Our Journey

Aghaz-E-Nau (AEN) has experience of working with NGOs/CBOs from different cities of Pakistan. AEN carried out capacity building programs for NGOs/CBOs from all over the Pakistan.  Our main focus remained on PWID, FSWs, Inmates and Youth as far as HIV prevention interventions are concerned. We carried out two projects for FSWs funded by CIDA and UNODC respectively. AEN also worked with sex workers (FSWs, MSW/MSM/TGs) to see the effect of different prevention interventions on high risk behavior of sex workers. Our work with sex workers got published in many journals. Given below is a short list of projects, which we carried out starting from 1993 till 2017.

AEN started its journey with the establishment of a drug rehabilitation center in 1993 with the help of UNDCP initially and then we received funds from EU, CRS and UNODC. We established a separate drug rehabilitation center for females in 1995 with the help of CIDA. We also developed and executed a successful drug abuse prevention program for the workplace and Employee Assistance Program (EAP) in Lahore, funded by ILO, IDDRP and UNDCP.

We provided In-House Training to the medical and counseling staff of Dost Welfare Foundation to carry out treatment and rehabilitation activities funded by CRS/CIDA in 1994.

Starting from 1996 till 2000, we developed and carried out a drug abuse prevention program for the inmates of Camp Jail Lahore funded by IDDRP and also trained 400 paralegal aid workers of Legal Aid Center in drug abuse prevention and HIV/AIDS prevention. We also provided training to 48 paralegal aid workers of Legal Aid Center/AGHS in drug abuse prevention and HIV/AIDS prevention to impart drug/HIV/AIDS education to the female inmates of 4 prisons of Punjab. At the same time we trained 8 community workers of Young Blood Association, Daska in drug abuse/HIV/AIDS prevention, to impart education to the inmates of Sialkot prison.

In the year of 2000 onwards, we worked for “The Establishment of a Network and up-gradation of Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation Services” of 9 GOs/ NGOs from the province of Punjab and Sindh, funded by UNODC”. Helped develop and carry out a community based drug abuse prevention program for the low-income group funded by UNDCP/JADA. We also helped facilitate, supervise and carry out the 4th National Survey on drug abuse conducted by the UNDCP and GOP.

AEN provided training to the staff of Child Protection and Welfare Bureau, Lahore funded by UNODC starting from 2011-2012. Training of professionals was carried out on drug addiction counseling for street children, drug abuse prevention and HIV/AIDS prevention. We also organized street theatres to educate the public about the dangers of drug abuse and HIV/AIDS prevention.

Starting from 2010 to 2012, we worked under the project drug addiction treatment and HIV/AIDS awareness in four prisons of Pakistan funded by UNODC and provided training to the treatment team to carry out drug treatment and HIV/AIDS prevention in prisons also provided training to prison officials to educate them on drug treatment procedures and HIV/AIDS awareness and conducted a number of training workshops for the prison staff and counseling staff in different cities of Pakistan.

AEN Delegated a study trip to Iran with the objective to help senior Government and prison officials to study drug addiction and HIV/AIDS awareness/prevention programs in different jails of Iran.

AEN provided Service Delivery Packages to IDUs in Faisalabad from June, 2011 to February, 2012 in alliance with Roshan Rasta funded by Punjab AIDS Control Program (PACP). AEN helped facilitate Last Round of Integrated Biological and Behavioral Surveillance in alliance with Punjab AIDS Consortium (PAC) funded by HASP/CIDA.

AEN carried out “Care and Support” program to more than 500 drug addicts mainly IDUs over a period of 12 months. Some of them were HIV positive. The main focus was to provide them detoxification services and HIV/AIDS education to them and their family members. The project was funded by World Bank.

AEN provided Service Delivery Package to Street Based IDUs in Sheikhupura in alliance with PYO. The project was funded by Punjab AIDS Control Program (PACP), Department of Health/World Bank.

AEN carried out Need Assessment and Capacity Building Program for 12 NGOs working for the treatment & rehabilitation of people who use drugs and are at risk of HIV/AIDS in 12 different cities of Pakistan including Lahore, Sheikhupura, Mandi Bahaudin, Daska, Wazira Abad, Faisalabad, Karachi, Sanghar, Hyderabad, Quetta, and Peshawar. The project was funded by UNODC from 2013 to 2014.

AeN provided Service Delivery Package to Street Based IDUs in Gujranwala and Sialkot from 2014 to 2016. The project was funded by Punjab AIDS Control Program (PACP), Department of Health.

AeN established treatment and rehabilitation services for female sex workers (FSWs) with drug abuse problem. The project was funded by UNODC (2007 to 2009). AeN established two Drop-In Centers in Kachi Basti and Red Light Area, Lahore. The project was implemented with the following objectives:

·         To provide drug addiction treatment and rehabilitation services to FSWs

·         To Provide primary health care services and treatment of STIs to FSWs

·         To provide HIV/AIDS awareness and education to FSWs

·         Implementation of behavior modification tools for assertiveness training, communication skills, role modeling, role rehearsal and negotiation skills for behavioral change and safer sex

·         To develop linkages with existing VCCT facilities

AeN carried out HIV prevention and Care & Support Program for FSWs funded by CIDA with special focus on FSWs living in Red Light Area