical instruction to “love thy neighbor” as a means to building peaceful relationships between empowered and excluded communities.
A group of passionate professionals analyzed the socioeconomic status of marginalized communities in Pakistan over two years, concluding that they could be uplifted by interventions in six areas: education, climate, employment and economic growth, church and community development, social cohesion and health. In response to their findings, WPTG Foundation was registered in January 2022 and has established itself as a proactive agent of change in Pakistan.
Ms Kiran Peter, Executive Director of WPTG Foundation and a member of Micah’s Humanitarian Response Thematic Group (HRTG) Steering Group, shares: “WPTG is a non-profit development organization initially working in the Rawalpindi district of Pakistan. At the inception we developed our 5-year strategic plan aligned with Pakistan Vision 2023 and United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“We are endeavouring to achieve our vision by eliminating injustice and poverty within financially poor families because we believe injustice caused at any level harms systems and outcomes of institutions, families and individuals. Secondly, along with injustice, poverty pushes individuals to disturb peace within themselves and in the outside environment. I am happy to report we have made considerable progress in attaining our objectives to date.”
In the last financial year, WPTG has made great progress in weaving together people. Their Church and Community Development programme has supported vulnerable Pakistani communities with food bags, winter kits, wheelchairs and Christian leadership training. Their Decent Work and Economic Growth programme saw 101 youth completing vocational training in plumbing, graphic design, web design and development in 2023. An additional 10 youth received job placements and over 350 youth participated in skills awareness workshops.
The Promotion of Education programme started a Non-Formal Education Centre which supports school children in their studies, while outreaches to youth and parents place emphasis on the importance of acquiring education. In addition, the Foundation offers scholarships to students to extend their education in schools and universities. The Climate Action thematic team provided practical training for kitchen gardening, while educating about climate change adaptation and the Good Health programme is supporting women with medical guidance on motherhood and neonatal health. Lastly, WPTG's Social Cohesion programme provides opportunities for positive interfaith interactions to create unity, peacebuilding and understanding.
In February 2024 Ms. Kiran Peter received the Excellence in Peacebuilding Award from East West Centre USA and Global Neighborhood for Media Innovation (GNMI).
It’s exciting to see that doors are opening for prosperity and wellbeing in diverse communities in Pakistan through WPTG Foundation’s focus on peacebuilding and mutual support.
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Quick facts and links
Established - January 2022
Area - Pakistan
Focus - Fostering mutual understanding and respect in diverse communities
More information - www.wptgfoundation.org
Cover photo credit - WPTG Foundation: Ms Kiran Peters (in blue) with the Excellence in Peacebuilding Award