Wikipedia

Paani Project

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 2024, Paani operates in Pakistan and Jordan and has raised over $7 million.[4][5][6] Paani has built over 20,000 water wells, and delivered millions of meals to rural families in Pakistan.[7][8][9]

Paani
Founded2017; 7 years ago (2017)
TypeInternational NGO
Location
Area served
Pakistan, Jordan
Fields
  • Humanitarian aid and activism
  • Sustainable aid
  • Mothers and children affected by the Pakistan crisis
CEO
Sikander 'Sonny' Khan[1]
Websitewww.paaniproject.org

History

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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, 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] The school is expected to serve approximately 175 students over the next five years.

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]

In November 2023, Khan was named in the Forbes 30 Under 30 list.[26] In March 2024, Khan received the Diana Legacy Award from William, Prince of Wales for his humanitarian efforts.[27][28]

Operations

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Water Projects

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Paani conducts needs assessments to determine the most beneficial type of well for each community. Approximately 65% of the wells built are hand pumps, 30% are deep wells, and 5% use solar power or reverse osmosis. The organization partners with local construction companies and ensures fair compensation for laborers involved in well construction.

Paani relies on a number of contacts including local construction companies to build the wells, while producing jobs for the unemployed.[29] At the completion of each well, local community members are trained on the maintenance process to ensure longevity of the wells.

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.[30]

Women's Empowerment

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Paani has established a Women's Center offering skills training and vocational programs. As of 2023, 40 women are undergoing training in handcrafts and sewing. The center aims to promote gender equality and enhance socio-economic well-being.

In Tharparkar, Paani's solar-powered water facilities have enabled women to grow gardens, further supporting their economic independence.[31][32][33]

Emergency Responses

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Paani has responded to various emergencies in Pakistan:

Transparency and Accountability

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Paani emphasizes transparency in its operations. When a donation is made for a well, the donor receives a Google Drive album of 60 photos and a video documenting the entire process, including photos of community members benefiting from the final result.

The organization maintains zero overhead costs, ensuring all donations are directed to supported rural communities. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Paani adhered to regulations set by the Inter-Agency Standing Committee of the United Nations for safe food distribution

Paani aims to improve donor engagement by connecting them with beneficiaries on the ground, allowing donors to feel involved in the process even after making their contribution.

Fundraising

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Paani began with students raising funds by selling donuts at the Michigan Union, raising $600 for their first water well.[39][40]The organization now conducts most of its fundraising through online platforms like LaunchGood and online donations via their website.[41][42]

Approximately 80% of Paani's fundraising occurs during Ramadan. Notable campaigns include:

  • 2021: Raised $905,155
  • 2023: Raised over $1.26 million for flood relief

Paani has also engaged celebrities in campaigns, including a 2021 Ramadan video featuring Phill Lewis, Lindsay Lohan, Drake Bell, and Tony Hawk, which received millions of views across social media platforms.

The organization has raised over $5 million while maintaining $0 in overhead.[43][44]

Notable Supporters

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References

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  1. ^ "Sikander Sonny Khan". Forbes. Retrieved 2021-12-30.
  2. ^ Javed, Nilanjana G. (15 April 2021). "Hollywood stars Lindsay Lohan and Jesse McCartney extend Ramadan greetings". Gulf News. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  3. ^ "Lindsay Lohan, Jesse McCartney and more stars send Ramadan greetings to Muslim fans". Geo TV News website. 14 April 2021. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  4. ^ "UM student group to host teach-in to raise Kashmir awareness". mlive.com website. 24 October 2019. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  5. ^ Patel, Nirali (2022-06-09). "Paani raises over 1 million dollars during Ramadan". The Michigan Daily. Retrieved 2022-06-09.
  6. ^ "30 Under 30 Local 2023: Seattle". Forbes. 2023-08-09. Archived from the original on 2023-08-09. Retrieved 2023-08-09.
  7. ^ a b Yu, Ann (1 July 2020). "Nonprofit organization Paani raises over $250,000 for rural Pakistan in response to COVID-19". The Michigan Daily. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  8. ^ A, Danial (3 March 2020). "Pakistani-Americans Work To Create An NGO Dedicated To Fix Pakistan's Water Crisis!". Parhlo.com website. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  9. ^ Paani Project on Global Innovation Exchange website Retrieved 10 June 2021
  10. ^ Eduardo Gonzalez (9 December 2019). "Lakers' LeBron James is honored with well in Pakistan". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  11. ^ "Former Disney, Nickelodeon stars send Ramadan greetings to Muslim fans". Arab News. 14 April 2021. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  12. ^ Kate Carroll (13 August 2020). "Here's how a UNC student organization helped improve water accessibility abroad". The Daily Tar Heel (daily newspaper of the University of North Carolina). Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  13. ^ Wilkins, Pete. "What Drives The University Of Michigan's Entrepreneurial Success". Forbes. Retrieved 2022-10-13.
  14. ^ "Paani Project USA installs hand pumps and distributes food items in various Districts of Sindh". News10 TV website. 7 June 2020. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  15. ^ Qazi, Areeba (24 June 2020). "How a Nonprofit is Providing Water in Pakistan". Brown Girl Magazine. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  16. ^ "Clean water start-up names well in Pakistan after LeBron James". LeBron Wire. 2019-10-09. Retrieved 2021-05-21.
  17. ^ Lewis, Brian (2021-07-30). "Kyrie Irving makes clean water in drought-ridden Pakistani village a reality". New York Post. Retrieved 2021-07-30.
  18. ^ "NBA star Kyrie Irving's charity helps build solar water centre in Thar". dawn.com. 2021-07-29. Retrieved 2021-07-30.
  19. ^ US Consulate Karachi [@usconsulatekhi] (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" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 31 August 2022. Retrieved 13 December 2022 – via Twitter.
  20. ^ Perry, Simon (July 1, 2022). "Prince William Shares Emotional Letter on Mom Princess Diana's Birthday: 'She Would Be So Proud'". people.com. Retrieved 2022-07-12.
  21. ^ Light, Points of. "Volunteer Changes the World Through Clean Water, One Well at a Time". Points of Light. Retrieved 2022-09-08.
  22. ^ "The incredible story of how DraftKings CEO's mistaken burner led to the building of a school in Pakistan". For The Win. 2022-08-18. Retrieved 2022-08-20.
  23. ^ Edelstein, Jeff (2022-08-16). "Jason Robins, Twitter Burners, And A New School In Pakistan". SportsHandle. Retrieved 2022-08-20.
  24. ^ Gardizy, Anissa (August 25, 2022). "'Mind-boggling': How a donation from DraftKings' CEO led to a new school for Afghan refugees". BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved 2022-08-27.
  25. ^ "CGI ACCELERATES PARTNERSHIPS FOR ENTREPRENEURS, STARTUPS THROUGH CGI GREENHOUSE".
  26. ^ MKukulka@mlive.com, Mitchell Kukulka | (2024-01-03). "Jackson High grad makes Forbes 2024 '30-Under-30′ list for marketing, charity efforts". mlive. Retrieved 2024-09-01.
  27. ^ MKukulka@mlive.com, Mitchell Kukulka | (2024-03-20). "British royal family recognizes 25-year-old Michigan man for charity work". mlive. Retrieved 2024-09-01.
  28. ^ Dakis, Delilah (2024-03-27). "UMich alum Sonny Khan receives The Diana Legacy Award for Paani". The Michigan Daily. Retrieved 2024-09-01.
  29. ^ "18-08-2022 - 1-Page - the Regional Times".
  30. ^ Jan Khashkheli (20 May 2021). "A drop of hope: Solar-powered water wells for Tharis". The News International (newspaper). Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  31. ^ Hanif Samoon (2 June 2021). "Thar women produce vegetables at home to fight poverty". Daily Times (newspaper). Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  32. ^ Banglani, Zaheer (June 4, 2021). "FRDP, Paani Project USA facilitate Jacobabad's growers". The Regional Times of Sindh. Archived from the original on June 4, 2021.
  33. ^ "Residents of Village".
  34. ^ Ayan Ajeen. "Paani: Navigating Humanitarian Aid in the Midst of Crisis". Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) website. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  35. ^ Hintz, Livvy (2019-03-22). "Paani event focuses on water sanitation crisis in Pakistan and Flint". The Michigan Daily. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  36. ^ Banglani, Zaheer. "Services of FRDP, Paani Project USA lauded".
  37. ^ "Paani Project Report" (PDF). Aug 27, 2020. p. 1. Retrieved Aug 27, 2020.
  38. ^ Code, Astrid (2023-07-12). "Paani raises over $1.2M for Pakistan flood relief". The Michigan Daily. Retrieved 2023-08-09.
  39. ^ "Choose to Act: How to Build An International NGO While Graduating from School | We Are Michigan Public Health". sph.umich.edu. Retrieved 2021-06-18.
  40. ^ Samoon, Hanif (2021-06-16). "A journey of volunteers to help thirsty people". PKnama. Retrieved 2021-06-16.
  41. ^ Bickerton, Scarlett (25 May 2021). "Paani raises over $900,000 for clean water and food relief in Pakistan". The Michigan Daily. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  42. ^ "Drake Bell, Lindsay Lohan and more celebs honour Ramadan for a good cause". The News International (newspaper). 14 April 2021. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  43. ^ Ennette, Frederick (2021-07-29). "Kyrie Irving Takes Savage Shot at Nike After Images of Latest Shoe Leaks". Heavy.com. Retrieved 2021-08-11.
  44. ^ Light, Points of. "Volunteer Changes the World Through Clean Water, One Well at a Time". Points of Light. Retrieved 2022-09-07.
  45. ^ a b Dorfmann, Daniel I. (2023-04-18). "Gov. Pritzker, other top officials attend Skokie iftar organized by local elected official". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on 2023-04-18. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  46. ^ O'chaudry, Rabia [@rabiasquared] (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" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 25 April 2021. Retrieved 13 December 2022 – via Twitter.
  47. ^ a b Hintz, Livvy (2019-03-22). "Paani event focuses on water sanitation crisis in Pakistan and Flint". The Michigan Daily. Retrieved 2022-08-06.
  48. ^ Khan, Jeremy [@JeremyMcLellan] (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" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 17 May 2021. Retrieved 13 December 2022 – via Twitter.
  49. ^ a b "Your favourite Disney and Nickelodeon stars united for a Ramazan message". Images. 2021-04-13. Retrieved 2022-08-06.
  50. ^ "Made at Michigan". 2022-08-05. Archived from the original on 5 August 2022. Retrieved 2022-08-06.
  51. ^ "Login • Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 2023-05-30. {{cite web}}: Cite uses generic title (help)
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