Latest news with #JavedHussain
Time of India
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Bareilly's digital boom: How labourers, painters, scrap dealers turned YouTube stars; meet the million-follower club of Hajiyapur
In Hajiyapur, a densely populated pocket of UP's Bareilly, a quiet phenomenon is unfolding amidst the clang of cycle repair shops and the chatter of regulars at chai kiosks. It heralds what many believe is one of UP's most unlikely digital success stories — powered not by startups or IT parks, but by locals who are churning out online content that is being lapped up by millions. Take Javed Hussain, for example. He used to work as a labourer, making Rs 200-300 a day. He now runs a comedy channel on YouTube that has 5.6 million subscribers. 'I never thought this would be my profession. Now I create skits and also give work to others.' There are several such success stories in the area, and not necessarily limited to the youth. Md Movin, 65, who used to collect scrap for a living, started his channel 'Chacha' on YouTube in 2022. It now has around 7 million subscribers. 'I funded my eldest daughter's wedding from my video earnings. I plan to do the same for my three other daughters,' says Movin. 'I've gone through a lot of pain in life, but I tried to keep smiling. I use that jolly side in my videos, which are mostly inspired by my own experiences.' But no success story here is bigger perhaps than that of Ishaan Ali's. A political science graduate with an MBA, Ishaan was struggling to land a job when he turned to YouTube. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Many Filipinos don't know about this! Read More Undo Today, his channel, @IshaanAli11, has 36 million subscribers, placing him among India's top digital content creators. Inspired by Ishaan's success, his younger brother, Aadil, followed suit. His channel, @AaadilAli11 has 1.2 million subscribers. Their father, once a bicycle mechanic, couldn't afford to build a home. Today, the brothers are raking in crores. 'I had a dream that people would gather around me like they gather around Sallu bhai (Bollywood actor Salman Khan),' Ishaan told TOI . What sets Hajiyapur apart is not just the success stories, but the scale of transformation. Where once power cuts were routine and unemployment rampant, nearly every household today has someone experimenting with digital content — from cooking to comedy, stitching to social issues. Arshad Ali, 23, used to earn Rs 400-500 a day painting walls. Now, he makes short comedy videos for his channel @ArshadAli11, which has close to a million subscribers. And it's not just entertainment. Akash Kumar, 29, a trained journalist who struggled to and a job in a mainstream newsroom, began reporting on social media instead. His Facebook page, 'The Gali Mohalla Show,' covers issues in remote areas and garners close to 10 lakh views a day. 'Initially, I just wanted to show media houses that I am a good reporter. But now, it has become a source of income. I recently bought my dream car,' he says.
Business Recorder
21-07-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
SCF equips rural women with livestock, entrepreneurial skills
HYDERABAD: Sindh Community Foundation (SCF), with the support of Pathfinder International under the SURMI project, organized a two-day training workshop on Climate-Smart Livestock Management and Entrepreneurship Skills for 30 rural women from coastal districts of Sindh. The workshop aimed to equip selected women beneficiaries with practical knowledge and skills to enhance their resilience and livelihood opportunities in the face of climate change. On the first day, the training focused on various aspects of climate-smart livestock management, including disease prevention, vaccination animal care practices, habitat management, and adaptive strategies to cope with changing environmental conditions. The second day was dedicated to building the women's capacity in entrepreneurship and small-scale business development, particularly in the areas of livestock-based and home-based food security income-generating activities. These women have been identified under the project's livelihood component to receive support in initiating their own small-scale businesses. Ms. Hira Arain and Lateef Soomro facilitated the sessions as trainers, delivering technical and practical insights to the participants. A concluding ceremony was held and attended by M.B. Khaskheli, Cluster Coordinator, Pathfinder International; Javed Hussain, Executive Director, SCF; and Fayaz Wagan, Deputy Director, Livestock Department, Thatta and Humera Ali SCF. Speaking at the event, Fayaz Wagan, Deputy Director of the Livestock Department, Thatta, emphasized that women are the primary caretakers of livestock in rural areas. He stressed the need to raise awareness among women about modern techniques of livestock management, especially in the context of changing disease patterns due to climate change. He noted that vaccination, timely disease prevention, and proper animal care are essential for maintaining healthy livestock and ensuring sustained livelihoods. Javed Hussain, Executive Director of Sindh Community Foundation, stated that while Pakistan remains one of the leading producers of milk and meat, the livestock sector faces growing threats from climate-induced diseases and environmental stressors. He underlined the urgent need to promote climate-smart livestock practices to protect rural economies and strengthen national food security. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Empowering rural women through literacy
According to the data collected by I-SAPS, there are 778 government schools in Hyderabad district, with 46 per cent in the PS-50 constituency in Hyderabad rural taluka alone. PHOTO: AFP In the verdant heart of Sindh's rural landscape, where the daily rhythms of agricultural life often leave little room for personal growth, a new chapter in women's empowerment has begun. The Directorate of Literacy and Non-Formal Education (DLNFE) Sindh and the Sindh Community Foundation (SCF) have formalised a partnership to expand literacy access for rural women through the signing of a Letter of Understanding (LoU). Over the next three years, the initiative will establish 100 literacy centres, aiming to equip 3,000 rural women agriculture workers with essential reading, writing, and numeracy skills across Matiari, Sanghar, Thatta, and Mirpurkhas districts where female literacy rates remain critically low. These tools are not just academic, but transformational, enabling women to engage more fully in their economic and social lives. The programme is said to be a comprehensive strategy rooted in community engagement, government alignment, and localised expertise. The initiative includes joint needs assessments, development of context-specific curriculum, deployment of trained literacy facilitators, and continuous monitoring using the NFEMIS (Non-Formal Education Management Information System), ensuring measurable impact. Director DLNFE Sindh Abdul Jabbar Mari said, "This initiative is about more than just teaching women to read — it is about weaving literacy into the very fabric of rural life, where it has long been absent. Education shapes nations, and every step we take today helps us transcend yesterday's limitations." He added that the provincial govt is fully committed to ensuring that rural women are not left behind in the province's educational progress, stating: "Through partnerships like this, we are not only bridging literacy gaps but also building stronger, more informed communities. Women's education is central to our broader development goals, and we are dedicated to creating inclusive pathways to learning, especially for those historically marginalised." Executive Director SCF Javed Hussain echoed the sentiment and said, "We have witnessed firsthand how literacy transformed the lives of 789 rural women in earlier phases. Those women now calculate wages and keep records with confidence. With this new collaboration, we embark on a broader mission to reach thousands more and transform learning into liberation."
Business Recorder
05-07-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
SCF launches Women's Green Skills Initiative
HYDERABAD: Sindh Community Foundation (SCF) has launched a groundbreaking initiative to promote women's economic empowerment through green skills training in three climate-vulnerable districts—Thatta, Matiari, and Sanghar—as part of a broader strategy to tackle the escalating impacts of climate-induced poverty. This initiative builds on SCF's commitment to gender-responsive climate adaptation and economic justice. Supported by the Asian Venture Philanthropy Network (AVPN) under Round 2 of the Asia Gender Equality Fund, the program aims to benefit 3,500 women in cotton-producing and climate-affected areas of Sindh. Over the next two years, 1,800 women will receive training in green skills and off-season livelihood diversification. To address immediate economic vulnerabilities, 350 of the most affected women will also receive seed support—including materials, tools, and tailored business development assistance—to establish small-scale enterprises linked to market opportunities. 'Climate change continues to disproportionately affect women in rural areas, particularly those relying on seasonal work like cotton picking,' said Javed Hussain, Executive Director of SCF. 'This initiative equips women with practical, climate-resilient skills such as sustainable farming, eco-product manufacturing, food preservation, and micro-entrepreneurship, enabling income stability throughout the year.' Hira Arain, Manager for Economic Empowerment at SCF, noted: 'In earlier program phases, SCF trained 1,025 women, resulting in a 30% rise in off-season income. Another 100 women received seed capital to launch successful businesses.' She added that SCF has also integrated literacy education into its approach. 209 women recently completed six-month literacy classes, boosting their confidence, communication, and business management skills. SCF urges government, corporate, and financial stakeholders to streamline access to micro-loans and economic services to help women scale these climate-resilient livelihoods. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
30-06-2025
- Climate
- Business Recorder
SCF, PPAF enhance disaster preparedness in Thatta
HYDERABAD: In anticipation of potential heavy monsoon rains forecasted by the National and Provincial Disaster Management Authorities, the Sindh Community Foundation (SCF), in collaboration with the Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF), has distributed emergency response kits to grassroots Village Organizations (VOs) in two union councils Bijoro and Gaarho under its Social Services and Climate Resilience Project. These union councils, situated in one of Sindh's most climate-vulnerable district, have repeatedly experienced floods; disasters to strengthen local disaster preparedness, SCF provided emergency response kits containing 19 essential items, which will be shared among 5 to 10 villages per UC. The kits aim to enhance communities' ability to respond rapidly and independently during crises. At the distribution ceremony, Javed Hussain, Executive Director of SCF, stated: 'Thatta has faced multiple climate shocks over the years. Without local preparedness, communities are left vulnerable. These efforts build the foundation for effective, community-led emergency response.' In addition to distributing kits, SCF has trained local residents through a tailored emergency preparedness module. Emergency response teams have been established in each participating village to ensure timely action during any disaster. K.B. Bhahrani, Additional Director of the Social Welfare Department in Thatta, commended SCF's leadership and commitment to grassroots resilience. Abdullah Khush, SCF Project Manager, added: 'Disaster preparedness cannot succeed without active community involvement. These efforts ensure that people are not only informed but also equipped.' This initiative showcases a shift toward proactive, community-based climate resilience. As extreme weather events become more frequent, localized, people-centered preparedness is key to reducing vulnerability and protecting lives. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
