Help the Shah Family Rebuild Their House

Hi, I'm Robin, and I'm organizing this fundraiser to help my friend Tariq Shah in Pakistan rebuild his family home, which was destroyed by the recent rains and flooding, displacing 14 residents, including his recently widowed mother. The goal is to rebuild a basic but safe and weather-resilient structure so this family can move back home; 100% of the funds raised will go directly to Tariq for this purpose.

A decent shelter is a basic human need, and even a small donation can make a big difference for this struggling family. Please read on for Tariq's story.

Background

Tariq lives in a small village called Jhagra, in Peshawar, Pakistan, 2 hours from the Afghanistan border. He's 34 and has a wife and two sons – a non-verbal 7-year-old with autism and a 5-year-old. He comes from a middle-class family (8 brothers, 1 sister) and works full-time at a pharmaceutical company for a salary of US$150 per month. We met about 7 years ago; he was a business student asking for advice on starting an online business. We became friends; I edited his thesis, and we regularly talk about our lives and our problems. We live in two very different cultures, and this exchange has enriched both our lives.

Life has presented Tariq with a lot of challenges these last few years. His father, a fruit merchant, became bedridden 15 years ago; since then, Tariq has been the family's main support. During the pandemic, Tariq was laid off; his brothers—2 polio eradication workers, a laborer with a medicine company, and a UPS store owner—were in similar situations due to lockdown. In October 2021, his father sadly passed away.

Ever since I've known him, Tariq has worked hard to support the people around him, often at the expense of his own physical and mental health. He gives food to the poor, buys schoolbooks for his nieces and nephews, and keeps up the appearance of stability in his strictly class-oriented society. But inside, he's struggling. He wants to provide a better life for his family, but there are few opportunities. He has had no luck finding a better job, and the constant stress due to his financial circumstances and Pakistan's soaring cost of living is taking a massive toll. Life has become a constant fight for survival, and I've watched Tariq persevere through some very dark times.

The Situation

Extreme rains and flooding are devastating Pakistan right now. Unfortunately, Tariq's mother's home was destroyed last week: the mud walls disintegrated under the force of the monsoon rains, ceilings collapsed, and aside from one room, the house is now unliveable.

This video shows the house's current state:

Before cleanup and tearing down damaged walls:

After tearing down damaged walls. Tariq's brother and his wife and children are still living in this damaged space:

Nine of the house's residents have had to move into the modest 2-room home Tariq rents—making 13 people in all living there right now. He sent me a video of the current living situation—watch it here.

Tariq's mother's house needs to be rebuilt after this disaster. Times were tough enough before, but there is simply no way this family can get out of this situation without help.

The Plan

Tariq says, "My dream is to make a house for my mother so she won't cry every night alone."

Tariq hopes to build a 3- or 4-room shelter to replace the home that has been destroyed. The building will house his mother and 13 family members.

The fundraiser goal of CA$20,000 (US$15,000) would cover all the building materials and associated costs.

In Peshawar, homes are made of brick, concrete blocks, cement, sand, and iron rods, with concrete (lunter) roofs. The base would be supported with pillars.

Tariq hopes there will be enough funds to engage an architect to ensure the structure they build can withstand future heavy rains and earthquakes so they will never face the same situation again.

He has promised to provide regular updates as to the progress.

The Funds Transfer

I (Robin Schroffel) will personally receive the funds from GoFundMe and distribute them to Tariq directly via Western Union, as GoFundMe does not operate in Pakistan. Tariq is already connected to me via Western Union, as I offered a small amount of financial support during the pandemic lockdown when he was laid off.

If the Goal Is Not Met

If not enough funds are raised to build this size and quality of shelter, Tariq will adjust the building plans, as needed, to build whatever he can afford. For example, the size may be reduced to 2 rooms if necessary. The primary aim is to have a shelter that will stand up to future rains.

If the Goal Is Exceeded

If the funding exceeds the goal, Tariq will put the extra money toward fixing the house he and his own small family rent, as it has also sustained extensive damage from the recent weather—you can see the poor conditions on the linked video.

Thank You

Thanks for considering donating to help this family rebuild their house.

Tariq says: "I am so positive and hopeful. Here, mostly people are facing the same crisis so they can't help much. I hope people of your place would open their arms and help with great heart."