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Home / The MacJannet Prize / 2023 MacJannet Prize Winners / Taameer (National University of Sciences and Technology, Pakistan)

Taameer (National University of Sciences and Technology, Pakistan)

First Place Prize Winner, 2023 MacJannet Prize

The NUST Community Services Club (NCSC) project Taameer is a flagship NCSC project that aspires to support relief, recovery, and rehabilitation during and after disasters like earthquakes, floods, and pandemics. It does this by providing immediate healthcare through medical camps; collecting and distributing ration bags, clothes, books, and stationery items; renovating and rebuilding impacted infrastructure like schools; installing water plants for clean water supply; strengthening disaster resilience and adaptive capacity; and creating awareness on climate change and disaster relief. Taameer (Urdu word for “Build”) was established back in 2010 when devastating monsoon rains resulted in flood disaster in Pakistan. It was massive and unprecedented, killing more than 1,700 persons, affecting over 20 percent of the land area, more than 20 million people, and causing loss of billions of dollars through damages to infrastructure, housing, agriculture and livestock, and other family assets. The purpose of the project was to support immediate relief, recovery, and rehabilitation during and after disasters by providing healthcare through medical camps; collecting and distributing ration bags, clothes, books, and stationery items; renovating and rebuilding impacted infrastructure like schools; installing water plants for clean water supply; strengthening disaster resilience and adaptive capacity; and creating awareness on climate change and disaster relief.

“It is such an honor to receive the prestigious 2023 MacJannet Prize from the Talloires Network.  Thank you to the TN team and the honorable committee to recognize our project Tameer and the related civic engagement activities that our students, faculty and staff are engaged in. We at NUST are extremely grateful to all the volunteers, donors and alumni who not only donate to the cause but also donate their time and effort to the work of this project. NUST has built a proud culture which champions civic engagement and recognizes the need of giving back to the society as one of the responsibilities of higher education institutes. This honor not only encourages our student club to continue working hard for the cause but also inspire everyone at NUST to step up when our community needs us the most.”

 – Maheen Mumtaz, Assistant Manager community service/Faculty sponsor NUST Community Services Club, NUST

Taameer has played an active role in relief and rehabilitation efforts throughout catastrophic events, including the 2010 floods, 2013 earthquake in Balochistan, the 2014 war against terrorism, the 2015 earthquake, the 2015 heatwave, COVID-19, the 2022 country-wide floods, and most recent 2023 earthquakes in Turkey and Syria. The project is currently focusing on rehabilitating flood victims affected by 2022 by “owning the village” and empowering them through complete rehabilitation and restoration.

The program is run by NUST Community Service Club students, with the Community Service office under the patron of Principal SMME- School of Mechanical and Manufacturing, NUST’s Student Affairs Office and NUST Administration providing administrative support.

The program’s primary goals include:

  • Providing immediate healthcare through medical camps
  • Collecting and distributing ration bags, clothes, books, and stationery items
  • Renovating and rebuilding impacted infrastructure like schools
  • Installing water plants for clean water supply
  • Strengthening disaster resilience and adaptive capacity
  • Creating awareness of climate change and disaster relief

Tameer addresses the following SDGs:

  • “Goal 1: No Poverty” by uplifting people that fall into poverty when disaster strikes by providing food, healthcare, and education
  • “Goal 2: Zero Hunger” by protecting people from the hunger that results when disaster strikes by providing ration
  • “Goal 3: Good Health and well-being” by providing instant medical care through medical camps after a disaster hits
  • “Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation” by providing clean water after a disaster hits
  • “Goal 13: Climate Action” by strengthening resilience and adaptive capacity in disasters and increasing awareness of disaster relief and mitigation