**The Story of Hope**
**Beginnings**
This journey began with a serendipitous meeting of Tjimen, Greg, Ayesha, Muddasar Niazi, and Talha Sattar at a hotel in Lahore in November 2023. Although strangers, they were united by a shared passion for meaningful change.
Tjimen and Greg, representatives of Samaritans Servants International (SSI) from South Africa, connected with Ayesha, a lecturer in logistics and supply chain management, and Muddasar and Talha, brothers who owned a local brick kiln. Through extensive discussion, they resolved to work together—Ayesha and the Niazi brothers, with guidance from SSI—to make the “Samaritan Dream” a reality.
**The Samaritan Dream**
The vision of the Samaritans Servants International (SSI) initiative was profound:
- To empower through education, training, and opportunities for dignified work.
- To confront the traditional bonded labor practices in Pakistan’s brick kiln industry.
- To advocate for fair wages and establish a salary system that upholds workers’ dignity.
- To provide children the chance to pursue their dreams through education and careers outside of the kiln.
- To combat malnutrition by offering nutritious meals to workers and their families.
- To establish medical services, community support jobs for women, and safe play areas for children.
- To supply clean drinking water and raise awareness on hygiene and nutrition.
- To educate on sustainable gardening for self-sufficiency.
**The Niazi Brick Kiln: A Starting Point**
The Niazi brick kiln employed approximately 300 workers, over 60% of whom were women and children residing on-site. While the Niazi brothers provided basic amenities, most workers were trapped in cycles of poverty through bonded labor. A significant portion of their earnings was regularly deducted to repay loans, often taken for emergencies or essential life events.
**Brick Kiln Life**
Women form the backbone of the brick kiln industry, often producing higher-quality bricks than their male counterparts. Their shifts begin at 5 a.m. and end at 2 p.m., leaving little time for family responsibilities. Consequently, the eldest daughter usually assumes household duties, including cooking and cleaning.
**Progress: Access to Clean Water**
Early in the project, SSI constructed four wells, providing workers with clean drinking water, a critical need in the kiln village. With these wells, workers could access fresh water close to work areas, improving both health and convenience. Additionally, SSI installed cement platforms by the wells, facilitating water collection and enabling parents to bathe their children on-site.
**Livelihood and Nutrition**
SSI’s initiatives extended beyond water; they also introduced twice-weekly fresh meals for the children. UNICEF contributed cod-liver oil supplements to address malnutrition, and SSI coordinated monthly distributions of nutrient-rich cookies and milk. Additionally, SSI collected donations of toys and warm clothes, brightening the lives of the children.
**Health and Well-being**
High-potency vitamins are distributed to 300 adults quarterly, although the demand calls for more frequent provisions. In October 2024, 45 children were diagnosed with malaria, and nearly all families struggled with scabies and other skin issues linked to their work.
**Challenges and Perseverance**
As project manager, I faced daunting obstacles, with little time to spare. Delays meant prolonged suffering, so I immediately engaged the kiln owners, emphasizing that the bond system violated core ethical and religious principles, including those in Islam, Christianity, and Judaism.
I held weekly meetings with the owners, presenting data on how the bonded labor system affected cash flow, ROI, and product quality, explaining that fair treatment could enhance both worker motivation and kiln profitability. We also discussed mechanization, such as implementing conveyor belts to reduce physical labor.
**Educating the Children**
Teaching the children basic literacy and numeracy was a straightforward task, but instilling motivation was challenging. These children had known only the kiln life, and their limited worldview initially hindered their understanding of choice and possibility.
**Moments of Reflection**
One winter day in 2023, as I served warm bread with curry to the children, three sisters asked me to break a piece of bread in half. The eldest explained that they had never received a full portion; their mother always divided one piece among them. Experiences like these underscore the importance of this mission.
**Dreaming of a Better Life**
We dreamed of creating a place where these young souls could learn, grow, and make informed choices about their futures. With SSI’s support, a classroom was established—where dreams indeed began to take shape. Additionally, a kind doctor visits weekly, providing essential medical care for the kiln families.
**Recognition and Progress**
In acknowledgment of their progressive approach, the Brick Kiln Owners Federation named the Niazi Brick Kiln as the most exemplary in Pakistan. This recognition highlighted several achievements:
- Adoption of Zig Zag kiln technology, reducing environmental impact.
- Provision of abundant clean drinking water.
- Planting of 40 fruit trees on-site.
- Reducing bonded labor debt from 4.5 million to 700,000 rupees within a year.
- Eradication of child labor within the kiln.
- Installation of a soil machine, easing the workload of manual soil preparation.
- Establishment of a school for 50 children.
- Availability of an on-call doctor.
**An ILO Visit**
The International Labour Organization (ILO) visited the Niazi kiln, documenting the children’s educational experiences and the Zig Zag kiln operations. The ILO was impressed and requested that SSI conduct training sessions on the Zig Zag technology for other kiln owners.