Umeed Parr: Bringing Hope to The War Against Childhood Cancer in Pakistan
"I wish I had someone like us guiding me when I was going through it,” says Huda Tareen Shareef.
Huda, Amal, Nabiah, Sana, and Hira are five women who have navigated the incredibly difficult journey of a loved one’s cancer diagnosis and treatment. In this interview, they discuss how they are transforming their shared pain into a source of hope for countless other families through their nonprofit Umeed Parr.
In Pakistan, approximately 8,000 children are diagnosed with cancer annually. While the global cure rate for childhood cancer is 80-85%, in Pakistan it plummets to a devastating 23%. The reason, as the founders explain, is an abandonment of treatment, because families simply cannot afford it.
A major contributor is the lack of facilities for caregivers, who often travel from afar for their children’s treatment and incur great costs with no place to stay. Families camp out on cold marble benches on winter nights and in the dust and trash. Their children, already weakened by chemotherapy, often catch infections and are readmitted. After witnessing these immense hardships, many families abandon treatment to save their other children from financial ruin.
“There should be no disparity in a child here or a child abroad. Families should not abandon treatment. Every child should get the same chance of survival.”
— Nabiah Mohammed, Co-Founder, Umeed Parr
Umeed Parr was born from this urgent need. The name comes from the Urdu proverb “umeed par dunya qaim hai” (the world rests upon hope) and also translates to “Wings of Hope.”
It started as a self-funded project where the founders visited cancer wards across Karachi, providing comfort and guidance to families. They recall how frightening it was to return to the paediatric oncology ward, and as they met families, they saw their former selves in each mother and family member’s eyes.
Their message to struggling parents is simple yet powerful: take it a day at a time and find people who understand your journey. The five co-founders have developed a deep sisterhood from their shared trauma and offer to speak to others who cannot find community.
“Finding people who have been through the same thing is the biggest rehmat from Allah. There is no need for them to sympathize, because they can empathize with you. And if you need someone to talk to, send us a DM on Instagram.”
— Amal Najiba Shah Jamot, Co-Founder, Umeed Parr
Driven by nothing but passion, Umeed Parr has continued to grow organically, partnering with hospitals like AKUH, NICH, and Indus Hospital. The founders express gratitude for how doors have opened for them, particularly thanking Dr. Asim Belgaumi, former Chief Medical Officer at AKU, who connected them to international giants like St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
In the past 1.5 years alone, Umeed Parr has launched Daycare Rewards and Snacks Programs at major hospitals; provided milk for children; launched a global comfort care needle ease project; started a vital mothers’ support group; and transformed wards with play areas and art, music, and dance therapy. They have also raised funds by selling hoodies bearing children’s artwork, collaborated with designer Ansab Jahangir for awareness and fundraising, and they continue to work with educational institutions like Dawood Public School on awareness programs.
This journey has given them hope in Pakistan’s potential: charity-run organizations like Indus Hospital are providing world class healthcare, and the country has an unparalleled philanthropic spirit.
Their next big project is Umeed Gharr, “a home away from home”—a clean, safe hostel near hospitals where a child and their caregiver can stay for the duration of treatment, complete with food, education, and counseling. This model, proven worldwide, could also allow fathers to return to work, knowing their family is safe, drastically reducing treatment abandonment due to affordability issues.
Now, they need premises, funding, and volunteers to make this project a reality. To learn how you can support Umeed Parr’s mission to give every child a fighting chance, visit the “Take Action” page on their website.
This article was developed with the assistance of AI tools.
