OUR MISSION
Project Azadi aims to provide crucial support to persecuted Christians in Pakistan through legal aid, domestic policy enforcement, and international community influence efforts. Pakistan has seen a significant rise in religious intolerance, with Christian minorities facing discrimination, violence, and legal challenges. This project seeks to help address these issues by leveraging funds and relationships to offer legal assistance to victims of persecution and advocating for their rights through strategic community-building efforts both domestically and internationally.
Objectives:
Legal Aid Provision: Utilize funds to provide legal representation and support to persecuted Christians facing unjust legal proceedings or human rights violations. Collaborate with existing human rights organizations and activists for the greatest possible impact. Mobilize emotional and political support from the massive international Christian community.
Domestic Policy Enforcement: Engage in targeted efforts to influence local politicians and institutions such as the police towards protecting the rights awarded to religious minorities against unjust oppression such as mob violence, lynching, pillaging of belongings and property etc.
International Community Building: Raise awareness both locally and internationally about the plight of persecuted Christians in Pakistan, fostering advocacy for their rights and support. This means working with the international Christian community for petitions that demand action against this injustice.
Local Awareness and Support: Raising awareness and garnering grassroots support by allying ourselves with the educated and liberal population demographics in Pakistan and making them aware of the plight of the religious minorities in their country.
Target Beneficiaries:
Persecuted Christians and Minorities: Individuals and communities in Pakistan facing discrimination, violence, and legal challenges due to their religious beliefs, primarily the Christian community.
Legal Advocates: Lawyers and legal professionals engaged in defending the rights of persecuted Christians.
Advocacy Groups: Organizations and activists committed to promoting religious freedom and human rights in Pakistan.
Impact and Outcomes:
Legal Justice: Ensuring fair legal representation and protection for persecuted Christians, leading to improved outcomes in legal proceedings. Proper prosecution of the oppressors under the legal code over time will deter the unchecked growth in violence over recent years.
Public Awareness: Increasing understanding and empathy towards the challenges faced by persecuted Christians through targeted advocacy and awareness campaigns.
Policy Enforcement: Effecting positive changes in policies and practices that safeguard the existing rights and freedoms of religious minorities in Pakistan. This will lead to a better life emotionally, physically, and financially for the community in the country.
Budget Allocation:
Legal Aid Services: Covering legal fees, court costs, and related expenses for cases involving persecuted Christians. This may extend towards re-housing, resettlement, and other protectionary provisions for the families of the accused.
Awareness and Advocacy: Supporting campaigns, outreach efforts, and engagement with policymakers and stakeholders.
Administrative and Management Costs: Overhead expenses necessary for the effective operation and management of the project.
PREVIOUS PROJECTS
Before starting Project Azadi, I have been funding local organizations since 2020 as an extra-curricular college activity. My goal has been to share the burden of the persecuted minorities in Pakistan through grassroots campaigns of local organizations. To alleviate the impact of oppression through avenues such as education, healthcare, employment, and social events. Fueled by a passion for Jesus Christ and dedication to his ministry, Project Azadi was formed and now we aim to let his light shine upon his people by joining the vanguard against injustice.
So far, I have partnered with a locally registered not-for-profit organization to empower minorities through Education, Employment, and Social Events.
Education:
I helped fund a K-5 school for the children of indentured slaves at Brick Kilns in and near Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.
Also included are scholarships for students wanting to attain higher studies as well as fees for trade schools.
Employment:
Most recent project was to provide employment to the marginalized. Looking at the local economy, transport has emerged to be the best avenue to earn a living for low-skilled and low-education individuals.
Working alongside local organizations, we have helped provide Rickshaws which earn a survivable income.
Social Events:
The Local Empowerment program, a cornerstone of Project Azadi, emphasizes the importance of creating real change through social inclusion.
Being marginalized means being left out of every day social activities, further hurting the individuals. Alleviating the social trauma many of the Christian children suffer from is a core mission of ours.
ABOUT THE FOUNDER
My name is Yarid Asher
Born in Pakistan, raised in Albany NY. My family sought religious freedom in the US and fled Pakistan when I was 13 years old. I went to the University at Albany to study finance and entrepreneurship. My efforts to help the Christian community in Pakistan began during the Covid-19 pandemic through donations to local organizations for food distribution with the help of the school's faculty. Since then I have been using personal funds to support SSSS in their various projects to uplift the oppressed and marginalized.
After graduation in 2021, I worked as a financial analyst at the prestigious Goldman Sachs for 2 years. However, in 2023, Jesus called me to focus on his mission in a new way. Heeding his call, I left the finance world and launched Project Azadi with my team. Explicit mission is to create sustainable infrastructure for legal, political, financial, and security aid to persecuted minorities.
Your support is crucial in making a tangible difference in the lives of persecuted Christians in Pakistan. By contributing to this initiative both financially and through petitions, you will help provide essential legal aid and advocate for policies that protect religious minorities from discrimination and violence. Together, we can work towards a more just and inclusive society where all individuals can practice their faith freely and without fear.
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