Climate Change Initiative

Welcome to the SKZ Foundation’s Climate Change Initiative. We are dedicated to improving the lives of slum communities in Pakistan through sustainable environmental projects. Our efforts include plantation drives, combating plastic pollution, community infrastructure and educational programs to raise awareness about climate change.

What Is Climate Change

Climate change refers to significant and lasting changes in the Earth's climate, especially the long-term shift in temperatures and weather patterns. While natural processes can cause climate changes, recent trends are primarily driven by human activities.

Impact of Climate Change on Slum Communities

Slum communities are among the hardest hit by climate change. Here’s how it affects them

Slum homes often don't have proper ventilation or cooling, making heatwaves very dangerous.

Warmer temperatures can make air pollution worse, leading to breathing problems like asthma.

Flooding and poor sanitation can cause outbreaks of diseases like cholera and malaria.

Slums in Lahore are in low-lying areas, so floods can easily destroy homes and possessions.

Slum houses are often not built to withstand strong winds and heavy rain, leading to significant damage and displacement.

Changes in rainfall can make clean water hard to find, affecting hygiene and health.

Climate impacts can force people to move from rural areas to cities, increasing the number of people living in slums.

Slums often lack proper drainage and other infrastructure, making them more vulnerable to climate impacts.

What SKZ Foundation is Doing to Help

We at SKZ Foundation, are working hard to help slum communities cope with climate change through various projects:

Plantation Drives

If you plant a tree, you plant a life

In Pakistan, according to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), only 4.54 million hectares of land are currently covered by forests. Regrettably, the nation faces the second-highest deforestation rate in Asia, surpassed only by Afghanistan. Recognizing the urgent need for action, the SKZ Foundation has taken the initiative to alter this concerning narrative. Through various organized tree planting drives across different cities, we aim to counteract the deforestation trend and contribute to the restoration of a healthier and more sustainable environment.

By instilling a sense of responsibility and knowledge about the vital role of plants, SKZ Foundation aims to contribute to a greener and healthier Pakistan.

Plantation Drives	Number of Plants Planted
Pattoki Ravi UVAS Lahore Lahore Lahore, Sabzazar SKZ Model School, Lahore, Jan 2021 SKZ Model School, Lahore, Feb 2021 SKZ Model School, Lahore, Mar 2021	200-250 plants 150-200 plants 100-150 plants 200-300 plants 200-300 plants 100 plants 100 plants 100 plants

Planet Vs Plastic

The Planet Vs Plastic initiative by the SKZ Foundation aims to reduce plastic pollution in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) and promote eco-friendly practices.
Gilgit-Baltistan is a beautiful region with stunning landscapes that are threatened by plastic pollution. By focusing our efforts here, we aim to preserve the environment and support the local tourism industry.

We organize clean-up events to collect plastic waste from towns and villages.
Local residents, students, and tourists join hands to clean up the environment.

We also organize community walks to raise awareness about plastic pollution and the importance of environmental conservation. These walks involve local residents and students from our schools.

Building a New Home for Muskan

We at SKZ Foundation, recently built a new home for Muskan, a dedicated student at SKZ Model School in Arincho, after her family lost their house in a flood. Muskan is a hardworking student whose family was left without shelter after the flood, making life and her studies very difficult.

We stepped in to help by building a new house:

• We assessed their needs and raised funds with community support.

• We designed a flood-resistant house and built it with the help of workers, volunteers, and community members.

• Muskan’s family now has a safe home where she can focus on her studies.

Together, we can make a difference and build a stronger community. Thank you for supporting the SKZ Foundation.

SKZ Model School Cleaning Activity

At SKZ Model School, we believe it’s important for students to learn how to care for the environment. For that purpose, we organized a Cleaning Activity where students helped clean up the area around the school and collected garbage. This activity was part of our efforts to promote cleanliness and community involvement.

Students from different grades eagerly joined in the clean-up, showing lots of energy and dedication.
They worked in teams to cover different parts of the area around the school, making sure everything was thoroughly cleaned.
The activity helped students understand the importance of keeping their surroundings clean by doing it themselves.
The clean-up made the area around the school much cleaner and healthier.
The students’ efforts showed the local community the importance of keeping our environment clean.