Behind the Scenes

Integrated People - Behind the Scenes

Waqas Khatri

Irfan Khatri

I, Irfan Khatri, reside at Liyari (under-privileged and most neglected area of Karachi). I got my early education from Allama Iqbal Higher Secondary school while completing my high school studies there. Due to personal reasons, I could not study anymore and joined a well-known company Chemi Viscofiber Ltd as a bell boy. I worked with them for 2 years. During my service career, I also worked at UBL credit card section and Vey Drinking Water Company. I realized that Chemi group was much more helpful and considerate towards me so in August 2007, I once again joined Chemi Viscofiber Ltd. I worked hard, honestly and was very dedicated. I also started my studies privately again. I was deeply appreciated by the Chairman of the company and my honesty took me to the level of becoming the PA to the Chairman.

Since childhood, I have been very interested and involved in welfare works of surrounding my locality. There was no formal platform for me to work, but some like-minded friends got together and did whatever we could on an individual scale. Mrs. Sabina Khatri (sister in-law of my CEO) was running a school in our locality for the less-privileged children. I started helping her and she appreciated my work so much that she offered me a proper place at her little NGO. This gave me a formal start and recognition as a social worker. I am one of the most dedicated volunteer of her NGO “NEEED ‘WELFARE WORKS ‘. I joined KIRAN SCHOOL in February, 2009 and NEEED in August 2010. KIRAN SCHOOL in Liyari runs under the NEEED Canopy. ‘Integrated People’ is another venture between KIRAN school parents and Penn State University students. I am playing the role of a' data collector' for this wonderful integrated program.

Zahabia Khatri

I am Zahabia Khatri, an art student, studying currently at Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture in Karachi, Pakistan. I did my high school from the Karachi American School, an elite school of our city. During high school I had been a part of many NGO programs for the sake of earning community service hours. While working for hours preparing small survival kits for the earthquake victims or for young cancer patient, I never realized that serving the people would become a passion that would extend even after high school requirements of community service hours were fulfilled and done with. My role in Integrated People is of a coordinator/manager of the craftspeople. I direct the ladies with the work and give them ideas about what to make and how to make them. I meet them once a week to discuss the process and procedures of the items they are making. I help and demonstrate new ideas which i research online, in books and in the local market. Integrated People is a light of hope for these talented women.

Sabina Khatri

"Founding Fathers" IST Group

Penn State College of IST Students that are developing a fully functional website and database to allow users to obtain information about the product's made by Integrated People's Artisans. The Founding Fathers are also researching the various business aspects of Integrated People.