“For most people here having a two bedroom home is difficult, and for people like us [widows] – it’s impossible for us to even begin to dream about having a two room house.” – Ayesha Bostaan
Kashmir Orphan Relief Trust (KORT), renowned for their charitable work in Pakistan over the last 18-years, has just handed over keys to 30 widows and their children.
The project ‘KORT Widow Housing Project’, spearheaded by KORT chairman Chaudhry Mohammed Akhtar, began a year ago with a mission to build 100 two-room dwellings in Azad Jammu Kashmir to house widows and their children.
The keys to the first 30 houses, located in Muzaffarabad, the Neelum Valley and Leepa Valley, were handed over to 30 deserving beneficiaries at a ceremony in Muzaffarabad.
Ch Akhtar says: “KORT took this initiative a year ago, and decided to build 10 houses in each of AJK’s districts.
“Some 30,000 young widows and children are in desperate need of housing, and we have committed to assist these vulnerable individuals.
“We began work a year ago to provide shelter for needy and deserving widows with small children who don’t have a roof over their heads.
“I’d like to thank our donors across the world, particularly those in the UK, who have always come to our assistance whenever we have asked for it in support of KORT.
“For them to grant guardianship of their donations to KORT for our projects for the needy is a huge honour – one which we take great care to ensure it’s delivered to those who need help the most.”
A recipient of one of the homes, Ayesha Bostaan, says: “We all remember those who stand by you when you have nothing, during your most testing times.
“For most people here having a two bedroom home is difficult, and for people like us [widows] – it’s impossible for us to even begin to dream about having a two room house.
“I put my case forward to KORT, and I was accepted. I am eternally grateful to Kort and their chairman Chaudhry Mohammed Akhtar for giving me and my young children shelter.”
