BHP Billiton’s Zamzama gas project in Pakistan is located in the district of Dadu, which lies approximately 500 kilometres north of the coastal city of Karachi in Sindh Province. The area suffers from very low rainfall, lacks basic infrastructure and has limited educational facilities or opportunities. BHP's community development program is aiming to facilitate the empowerment process and improve the quality of life for the poor and the vulnerable people living in the areas where we operate. Education is considered to be a vital part of this process.
Prior to developing the program, consultative workshops were organised to ensure effective community participation and ownership of the project and to assess the critical needs in the area. These consultations revealed that access to quality education was the primary concern, with girls and women having been particularly disadvantaged.
Further research in Dadu showed that there were clear opportunities to improve school infrastructure; enhance teaching methodologies; and increase the motivation of teachers, children and parents towards education.
As part of its program, the Zamzama community development team has implemented a two-phase project. Initially, two local NGOs (Child Development Organization and Village Shadabad Welfare Organization) were selected to develop an education program. This then led to the establishment of five primary schools in the Johi area of Dadu. With support from the Company, the schools have been provided with appropriate infrastructure, furniture and equipment, and trained teachers.
Broad stakeholder involvement has been part and parcel of the development of the project. Regular consultations with the government, civic organisations and the community have taken place throughout the project phases. The local NGOs have overseen the smooth implementation of the project, while the community donated the school buildings. The government has further contributed by registering the local schools as part of the formal education framework and taking responsibility for routine monitoring of the schools.