Dragons' Den investor sets up Pakistan gap year trips



He's best known as one of Britain's richest and most successful businessmen, and one of the fearsome panel of investors from TV's Dragons' Den.

But now entrepreneur James Caan has found a new project to work on - helping British people of Pakistani descent rediscover their roots. The businessman has set up a gap year teaching project that will give young British people the chance to work in Pakistan.

And although the project was launched just a week ago, it has already had hundreds of applications - including nearly 100 from Birmingham alone.

The Projects Abroad gap year organisation has been running since 1991, but has never had any trips to Pakistan, because authorities always believed it was too dangerous.

But Mr Caan persuaded them that it was important for people to recognise their roots, and that setting the trips up would be useful in the fight against extremism.

He said he believed the July 7 terror attacks in 2005 might not have happened if Pakistani Muslims in the UK had a better sense of identity about their roots.

He added: "I believe that there is great potential benefit, both in the UK and in Pakistan, from young people from families of Pakistani origin to do some voluntary work back in Pakistan. It will help to bridge the psychological and knowledge gap between these young people and their heritage.

"I have appointed the long-established volunteering organisation, Projects Abroad, to run this programme. They intend to work initially with volunteers interested in helping out at schools with teaching and care projects in the Lahore area.

"Volunteering with a professional organisation with global experience, like Projects Abroad, guarantees structured work and good support and monitoring, expert briefing and inductions, and proper arrangements for accommodation, food and insurance.

"This should all be reassuring to the families of potential young volunteers back home in the UK."

Mr Caan was supported in his initiative by old friend and former Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.

The two were meeting regularly at the end of last year to discuss Pakistan's economy.

Mr Caan's idea for the Projects Abroad gap year trips involves sending young British volunteers to work in schools in Pakistan.

Successful applicants will be working with the CARE foundation - a Pakistani charity founded in 1988 to provide education to needy children in the South Asian country.

The CARE foundation manages 182 schools in Pakistan, and is educating more than 114,000 students and employs more than 1,700 teachers.

There will also be opportunities to work in local newspaper, radio and TV placements, in hospitals, with after-school sports clubs and on IT projects.

Volunteers would be placed with host families in one of five locations around Lahore, the second-largest city in Pakistan.

Dr Peter Slowe, of the Projects Abroad programme said: " I welcome this initiative. It is an opportunity for young people from families originating in Pakistan to learn about an important part of their heritage, and it is also an opportunity for them to help with teaching and care in schools in Pakistan where they will be appreciated."

http://www.birminghampost.net/birmingham-b...65233-20596133/

Next he will paying them to stay, what subtlties of the fiends. Why doesn't he help indians or jews ?
I would be surprised if he has sympathies with the bnp or NF.

Someone should look into his background and find out what his game is.

What the hell are you talking about?

James Caan is a muslim and pakistani. He is trying to take Pakistan into next level.

Aoa

• Paying who to stay? You mean pay them to stay in Pakistan? Whats wrong with doing that?
• Isn't it obvious why he doesn't help Indians or Jews?
• So you would be surprised if he has sympathies with BNP? Why wouldnt' you?

Please clarify what you were trying to say...

w/salaam

HUH ? Seriously, I don't see where you're coming from, please elaborate. What has BNP got to do with all this ?

Personally I think this is a great opportunity, I myself was thinking about taking a gap year; however, there were no opportunities to go Pakistan some of my friends are going to Iceland for thier gap year but if I get this kind of opportunity to go back home and work there it'll be amazing.

This is a fantastic scheme by Caan.

Dar will boot Caan and his students in days...guarantee it.

I know that in the current political climate of Pakistan, I would expect nothing less from the leadership, but to boot out this new scheme as you said. One thing that has to be admitted, whether one is pro-Mush or anti-Mush, is that Mush promoted foreign investment onto a whole new level. Personally, I think this is a brilliant idea, but i'm not to sure about the political undertoning of this scheme.

Their have been terrorist attacks in the UK from other groups as well as the attacks of July 7th, notably the IRA campaign of the 70's and 80's as well as right wing Nazi attacks in London, during the early part of 2000 by Nick Copeland. No one has every talked about setting up an investment or business scheme in Ireland or any "Nazi" part of the UK (is their such a area) to "help" curb or fight terrorism.

http://www.james-caan.com/

Further info on the man himself.

Yes James Caan was born Nazam Khan and changed the spelling of his surname and adopted the name 'James.

Regardless of this he obviously cares about Pakistan so well done to him.

Sorry, I got lost in the conspiracy theories. If he is a muslim why does he have a christian name? Islam doesn't say make roots in other countries but have loyalties toi your present one. He would be better off investing in enskilling the ones here rather than taking them "back home". Its subtleties like this that deprive the new generation of identity. We are British muslims and proud to be . The new generation need to grow there roots here rather than spread them here and there.

You are dumb..

You did not even read the article.

He used christian name for the business. But home and close family/friends - they call him Nazim.

I know some pakistianis people have english name for work only.

You sir with all due respect are an idiot. I'm a British Muslim yet I am proud of my roots and they were and will always remain dear to me. Thoes who have lost touch with thier roots are turely baffled about thier real identity. Our nationality might be British but we will always be reconized by our ethnicity as Pakistanis and thoes Pakistanis in Pakistan are as much of my people as any British in this country. As far as Islam is concerned then Islam does not support nationalism, so making roots in which ever countries does not concern Islam.

Secondly, regarding the name issue I knew that was gonna come up, name doesn't make anyone a Muslim just by having a muslim name like Muhmmad, Humza, Ali etc doesn't make you a good muslim, it is the deeds which make you a muslim and this man has shown such deeds which a muslim must do. People with muslim names commit one of the most horrific crimes in this country.

puttar jis din ghoray bhunda par boot mari kadya barr us welay pooray british bany jasa.

Trust me on one thing, you'll never be british until they stop questioning your loyalties, until the Tebbit test is irellevant. Keeping our linkages with Pakistan is the best thing we can do. It builds up our country and also with the trade builds up our economic status as individuals within the UK and as a community within the UK. Pakistan is prime for business as long as you are smart in the business you do, there is a lot of money to be made. Use the fact you have access to Pakistani products and Pakistani markets and get rich, they will recognise you for it.

Yeah thats true!