PROJECT DESCRIPTION & BACKGROUND

There is a large number of working children in Pakistan who do not have access to education because they are the primary providers for their families. Many never learned to read, write or calculate due to their parents' financial constraints. Government schools are free of cost in Pakistan but children and their families belonging to a certain social strata have to work hard taking up menial jobs to make both ends meet.

To address the lack of literate people and children in the society, IDRF and Zindagi Trust have set up I-am-paid-to-learn schools. These schools provide functional literacy as well as a modest stipend to compensate for the time taken out from their paid workday. This project has created educational awareness among prospective students, parents and employers while at the same time eliminating transportation costs to and from school. Since students cannot afford to travel, schools were established in the same areas where they work; hence making it convenient to gain education.

Most of the working children are also very busy with their lives and are unaware of the endless opportunities that are available to them. The project approached this problem by informing students at their workplace about the schools in the area and how they can enroll.

By instilling knowledge of civil rights, health, hygiene, and life skills in these children, I-am-paid-to-learn schools strive to produce individuals who could contribute to their own welfare, and the welfare of their families and the society. It also encourages students to pursue further education and in turn influence the future generations of Pakistan.

PROJECT GOALS & OBJECTIVES

Gave access to working children, aged 8-12, in school who do not have access to education due to the work they do to support their families. The students took part in a crash program in which an academic session is spread over 6 months instead of the traditional one year.

The objective of educating working children results in better work opportunities for the children and their families as well as creating positive qualities such as higher self-esteem and self confidence. The beneficiaries, including the employers, also understand the importance of education and develop tolerance and respect for cultural differences and etiquettes.

In addition, this project motivated working children by providing them meals in schools, ensuring that those meals consist of healthy food for the nourishment of working girls and boys (both equally) studying in ZT schools and lastly, to control the dropout ratio of the working children in ZT Schools.

PLANNED ACTIVITIES:

• Surveys conducted by the field team, during the time of establishment of schools, to identify the catchments area, which has sufficient number of work places of the children and working children
• Visits, by members of the field team, to the prospective students at their workplaces
• Visits to students' employers and parents to encourage them to send their working children to school
• Entrance tests conducted, students enrolled, teachers employed and trained
• A variety of teaching methodologies and techniques used to enable the students to learn as much as they can at the school (E.g. Field Trips)
• Different fundraising activities are undertaken so that the continuous inflow of funds keeps the project running smoothly
• Food items selected, purchased and delivered to schools
• Record keeping and monitoring of all the inventories
  

Partner: Zindagi Trust (ZT)