BUS408 Non-Governmental Organizations 

Project submitted to
Dr. DAMIRA ISMANOVA

In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the course:

BUS408

MUHAMMAD MUNEEB HUSSAIN

182005087

Girne American University

2020 – 2021 Fall
Contents
WHAT IS NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS?............................3
WHY NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS ARE IMPORTANT IN A
COUNTRY?............................................................................................4
MAIN ROLES OF NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION........................4
ADVANATAGES OF NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION...................5
DISAVANTAGES OF NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION...................5
EDHI FOUNDATION...............................................................................6
VISION AND STATEMENT......................................................................6
MOTTO..................................................................................................7
MISSIONS..............................................................................................7
COVID-19............................................................................................10
CONCLUSION......................................................................................11
WHAT IS NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS?

It is a non profit group that are independent of government involvement. These organizations are
organized into three levels on which they can serve a social or political goal which aims to
humanitarian causes or the environment.

1. On community, this could be a small group of individuals in a city or town who have the
same motivation and work together in it.
2. On national, it is the same as above, people with same motivation or goals “characteristics”
however as a whole nation.
3. On international, the word itself, international, means global. The organization is a global
organization which may include other countries

Non-government organization’s main goals are in international development, international aids and
charity/donations. Apart from this, non-government organizations are a non-profit organization
which is independent the government however it is also included with private organizations which is
not controlled by the government.

There are two broad groups of non-government organizations

1. Advocacy non-government organization, this organization basically defends or promotes a

specific cause for example, The World Wildlife Fund is a non-government organization which
is advocating for the environment.
2. Operational non-government organization, this organization basically focuses on the
implementation and design of the developed related projects for example, to create
programs are held in which funds and donations are given as financial resources, material
and even volunteers in order to sustain their projects.

There may be a few large scaled non-government organizations which uses both operational non-
government organization and advocacy non-government organization however, its most likely that
their focus may be one area in specific.

The work of a non-government organization may include international health education, women’s
and children’s right, environment advocacy and many more.

Types of Non-governmental organizations

1. BINGO “big international”

2. CSO “civil society organization”
3. DONGO “donor organized”
4. ENGO “environmental”
5. GONGO “government organized”
6. INGO “international”
7. Ringo “religious international” and many more organizations
WHY NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS ARE
IMPORTANT IN A COUNTRY?

So, we know that non-government organization is an organization which is neither a part of the
government nor a profit base business. These organizations are built by ordinary citizens who wish
to make their country/society a better place to live in. In other words, to make sure that people who
have needs which can not be fulfilled due to lack of finance can receive financial support. Now, these
non-government organizations can be fully funded by the citizen themselves or it may be funded by
government, businesses or foundation.

Non-government organizations play an important role in a country’s social development. These

organizations provide the support that a government may unable to provide. For example, in a
developing country, education and a healthy lifestyle are the key for an economy to grow and
succeed. Hence, non-government organizations take the responsibility of education for the
unprivileged children and help unprivileged citizen with healthy food, clean water and shelter. Apart
from this, non-government organizations’ one of the other goals are to provide critical humanitarian
relief in natural disaster-affected areas but one of the most important goal of theirs is that they
represent the voices of the poor.

Non-government organizations look for the matters, problems, reasons & help people to resolve it.
They are the support system of the people in need in a country which is why non-government
organizations are important in a country.

Furthermore, these non-government organizations are doing what has not been completed in a
society, in other words, trying to complete the things that matter in a society. This could be from
providing healthcare services, clothing shelter, education and many more. The betterment of a
country is served by non-government organizations. To understand it better let’s take the example
of Edhi Foundation, which I will be talking about below. Now, this NGO is active in Pakistan. It has
almost 12 initiatives. These initiatives are concerned with ambulance service, hospital, children
services, Edhi homes and orphanage centers, educational centers, and many more which will be
mentioned below.

MAIN ROLES OF NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION

Non-government organizations have three main roles in a country.

1. Communication, non-government organizations can help in communicating or being the

voice of the people to the government or vice versa from government to the people. These
organizations can be the voice of the voiceless and inform the government about problems
and issues being faced by local and also can further tell the local about what the government
plans to do or what solutions the government has come up with.

2. Organized, these organizations offer opportunities for the self-organized of the society, they
empower citizens to work together voluntarily to show importance of social values and civil
 goals. This action basically unites a society or country to look out for each other, to be a
helping hand for the unprivileged.

3. Speakers, non-government organizations are there basically to help the unprivileged ones,
so basically a speaker is a very important role in the non-government organization as the
speak out for the ones who can not speak out for themselves. Their main purpose as a
speaker is to influence government policies and programs for the ones in need.

ADVANATAGES OF NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION

The non-government organizations have the skills and sources to identify those who are in need,
understand their needs and then tailor to their needs, whether its shelter, food or basic necessities.
Apart from this, those who run and help in the non-government organizations have the skills to
communicate at all levels meaning this could be from the neighborhood to the top level of
government or even internationally. There is no starting level or ending level, it could be any level.

DISAVANTAGES OF NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION

Like many things, with many advantages, there may be disadvantages too. One of the main
disadvantage is that non-government organizations are completely dependent on outside financial
resources, meaning if any funder changes their mind and doesn’t fund the organization than the
organization will either have to cut cost by limiting their number for helping people or put a limit due
to which the organization may not be able to live up by their morals and mottos.
EDHI FOUNDATION

I am from Pakistan, and in Pakistan, one of the most renowned non-government organization is The
Edhi Foundation, which was founded in 1951 and the founder was Abdul Sattar Edhi and his wife
Bilquis Edhi.

The history or the foundation of the Edhi Foundation was when, Abdul Sattar Edhi and his family
moved from India to Pakistan. He and his family settled in Karachi where he established a free
medical service for the lesser income residents. These were his small acts of kindness which further
lead to big activities. One of the first charitable activities which helped in expanding the foundation
was in 1957 when the Asian Flu epidemic swept through Pakistan and the world. During this time
period and with the help of the donations, he bought his first ambulance which later expanded his
charity system with his wife.

The Edhi Foundation expanded entirely by private donations and is one of the most renowned non-
government organization is Pakistan. This foundation owns almost 1,800 ambulances. Another fact
about Abdul Sattar Edhi is that by the time of this death he was registered as a guardian to over
20,000 adopted children. Abdul Sattar Edhi is known amongst us Pakistanis as “Angel of Mercy” and
is also considered as Pakistan’s most respected figure.

VISION AND STATEMENT

Abdul Sattar Edhi’s vision for Pakistan was to establish and expand the healthcare in Pakistan. With
this vision, he first established a personal welfare trust known as “Edhi Trust” which he later
renamed it after his wife “Bilquis Edhi Trust” and with donations he expanded the trust to other
fields like medical, maternity homes and emergency ambulance services with the primary goal of
prioritizing the unprivileged.

Edhi was widely known and respected throughout Pakistan and all around the world. Till this day
forward, The Edhi Foundation still continues to grow and expand, both, in size and services and still
remains the largest non-government organization is Pakistan. The Edhi Foundation runs over 330
welfare centers throughout the rural and urban areas of Pakistan.

Abdul Sattar Edhi and his wife, shared the common vision of devotion to the cause of lessening of
human sufferings and made it their personal responsibility to respond to each call for help,
regardless of race, creed or status

The Edhi foundation is known for its world’s largest volunteer ambulance network provides a 24-
hour emergency assistance nationwide and internationally as well. The foundation is known for
many other services like shelters, hospitals and medical care, drug rehabilitation service, education
service, children service, graveyard service and also Edhi animal hostel and also free kitchen.

This foundation entirely runs with the help of volunteers, apart from that voluntary donations
support the foundation’s activities. Another way to help the foundation are by emphasizing on the
individual social masses’ contribution for like food, medicines and etc.

MOTTO

“serving humanity in the spirit of all religion”

This quote can be seen on the official logo of The Edhi Foundation. This quote basically presents that
humanity above all, despite religion, despite race or culture, humanity above all.

Sadden by the fact, Pakistan is a country where religious intolerance and sectarian extremism are
still common, Abdul Sattar Edhi was a personification of humanism and materialistic values. He
devoted literally his entire life to the welfare of his country’s citizens, rising above ethnic and
religious beliefs and preconceptions. Abdul Sattar Edhi called himself a material person, humanity
was the most important thing to him ever, and he proved it by working uncompromisingly for people
of all faiths, including the religious minorities and the oppressed, without thinking twice.

MISSIONS

1. VOLUNTARY AMBULANCE ORGANIZATION

There are three types of ambulance services.

1. Edhi Land Ambulance Service, this ambulance service started by a second hand Hillman
Pickup Truck and was rebuild into the first ambulance and had gotten the name “Poor
Patient Ambulance”. Now, 60 years later, this service has become the largest fleet of
ambulances in the world and providing throughout Pakistan.

2. Edhi Air Ambulance Service, this service has 2 aircrafts and 1 helicopter which provide help
or airlift services during the natural disasters to those who get stranded or injured and
require immediate hospital care.

3. Edhi Marine Ambulance Service, this service has 28 boats which are used when floods affect
areas.

2. EDHI HOSPITAL

Edhi Foundation provides medical assistance, including hospitals, medical aid, family
planning and emergency assistance.

the Edhi Foundation runs 8 hospitals providing free medical care, eye hospitals, diabetic
centers, surgical units, and a 4-bed cancer hospital in Karachi. Furthermore, the Foundation
also manages two blood banks.

3. CHILDREN SERVICES
Edhi children services dates back to 1949, Abdul Sattar Edhi’s wife, Mrs. Bilquis Edhi would supervise
and look after the babies and children. Cradles have been placed outside all Edhi Centers across the
country to keep the abandoned and illegitimate babies in these cradles rather than harming them

The abandoned newborn babies are provided to the childless couples. On annual basis, Edhi
Foundation has given 250 babies or children for adoption. Till this date, over 23,000 babies and
children have been provided to the childless couples and families.

4. EDHI HOMES AND ORPHANGE CENTERS

Edhi Foundation has 18 homes all over Pakistan. In the orphanage center are those who
have been abandoned or are mentally retarded and physical disabled. Also, the tortured
women in the outcome of domestic violence reside in the Edhi Homes as well as old age
people who have been disowned by their families.

5. EDUCATIONAL SERVICES
 Karachi Bilquis Edhi elementary and primary secondary schools is where the children of the ehdi
homes and orphanage center go and study.

6. REFUGEES ASSISTANCE

Edhi Foundation has been providing services to the refugees of different countries forced to
take shelter in Pakistan. A few countries are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Burma, Iraq, Kashmir

RECENT ACTIVITIES ON RESPONSE TO COVID-19

Pakistan is a developing country so during this pandemic it was hit the hardest and with the second
-wave, it is still suffering. Due to the oppressive economic strike, the covid-19 outbreak hit nearly
25% of the country’s over 200 million population and that too which lives below poverty line.

Non-government organizations in my country worked together to overcome this pandemic situation

so I shall be stating about all the non-government organizations that helped Pakistan fight Covid-19
starting with Edhi Foundation.

Pakistan remained under a lockdown for a couple of months and is again said to go under lock down
in the coming weeks. When the country was under lockdown and battling this outbreak, non-
government organizations and local charities played a strong part in the economic burden that the
low-income families faced by providing rations and medical assistance

The non-government organization’s main goal during the pandemic was to help the poor under the
lockdown. The Edhi Foundation had the upper advantage in this situation as they already knew
beforehand who the needy families were as it had already had a comprehensive data.

The Edhi Foundation quote "The advantage we, and other big charity organizations have is that we
have been involved in the relief activities for decades. We know where and when rations need to be
distributed," Sadaruddin said, adding "Insha Allah [God willing], no one will die of hunger in Pakistan
due to lockdown."

Edhi Foundation has been importing coronavirus testing kits, which have been provided to the
government and charity hospitals in the country. Another contribution they did during the pandemic
was distributing rations to the needy families. Apart from this, The Edhi Foundation made a bulk of
its ambulance services available to transport covid-19 patients to the hospitals and quarantine
centers across Pakistan

Another quote "We are working 24/7 to assist the government in battle against coronavirus," said
Faisal Edhi, the foundation's head.

Apart from The Edhi Foundation, another countrywide charity, Saylani Welfare, introduced an app
and a telephone service for the needy families where they could register themselves to get monthly
rations or other essential items during the pandemic.
Another largest charity organization in Pakistan, Al-Khidmat Foundation, helped in distributing ration
with essentials like soaps, sanitizers and face masks all across the country. Apart from this, the
foundation has a chain of charity hospitals, and this foundation had given the country designated
isolation wards for covid-19

The non-government organization that I choose was The Edhi Foundation however since Pakistan is
a developing country, the non-government organization within the country could not fight off this
battle with COVID-19 hence Pakistan took aid from other countries. However, the non-government
organization, Edhi Foundation, has done a lot for Pakistan and in times of crises it is still doing so. It
has been the voice for so many unprivileged citizens, gave home to the homeless and abandoned
ones, this organization had a strong belief for humanity above all hence never criticized any religion,
any culture, any cast.

CONCLUSION

Non-government organization play a very important part in our society. These organizations are here
in a society because there may be a need to make the society a better place for everyone. These
organizations have a clear purpose and that is to help and be the greater good. The members of the
non-government organization take the responsibility of fulfilling moral and social needs which the
government may miss out.

Moreover, if I were to work with a non-governmental organization on an international level than it

would be linked to world hunger organization, basically to end global hunger. There are many non-
governmental organizations that work with this aim, for example Action Against Hungry, Bread for
the World, Convoy of Hope, World Food Programme, Freedom from Hunger and many more.

Why end global hunger? A good nutritious in life can only lead to a healthy and better life and not
only this but may also help the economy. As per research, a poor nutrition can lead to stunted
growth which is not reversible and with many other problems like impaired cognitive ability which
makes it a start of a poor living standard as the individual may not be able to go school or work well.

Ending hunger, means healthier people, healthy lifestyle and a healthy economy where there are
more people to work and build a country rather than sick people which makes the country go
worser. Apart from this, everyone deserves to live a heathy nutritious lifestyle rather than presuming
it is the survival for the fittest.

This world is filled with wealth and resources, guaranteed that there is enough food for everyone
around the world, and we human have the ability to end global hunger by being selfless. For
example, building wells in a village where there is no source of clean drinking water, or by building
water canals in a dried up farming land so that, that village can grow anything to start a living.