Paani Project Explained

Paani
Leader Title:CEO
Leader Name:Sikander 'Sonny' Khan[1]
Type:International NGO
Location:Michigan, U.S.
Area Served:Pakistan, Jordan

Paani is an American nonprofit humanitarian organization that provides water aid, emergency assistance and disaster relief in Pakistan.[2] Its headquarters are located in Michigan, United States and it is managed by volunteers.[3] As of 2023, Paani operates in Pakistan and Jordan and the organization has raised over $5 million.[4] [5] [6] Paani has built over 17,000 water wells, and delivered millions of meals to rural families in Pakistan.[7] [8] [9]

History

Paani, which means water in Urdu, was founded in 2017 at the University of Michigan and operated by student volunteers who aim to alleviate the water and sanitation crisis in Pakistan.[10] [11] [12] [13]

Paani has focused largely on the most disadvantaged families in various districts of Sindh including Jacobabad, Mirpurkhas, Jaffarabad and Tharparkar.[14] In response to COVID-19 pandemic in Pakistan, the non-profit has distributed over a million dollars of medical supplies to clinics including ventilators, electrocardiogram machines, cardiac monitors, and face masks to hospitals in Pakistan.[7]

The non-profit has built wells in honor of George Floyd and Mohammad Anwar.[15] [16]

In July 2021, the organization worked with NBA superstar Kyrie Irving to build a solar water center in Pakistan.[17] [18] This effort drew praise from the Consulate General of the United States, Karachi.[19]

During the summer of 2022, co-founder Sikander 'Sonny' Khan received The Diana Award and the Daily Point of Light Award for his efforts in creating Paani.[20] [21]

In August 2022, the organization built a school for child Afghan refugees in Swabi through a viral donation from DraftKings CEO Jason Robins.[22] [23] [24]

In September 2023, the Clinton Global Initiative selected Paani as one of 30 organizations for the CGI Greenhouse, an opportunity to accelerate partnerships for mission-driven entrepreneurs with strategic, intersectional approaches to addressing global challenges.[25]

Operations

The organization helped 7,551 families of three tehsils of Tharparkar district from 400 deep water wells and five solar-powered water wells in Pakistan, however across Pakistan the number is much larger.[26] The nonprofit relies on a number of contacts including local construction companies to build the wells, while producing jobs for the unemployed.[27] At the completion of each well, local community members are trained on the maintenance process to ensure longevity of the wells.

During the 2019 Earthquake in Kashmir, Paani was involved in distributing emergency clothing and bedding in collaboration with other NGOs for the affected communities.

During the 2020 Karachi Floods, Paani was involved in both distributing cooked meals and delivering clean water via water tankers to the affected neighborhoods.

Paani supplied over 4,000+ families (avg. of 7 members) with at least 1-month of food and hygiene kits, which included masks, sanitizers andcleaning productsSupplied $500,000 of relevant medical supplies to a governmentdesignate COVID-relief center to a health clinic in Lahore housed underthe Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute.[28] [29] [30]

Paani's installation of solar-powered water facilities in Tharparkar allowed women to grow gardens.[31] [32] [33]

Paani raised over $1.2 million in order to help alleviate the worsening flood conditions in Interior Sindh and Karachi, Pakistan and distributed hot cooked meals.[34] [35]

Fundraising

As an organization, Paani began with students raising funds by selling donuts at the Michigan Union until they were able to raise $600 to construct their first water well.[36] [37] As of 2023, most of their fundraising is conducted through LaunchGood and online donations via their website.[38] [39] The organization has raised over $5 million while maintaining $0 in overhead.[40] [41]

Notable Supporters

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Sikander Sonny Khan. 2021-12-30. Forbes. en.
  2. News: Javed. Nilanjana G.. Hollywood stars Lindsay Lohan and Jesse McCartney extend Ramadan greetings. 15 April 2021. 10 June 2021. Gulf News. en.
  3. Web site: 14 April 2021. Lindsay Lohan, Jesse McCartney and more stars send Ramadan greetings to Muslim fans. 10 June 2021. Geo TV News website. en.
  4. Web site: 24 October 2019. UM student group to host teach-in to raise Kashmir awareness. 10 June 2021. mlive.com website. en.
  5. Web site: Patel . Nirali . 2022-06-09 . Paani raises over 1 million dollars during Ramadan . 2022-06-09 . The Michigan Daily . en-US.
  6. Web site: 2023-08-09 . 30 Under 30 Local 2023: Seattle . . 2023-08-09 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230809164256/https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesunder30team/2023/08/09/30-under-30-local-2023-seattle/ . 2023-08-09 .
  7. News: Yu . Ann . Nonprofit organization Paani raises over $250,000 for rural Pakistan in response to COVID-19 . The Michigan Daily . 1 July 2020. 10 June 2021.
  8. Web site: A . Danial . Pakistani-Americans Work To Create An NGO Dedicated To Fix Pakistan's Water Crisis! . Parhlo.com website . 3 March 2020. 10 June 2021.
  9. https://www.globalinnovationexchange.org/innovation/paani-project Paani Project on Global Innovation Exchange website
  10. News: Lakers' LeBron James is honored with well in Pakistan . Eduardo Gonzalez. Los Angeles Times . 9 December 2019. 10 June 2021.
  11. News: 14 April 2021. Former Disney, Nickelodeon stars send Ramadan greetings to Muslim fans. 10 June 2021. Arab News. en.
  12. Web site: Here's how a UNC student organization helped improve water accessibility abroad. 13 August 2020. 10 June 2021. Kate Carroll. The Daily Tar Heel (daily newspaper of the University of North Carolina).
  13. Web site: Wilkins . Pete . What Drives The University Of Michigan's Entrepreneurial Success . 2022-10-13 . Forbes . en.
  14. Web site: Paani Project USA installs hand pumps and distributes food items in various Districts of Sindh . 7 June 2020. News10 TV website. 10 June 2021.
  15. Web site: Qazi . Areeba . How a Nonprofit is Providing Water in Pakistan . Brown Girl Magazine . 24 June 2020. 10 June 2021.
  16. Web site: 2019-10-09. Clean water start-up names well in Pakistan after LeBron James. 2021-05-21. LeBron Wire. en-US.
  17. Web site: Lewis. Brian. 2021-07-30. Kyrie Irving makes clean water in drought-ridden Pakistani village a reality. 2021-07-30. New York Post. en-US.
  18. Web site: 2021-07-29. NBA star Kyrie Irving's charity helps build solar water centre in Thar. 2021-07-30. dawn.com. en.
  19. US Consulate Karachi . usconsulatekhi . 1421109810045595648 . 30 July 2021 . American NBA superstar and humanitarian @KyrieIrving built a Paani solar center in Tharparkar. In time for Eid, Irving and his K.A.I Family Foundation inaugurated a solar water plant that will support 1000 villagers in the Rohal village of Tharparkar. (1/2) https://t.co/jyFWfkmkXo . en . 13 December 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220831011448/https://twitter.com/usconsulatekhi/status/1421109810045595648 . 31 August 2022 . live.
  20. Web site: July 1, 2022 . Simon . Perry . Prince William Shares Emotional Letter on Mom Princess Diana's Birthday: 'She Would Be So Proud' . 2022-07-12 . people.com . en.
  21. Web site: Light . Points of . Volunteer Changes the World Through Clean Water, One Well at a Time . 2022-09-08 . Points of Light . en-US.
  22. Web site: 2022-08-18 . The incredible story of how DraftKings CEO's mistaken burner led to the building of a school in Pakistan . 2022-08-20 . For The Win . en-US.
  23. Web site: Edelstein . Jeff . 2022-08-16 . Jason Robins, Twitter Burners, And A New School In Pakistan . 2022-08-20 . SportsHandle . en-US.
  24. Web site: Anissa . Gardizy . August 25, 2022 . 'Mind-boggling': How a donation from DraftKings' CEO led to a new school for Afghan refugees . 2022-08-27 . BostonGlobe.com . en-US.
  25. News: CGI ACCELERATES PARTNERSHIPS FOR ENTREPRENEURS, STARTUPS THROUGH CGI GREENHOUSE .
  26. News: A drop of hope: Solar-powered water wells for Tharis. 20 May 2021. 10 June 2021. Jan Khashkheli. The News International (newspaper). en.
  27. Web site: 18-08-2022 - 1-Page - the Regional Times.
  28. Web site: Paani: Navigating Humanitarian Aid in the Midst of Crisis. Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) website . Ayan Ajeen . 10 June 2021.
  29. Web site: Hintz. Livvy. 2019-03-22. Paani event focuses on water sanitation crisis in Pakistan and Flint. 10 June 2021. The Michigan Daily. en-US.
  30. Web site: Banglani. Zaheer. Services of FRDP, Paani Project USA lauded.
  31. Web site: 2 June 2021. Thar women produce vegetables at home to fight poverty. 10 June 2021. Hanif Samoon. Daily Times (newspaper). en-US.
  32. News: Banglani . Zaheer . June 4, 2021 . FRDP, Paani Project USA facilitate Jacobabad's growers . The Regional Times of Sindh . https://web.archive.org/web/20210604032001if_/http://regionaltimes.com/04Jun2021/2.jpg . June 4, 2021.
  33. Web site: Residents of Village.
  34. News: Aug 27, 2020 . Paani Project Report . 1 . Aug 27, 2020.
  35. Web site: Code . Astrid . 2023-07-12 . Paani raises over $1.2M for Pakistan flood relief . 2023-08-09 . The Michigan Daily . en-US.
  36. Web site: Choose to Act: How to Build An International NGO While Graduating from School We Are Michigan Public Health . 2021-06-18. sph.umich.edu. en.
  37. Web site: Samoon. Hanif. 2021-06-16. A journey of volunteers to help thirsty people. 2021-06-16. PKnama. en-US.
  38. Web site: Bickerton. Scarlett. 25 May 2021. Paani raises over $900,000 for clean water and food relief in Pakistan. 10 June 2021. The Michigan Daily. en-US.
  39. News: Drake Bell, Lindsay Lohan and more celebs honour Ramadan for a good cause. 14 April 2021. 10 June 2021. The News International (newspaper). en.
  40. Web site: Ennette. Frederick. 2021-07-29. Kyrie Irving Takes Savage Shot at Nike After Images of Latest Shoe Leaks. 2021-08-11. Heavy.com. en-US.
  41. Web site: Light . Points of . Volunteer Changes the World Through Clean Water, One Well at a Time . 2022-09-07 . Points of Light . en-US.
  42. Web site: Dorfmann . Daniel I. . 2023-04-18 . Gov. Pritzker, other top officials attend Skokie iftar organized by local elected official . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230418022814/https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/skokie/ct-skr-iftar-amiwala-tl-0420-20230417-t3cksh5umzdutcexf56hxjwctu-story.html . 2023-04-18 . 2023-04-18 . Chicago Tribune.
  43. O'chaudry . Rabia . rabiasquared . 1384570482989613056 . 20 April 2021 . This is awesome @inihelene! This year I sponsored a well in my mother's name and then we did three more in my father, uncle, and grandfather's name in #Pakistan. There is a real need there. https://t.co/fszBCiXVXF . en . 13 December 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210425034020/https://twitter.com/rabiasquared/status/1384570482989613056 . 25 April 2021 . live.
  44. Web site: Hintz . Livvy . 2019-03-22 . Paani event focuses on water sanitation crisis in Pakistan and Flint . 2022-08-06 . The Michigan Daily . en-US.
  45. Khan . Jeremy . JeremyMcLellan . 1246453152926269441 . 4 April 2020 . This is so surreal. @PaaniProject builds wells in rural Pakistan and I just found out they built a well in my honor in the village of Yaar Ali Golo. PS: Right now they are also providing food packs to rural laborers so please support them here: https://t.co/KEzZfqCvop https://t.co/jYDofi6jgx . en . 13 December 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210517195333/https://twitter.com/jeremymclellan/status/1246453152926269441 . 17 May 2021 . live.
  46. Web site: 2021-04-13 . Your favourite Disney and Nickelodeon stars united for a Ramazan message . 2022-08-06 . Images . en.
  47. Web site: 2022-08-05 . Made at Michigan . 2022-08-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220805235216/https://madeatmichigan.umich.edu/ . 5 August 2022 . dead.
  48. Web site: Login • Instagram . 2023-05-30 . www.instagram.com.