A free ear camp was scheduled for June 4–14 at the NARJIS KHATOON SCHOOL FOR DEAF SKARDU.

Sixty new, high-performance hearing aids were donated for this camp. Along with other equipment, they had been shipped from Bremen to Pakistan in April – intended for the SAYA SCHOOL MAIRA AKKU as well. However, due to disruptions in international shipping caused by conflicts in the Middle East, the container had not yet reached its destination in Islamabad by mid-June.

The PHzSHeV team, comprising two audiologists, a special education teacher, and the chairman, had intended to support Mohammad Naseem (an audiologist with NKSD Skardu, trained in Schleswig-Holstein in early 2026) in examining 30 children and fitting them with donated hearing aids over the course of a few days.

Unfortunately, due to conflicts in the Middle East and the intermittently unstable situation in Gilgit-Baltistan, we decided to cancel the Free Ear Camp in Skardu.

Once the container holding our equipment reaches Islamabad, NKSD SKARDU will collect the devices donated for the school and transport them to Skardu via the arduous overland route along the Karakoram Highway and the Baltistan Highway.

Naseem will then have to fit the hearing aids on his own. This process will take considerably longer than planned, but ultimately, it will be a tremendous help to the children, significantly improving their living conditions.

Construction Project SKARDU

Founded in 2013, the NARJIS KHATOON SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF in Skardu has grown steadily since its humble beginnings with four hearing-impaired children in a small room within the founders‘ home; increasingly larger premises had to be rented over time.

To secure the school’s future, PHzSHeV decided to plan the construction of a new school complex, including a hostel and an audiology, and to apply for or raise the necessary funding for this major project.

The Gilgit-Baltistan government made a plot of land available for the project on a 50-year lease.

Despite the tense situation, the PHzSHeV chairman decided to travel to Pakistan. Conducting a fact-finding mission with local partners was urgently required as a prerequisite for a future funding application.

Information for the local architect

Fact-Finding on the property

A few days before the trip, an opportunity arose to secure a partner for the project’s implementation.

More details on this later, once a potential collaboration takes concrete shape.

However, it was a promising development that, two days before the flight to Skardu, an offer was made to have the potential partner’s local architect join the fact-finding mission.

The sketch shows an initial idea for the project.

Project VOCATIONAL TRAINING SAYA SCHOOL MAIRA AKKU

For the VOCATIONAL TRAINING SAYA SCHOOL MAIRA AKKU Project, which involves introducing vocational training and setting up a training kitchen and a training tailoring workshop, it was necessary to discuss plans on-site with the partners and, together with long-standing project engineer Saad Asif, to assess the structural requirements for adding another story to the building.

Plans for setting up a teaching kitchen and a teaching tailoring workshop

Briefing on the planning status

Determination of structural framework conditions

That’s how it is planned…

…and that’s how it is meant to turn out.

Assessments have shown that the existing structural design does not meet the requirements for adding another story; structural reinforcements will need to be planned.

An application for project funding is currently being prepared. We hope to begin works later this year, once the funding has been approved.

As always, we will keep you updated.

And finally, with a wink: PHzSHeV chairman is walking, where the roof of Skardu school will be once the dune has been removed. Easy to recognize – a very attractive view point.

HAQ MODEL SCHOOL AWAN SHARIF – School operations have commenced

June 2026

As reported last year, the HAQ MODEL SCHOOL AWAN SHARIF project proved difficult to realize for various reasons.

Although insufficient donations had been received, we reallocated funds from other projects to complete Phase 1, as shown in the plans and photographs.

Dr. Jameela Abdul Haq succeeded in recruiting and hiring the staff needed to launch school operations. In May, the first children were enrolled, and classes began.

The task now is to gain the necessary organizational experience, provide high-quality teaching, raise awareness of the school within the village and the surrounding area, and place school operations on a solid pedagogical and financial foundation.

Best wishes to the school team for successful work – and joy in learning for the children!