The IRC's Project Hope, or the Healing, Opportunity, Productivities & Empowerment Project—was launched in the Pakistani village of Panjgran shortly after the devastating 2005 South Asian earthquake rumbled through the village in the remote Neelum Valley. The quake shattered the region's infrastructure and public services, resulting in widespread loss of jobs. The IRC responded by mobilising and organising area residents to participate in and to help plan their own recovery.

Today, results are visible: working with the IRC, community organisations and local government rehabilitated irrigation channels, distributed seeds and agricultural tools, offered training in livestock management, poultry farming and small business development, and provided jobs in agriculture. In addition, over 400 families established kitchen gardens where they planted their own vegetables, resulting in considerable savings. The programme especially focused on the needs of women, providing skills training, literacy classes and counseling.

On Jan. 31, having come to a successful completion, Project Hope wrapped up it programmes. "I hope that the Project Hope will result in phenomenal long term change in the lives of the earthquake affected community of Panjgran," said Iftikhar Ali Khan, the team leader for the project

Project Hope was funded by Stichting Vluchteling, the Netherlands refugee foundation.