VEER (Voice for Education & Equal Rights) means “TO CHANGE DIRECTION” and “BROTHER” in the local language, Saraiki, and is a registered Non-Governmental Organisation established for rendering its services to marginalised communities.

VEER works across the southern districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), including Dera Ismail Khan, Tank, Lakki Marwat and the merged districts, as well as the adjacent districts of Punjab such as Bhakkar, Mianwali, Khushab and Layyah. In recent years, our footprint has naturally expanded into more southern districts of Punjab (like Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur) and North Sindh districts including Khairpur, Jacobabad, Sukkur and Larkana. We have conducted household surveys, qualitative studies and community discussions on climate stress, heat exposure and local vulnerabilities across KPK, Punjab and Sindh. We also work closely with community groups and CSOs in these areas so that our presence remains connected to neighbouring regions that share our language, history, culture, and similar pressures.

VEER has implemented projects in NRM, agriculture, livestock, livelihoods, water management, CBDRM, school-based Disaster Risk Management and Climate Smart Agriculture, in coordination with the Agriculture Extension and Agriculture Research Departments. During our field work, communities in Sindhi and Saraiki areas speak openly about the harsh conditions they live through: extreme weather, hot winds, water shortages, poor ventilation and prolonged power cuts. Families often tell us about headaches, dizziness, body pains and sleepless nights during difficult weather periods, and how even simple daily tasks become hard. These human stories shape how we understand the link between climate and health in low-income communities.

VEER has worked with FAO, Swiss Development Corporation, DAI, Helvetas, ActionAid, OFDA, ECHO, Church World Services, UNICEF, UNDP (GEF), UNDP (Italian funding), AHAN, Concern Worldwide, KNH and Relief International. We strive to provide equal opportunities for youth and women to create employment windows for sustainable growth and development. Our work in Punjab and Sindh has shown us how women, elderly persons and outdoor workers face extra stress during heat spells, and how the lack of shade, clean water and rest spaces puts people at risk. Our partnerships with local CSOs and community volunteers helped us understand these issues closely and respond, where possible, through small-scale support and awareness-raising work.

VDO believes that women’s empowerment is the key to sustainable growth and consistently provides women and youth with opportunities for income generation and participation in decision-making. We integrate gender considerations across project planning and implementation because women and young people often have fewer opportunities for advancement and are more vulnerable to exploitation.

In our Sindhi and Saraiki Waseeb, which spans KPK, South Punjab and Sindh, women often tell us about the extra load they carry during harsh weather. They share their experiences of managing drinking water, caring for sick family members and trying to keep their homes comfortable when electricity is absent for more than 18 hours (especially in Sindh province). Young people speak about how harsh weather affects their daily routines, including long outdoor hours, walking or cycling under hot winds, struggling to study during power cuts, and dealing with stress linked to their families’ worries about water, health and income. Many youth describe feeling physically exhausted and emotionally drained during extreme heat, yet they continue supporting their households in whatever small ways they can.

Older people speak about swollen feet, breathing difficulties, dizziness and the fear of being alone during long blackout hours. Many say that even simple movements inside the house become difficult when heat builds up. People with disabilities share mobility challenges, how their wheelchairs or crutches heat up outdoors, and how they depend heavily on neighbours or family when temperatures rise and airflow disappears. These everyday realities continue to shape how VDO understands community health, climate stress and the need for early support for vulnerable families.

At VDO, we believe that local community knowledge combined with strong evidence can transform how communities cope with heat, pollution and climate-linked health risks. We work side-by-side with neighbourhood groups, youth organisations, women’s networks and frontline workers across KPK, Punjab and Sindh. Through partnerships with CSOs, municipal departments, Rescue 1122, health responders and volunteers, we aim to convert lived experience into practical action and turn risk stories into ready solutions that protect the most vulnerable.

The primary goal and aim of VDO is to raise awareness, encourage, and inspire gender-inclusive economic growth, improve and secure livelihoods, and increase the food security of communities in KPK. Over time, this vision has grown to include marginalised communities in Punjab and Sindh as well, who face similar challenges and look to organisations like VDO for support, solidarity and practical help.