Proposal Document

LUMUN-WIRA Flood Rehabilitation Committee

Muhammad Hasan Hemani

Iqra University, Karachi.
Lumun 002, Delegate ID: 10
 Muhammad Hasan Hemani l Iqra University, Karachi l LUMUN 002 l Delegate ID: 10

Introduction:
Pakistan is not a stranger to disasters. From wars to earthquakes, the country has seen it all and
came out of it with a brave face. The floods of 2010 & 2011 however have tested not only the
resources of the country but also the spirits of the
people living in it. At one point, approximately one-
fifth of Pakistan's total land area was underwater.
Damages caused by flood are widespread and
countless. General Secretary of United Nations
stated by witnessing the flood struck areas of
Pakistan that "this has been a heart-wrenching day
for me; I will never forget the destruction and
suffering I have witnessed today. In the past I have
witnessed many natural disasters around the world, but nothing like this." (Huffington Post,
August 16, 2010).

The destruction caused by 2010-2011 combined floods is way more devastating than Tsunami or
even the Haiti earthquake. This resulted in creating phenomenal humanitarian crises. According
to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), the floods have claimed nearly 2000
lives, 1.8 million houses have been damaged and more than 20 million people have been affected
in over 30 districts. An area of at least 160,000 km2 has been ravaged by floods. Over 2.2 million
hectares of crops have been destroyed and over 10,000 schools have been damaged.

The response to the floods was divided into relief and rehabilitation phases. The government,
local NGOs, civil society along with international donors came forward and made sure the relief
phase was met with urgency. However, as with most major disasters, the response towards the
rehabilitation has been limited. What changes the rehabilitation ball game in this particular
geographical area is the number of affected young people and children. According to the
Government of Pakistan, over 20 million people, including nearly 9 million children were
affected by the disaster. In a research on the flood affected children conducted by save the
children revealed that 15% children had been badly affected because of behavioral and
psychological problems, while 55% have been moderately affected and 30% children were
normal. Meanwhile, Draw a Person survey test by the same NGO concluded four major
psychological issues experienced by children: aggression which has been reported in 87%
children, shyness and lack of expression in 75%, adjustment problems to the current situation in
70% and feelings of insecurities and fear of water, people, open places, and darkness in 73%
children.

These numbers present to us a bleak future generation in making unless a positive intervention is
done to help these children reconstruct not only their tangible assets but also their physiological
self. Another contributing factor, which affected the childrens reactions to the floods, was the

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 Muhammad Hasan Hemani l Iqra University, Karachi l LUMUN 002 l Delegate ID: 10

mental and physical health conditions of the parents. Childrens needs are highly compromised
when their parents are experiencing high levels of stress. It was also noted that most of the
parents are unable to deal with their childrens changed feelings and insecurities properly after
the flood and as a result, children suffer from behavioral and psychological problems including
anxiety, depression and phobias.

Project Idea:
The inspiration for this project comes from the
spirit of the youth of Pakistan who came forward
with a zeal never seen before. To help their
fellow countrymen and women, these young
people have proven to organize, collect and
distribute several items in an exemplary manner
with their limited time and resources. The same
students are the fabric behind the design of this
idea.

What this project caters is to address the psychological and subconscious needs of the people
going through the rehabilitation process with children being the primary beneficiaries of the
project. The basic idea of the project is to make use of the walls that are existent and upcoming
in the flood rehab areas as a canvas and bring them to life. With the use of limited color and
imagery, the project will employ various proven theories to treat the post disaster affects in the
affected population specially the children. The real success of this scheme will be visible
immediately through the drastic change of environment but more importantly its far fetched
results will be making the society sustainable. Even if one child overcomes his traumatic and
psychological complications with help of this project; it shall mean the success is of one whole
generation saved from a drab future. Traditional psychotherapy falls into the category of secondary
prevention. A number of interventions have been developed for victims with post disaster trauma
(PTSD). The American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress, asserts that due to the ignorance
of psychological problems faced by children in the post-disaster chaos of Armenia earth quake
1988, even one year after the disaster, 89.9% of young survivors still experienced a strong fear of
vibrations, 81.1% - the fear of a new quake, 58.7% - a fear of loud noises, 49.5% - a fear of
buildings, and 26.5% exhibited school avoidance. It found that two years after the quake,
Armenian children continued exhibiting a high rate of recurrent, intrusive quake-related
recollections of: smell 40%; sounds 62%; visual images 72%; and persistent thoughts 78%.
Literally, the mind remembers disaster strikes.

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 Muhammad Hasan Hemani l Iqra University, Karachi l LUMUN 002 l Delegate ID: 10

The project aims to deal with perhaps the most overlooked condition of the affected people from
the floods; their post disaster experiences which in quiet a few cases have been continued even
after the floods. Since the scope of the destruction is so widespread, an efficient outcome asked
for an adaptable solution which was sustainable for not only
the immediate beneficiaries but also the extended community.
The proposed solution was to introduce color, vernacular
patterns and selective imagery to the walls of the structures.
Various studies have proven how inductions of artwork and
different colors have had a favorable impact on post disaster
trauma patients. This proposal has incorporated the results of
study by Dr. Gibbs & Montagnino on the psychological
perspective of disasters. They found out colorful and imagery
surroundings acts as positive reinforces for the children in deep
mental stress and PTSD. It was further concluded that the
exposure of children to art facilitated in cognitive restructuring
which is also a part of therapy for individuals with PTSD as disasters lead to a shift in cognitions
and victims of disaster often have distorted beliefs regarding their safety, the likelihood of
another disaster, their personal worth, etc.

Another study by The American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress on Armenia post
disaster manifested this problem by asserting that due to constant caseload overburdening, group
therapy was chosen as the primary mode of treatment for children in Armenian disaster, although
individual and family sessions as well as parental self-help group sessions were also provided.
The successful treatment of young patients' posttraumatic symptoms was achieved by using
various therapeutic modalities including play therapy and drawings, trauma exploring and
reappraising, family behavioral modification, art therapy for sad and guilty feelings, work with
children's traumatic dreams and stress inoculation training. The trauma of disaster occurs along
all sensory channels, and thus, should be treated likewise.

Road Map for Implementation

However, the most interesting part of the proposed solution is a system that shall be set up by the
(paid interns) team executing the project. A digital database shall be established of registered
volunteers and willing students of different educational institutes taking onboard art teachers
from major high schools across the city and eventually the country. A singular flood affected
area shall be targeted and a school/educational organization shall be asked to make a team to
make a trip to the area. The project team shall be responsible for meeting the transport cost and
the cost of the paints incurred as well as having onboard a professional painter. The professional
would make portions of the paint on site and distribute it to the student teams working on the
walls. Wooden and steel stencils shall be provided of local motifs that are culturally and

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 Muhammad Hasan Hemani l Iqra University, Karachi l LUMUN 002 l Delegate ID: 10

religiously acceptable to the people of the area. Complete paint shall be applied on the wooden
elements ie the doors and windows so as to not make the surfaces gaudy and cartoonish.

This work shall be documented with amateur photographers and sent to various publications as
well as advertised rigorously on social media. The expected response is of donations and other
support from the community of the students working on the project as well as other audience.
During the flood relief work of 2010-2011 it had been noted that the donation amounts have
risen drastically if the people working on the projects personally are known by the donors. This
is a sad reality as the nuisance of corruption has plagued the country and the trust factor for
organizations has been mediocre.

Name of the Project: Bring the Walls to Life

Partner Organization: Watan Foundation, Karachi.

Associated NGOs: Rahnuma ,Jaag Meray Talib ilm, United Youth of Pakistan.

Location: In the first stage, areas of Hyderabad, Sajawal, Badin, Thatta, Shikarpur and Shewan
shall be targeted through the available networks of partner/associated NGOs

Pilot Project:

The first phase of the project will be the pilot testing and ratifying the grouches if found any.

The following strategy will be pursued in the first phase:

1. The project headquarters will be setup at Watan Foundation, Karachi office where 2 paid
interns will be given the work to coordinate the whole activity.
2. In each participating institution, a student representative will be assigned to bridge the
gap between the institution and the project team.
3. Formation of teams and tentative scheduling of trips to first 5 schools and/or
communities.
4. Consultation from psychologist (preferably the faculty of participating institutions)
regarding the selection and content, colors, patterns and pictorial stories.
5. Preparation of a simple guide/manual regarding the application of psychological
treatments through the wall paintings.
6. Wooden Stencils of patterns, pictorial story characters and various other cultural art
works will be made to ease the volunteers work.
7. Local communities will be taken onboard through the networks of our partner and
associated NGOs who have prior experience of working with the same kind people.

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 Muhammad Hasan Hemani l Iqra University, Karachi l LUMUN 002 l Delegate ID: 10

8. Coordination of actives and first hand accurate information of the respective rural areas
will be obtained through the networks of these NGOs.
9. Incorporation of all the relevant ideas and recommendations of the local community to
make them own the activity.
10. A team of students along with a paid professional painter will visit the school site and
paint the walls with textures, mind refreshing colors and pictorial stories as per the
cultural norms of the target area.
11. Exaggerated campaigns and publicity on social media to create a positive perception
regarding the project and its success. Through this youth will be invited to participate in
the project and respond with their feedbacks.
12. Interns will be responsible to make a comprehensive database of all the stakeholders
involved in the project and detailed reports on all the trips which will be published on
blogs, social media platforms and famous youth magazines.
13. The physical involvement of the students of our participating institutes will encourage
them in contributing monetarily to the project ensuring the transparency yet expanding
our donor base.
14. The publicity and popularity will be the tipping point of the future project expansion
giving companies opportunities to display their support and contribution for social
activities.
15. The desired result from the first stage of this project is to reduce the suffering from
behavioral and psychological problems including anxiety, depression and phobias.
16. On the completion of the first 5 schools, a survey assessment will be carried by the
project sponsors/donors and media journalist to estimate the projects success rate and
announce the positive aspects of the overall idea and its application strategy publicly to
boast public support.

Social Impact:
The social impact of this project will not only benefit the flood affected people by introducing a
tint of color into their lives but also expose the students to the reality of the floods and natural
disasters. This shall also prove to be a bridge between the urban and the rural youth of the
country where as it shall transcend various socio economic strata encouraging an inclusive
dialogue. This way, two distinct groups of people from diverse settings and economic
backgrounds will enrich their lives and come to understand each other first hand.

Since the proposed solution is a generic idea it can be applied not only throughout Pakistan but
also can be taken as precedence for use worldwide as no language is more universal than that of
color and imagery. Ideally, each major city should have its own outreach team based on one or
two individuals who coordinate with the representatives of various schools, colleges, universities
and NGOs to mobilize student bodies to help participate in this project at their nearest affected

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 Muhammad Hasan Hemani l Iqra University, Karachi l LUMUN 002 l Delegate ID: 10

area. Since, 1/5 of the country has been ravaged by flooding we can reach more areas with such
an implementation.

The potential risks involved in this project are the illiterate audience of the respective target
areas. Another contributing factor is that most of the people in post traumatic phase do not
realize their psychological needs and only focus on instant material requirements. Lack of
cooperation form the local communities is a possible hindrance. To encounter this obstacle, the
existing network of the partner NGOs will be utilized which have local people of the respective
areas already onboard.

The projected outcome of the proposed solution is as wide ranging as its benefits. The immediate
response will bring to life the community and open doors to the physical and physiological
barriers by having a dialogue between the different people. In the long run the color, imagery and
motifs will become personalized themes for the occupants and will live with them as long as the
walls stand. For the children, the added color and themes shall be a sliver of hope and a promise
of the better times to come. Color therapy and other rehabilitation techniques used in this
solution will make it a subconscious public healing entity. For young people whose lives have
been scared by this disaster, the color and the painting experience will enforce upon them a new
resolve to move forward. In a quantitative survey, as the architect of this solution I am confident
to say that the clinical physiologic illness ratio will be lower than that of a similar area without
this intervention. On the quantitative side, if any one can quantify the value of a human smile
then there would be a constantly adding figure that number would have to be multiplied with.

If an intervention like this is not taken seriously and incorporated at some level into the lives of
the people affected specially the children, we will have a certain number of the upcoming
generation disturbed, depressed and in a state of prolonged trauma. This will imply, raised
medical costs for the state, lower productivity levels, a hike in unemployment of the individuals
and increased dependence on other family members for their survival. Later consequences may
be a drastic increase in social crime, aggression and retaliation from the affected hence resulting
in over all decline in social efficiency.

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 Muhammad Hasan Hemani l Iqra University, Karachi l LUMUN 002 l Delegate ID: 10

Personal Profile:

In the 2010-2011 flood relief project of Watan foundation, I have served as logistics coordinator,
improvised student participation and contribution, executed packaging of relief goods and
performed various administrative flood related tasks. During the last year, I was part of the
student team led by Rahnuma which had volunteers from different universities to Sujawal area of
lower Sindh. The team consisted to thirty odd individuals who included students, professionals
and teachers who were given the task to add color and pattern to the 3 model mud houses made
by Indus Earth organization. In the given 3 hours the team managed to not only brings the drab
houses to life but also made many friends in the immediate community. Further, I have the
unique experience of starting a new organization in an orthodox university and bringing it to a
respectable position. I have the honor to be the founder president of IUMUN Iqra University
Model United Nations Society. Since its inception in early 2010 the society has participated in all
major MUN conferences throughout Karachi and has won awards in all of them. It is the single
most active student run organization of Iqra University which operates in all the campuses with a
total strength of more than 7000 students. My past experiences have engaged me in working with
people of diverse backgrounds which will be a contributing factor while implementing the idea at
the respective locations.

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 Muhammad Hasan Hemani l Iqra University, Karachi l LUMUN 002 l Delegate ID: 10

Financial Plan

Dollars Rupees
Allotted Budget: $3,000 PKR 270,000

Stencils (Wooden & Steel) $11 PKR 1,000

These stencils will be made for motifs representing the
Cultural heritage of rural Pakistan and several other designs.

A stencils of this kind with dimensions of

1' x 1' is made in Lasani wood by Rs. 100

Initially 10 different stencils will be made in Lasani wood.

Paint Accessories $28 PKR 2,500

Paint brushes, Cloths, mixing containers etc.
(Amount is estimated approximately)

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 Muhammad Hasan Hemani l Iqra University, Karachi l LUMUN 002 l Delegate ID: 10

Stationary $89 PKR 8,000

The stationary for initial paper work and for further usage in
guides, reports and for trips and other requirements.
It also includes costs of certificates for volunteers.

Miscellaneous Expenses $100 PKR 9,000

These potential expenses include cost of using telecommunication &
transportation in coordinating with institutions, rural stakeholders,
social activists and media.
(Amount is estimated for monthly usage)
3000 * 3 months

Interns Salary $467 PKR 42,000

Interns are provided financial benefits to ensure their consistency
and performance in the project.
(7000 x 2 interns) * 3 months

Trip Estimation $1,156 PKR 104,000

20,800 x 5 trips
(12 - 15 People)
Transportation 10,000
Paint etc. 4,000
Professional Painter 800
(wage)
Lunch/Refreshment 5,000
Miscellaneous 1,000
Total 20,800

Total Estimated Expenditures: $1,850 PKR 166,500

Available Funds $1,150 PKR 103,500

The project is designed to economical and maximizing the value of each rupee in order to ensure the
optimization of the concept. The project can be initiated with in $1850 and the available funds may be
Used in the smooth running as well as continue into expansion period.

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 Muhammad Hasan Hemani l Iqra University, Karachi l LUMUN 002 l Delegate ID: 10

References

Azarian, A. G. (1990a). Stressful situation in Armenia. In Anait Azarian (Ed). Psychological

Treatment of Children and Adolescents. Studies of the Children's Psychotherapy Center, 6-19.
Yerevan, Armenia: Research Institute of Pedagogical Sciences (in Russian).

Skriptchenko-Gregorian, V. G., Azarian, A. G., DeMaria, M. B., & McDonald, L. D. (1996).

Colors of disaster: The psychology of the "Black Sun". The Arts in Psychotherapy, 23(1), 1-14.

Miller, T. W., Kraus, R. F., Tatevosyan, A. S., & Kamenchenko, P. (1993). Post-traumatic stress
disorder in children and adolescents of the Armenian earthquake. Child Psychiatry and Human
Development, 24, 115-123.

Pytel, Barbara (2006). How Does Color Affect Our Thinking and Learning, Suite 101
Educational
Issues.

Vining, Diana (2006). The Effect of School Interior Environment on Students Attitudes toward
School.

Dr. Willard R. Daggett, Color in an Optimum Learning Environment

www.savethechildren.org

www.aaets.org

www.rahnuma.org

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