After the attacks, rays of hope in Lahore, Pakistan

Lahore (Pakistan), 4 April 2013: Hundreds of children have now restarted their formal education as life slowly returns to normal in Joseph Colony in Pakistan, after the colony was raided and set on fire by angry Muslims in the wake of blasphemy allegations on March 9. The permanent school has now opened, and reconstruction of the houses in Joseph Colony is complete. Aid has also streamed in from around the region.
Bishop Rufin Anthony of Islamabad-Rawalpindi arrived at the freshly painted community on Tuesday with a group of priests and a check for seven lakh rupees (US$7,118) towards a new education fund, reported UCA News on Wednesday.

“This is an expression of love from the poor Christians of our diocese," he told the crowd. The Church has pledged to fund the children's education through grade 10.

Meanwhile, Caritas Pakistan Lahore continued its mission to help rebuild the lives of the 265 families who survived the attack, distributing school bags, bedding, hygiene kits and cooking utensils to them.

“We are now aiming at long term projects for the poor which will include schooling of the poor students in the area as well as livelihood initiatives for women," said Amjad Gulzar, Executive Secretary of Caritas Pakistan.

“All of the colony residents are poor sanitary workers. The young are mostly illiterate. Education is the only way to a better future," he said.

But among this good news, insecurity still lingers.

Source: UCAN