Educating One Million Out of School Children

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Vol I, Issue II

ARC PAKISTAN MONTHLY BULLETIN

ndWelcome to the 2 ARC Pakistan's Monthly Update May 2019!This Monthly Bulletin provides a quick review of activities to share our vision with partners and key-stakeholders with an aim to assemble a critical mass of like-minded policy makers, educationists and development practitioners to further the cause of Education in Pakistan.

Withthismonthlybulletin,IwouldliketotakethisopportunitytosharetheaccomplishmentsofthemonthofMay2019.

Currently, implementing the country’s biggest enrollmentprogram for Out-of-School Children (OOSC), ARC Pakistanextendeditsoutreachto55districtsofPakistanwithanoverallaimtoimproveeducationalattainmentsthroughoutthecountry.It’saproudmomenttosaythatwehavesuccessfullyachievedtheenrollmenttargetofthe�irstyearandtheprograminterventionsarebeingimplementedinlinewiththetargetsofthecurrentyear.

Thismonthwas a breakthrough, we signed new partnershipswithFederalDirectorateofEducation(FDE)toestablish175newNon-Formal Schools in Islamabad region and started on-lineTeacher Training Programme in partnership with OxademyBusiness School, UK.We also organized Community Iftaars tocelebrateHolymonth of Ramadanwith students, parents andcommunity members. To instill a new mindset among youngstudents for a better future,we implemented innovative ideasunderthebackdropofChangemakers365andconductedsessionsonnutrition, foodsecurityandnumerousenvironmentfriendlyinitiativesinremoteareas.

EducateAChild(EAC);aglobalinitiativeofEducationAboveAll(EAA)Qatar,whichaimstosigni�icantlyreducethenumberofchildren worldwide who are missing out on their right toeducation. The program is implemented (2018-20) acrossPakistan by the American Refugee Committee (ARC) incollaborationwithGovernmentofPakistan(GoP).

HappyReading!

Message from Deputy Chief of Party

ZabardastKhanBangashDeputy Chief of Party

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In this Issue ARC Pakistan Celebrates Ramadan with Community Members at Afghan Kachi Abadi Sector H-13, Islamabad

ARC Pakistan established 22 Non-Formal Schools in Islamabad Capital Territory

ARC Pakistan is striving for better teaching standards through teachers training

ARC Pakistan in collaboration with Oxademy, UK started online teacher's training course

ARC Pakistan organized a planning review meeting in Islamabad

Glimpses of Changemakers 365 activities in Pakistan

HR Updates

Snapshot of Targets Achieved

Success Story

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ARC Pakistan is constantly striving for wider community participation to achieve better results and sustainability. Community engagement is our core philosophy and is a vital component in the overall development process. A community iftar; one of its own kind was hosted by ARC Pakistan and PAGE – Pakistan Alliance for Girls Education for the slum community of Sector H-13, Islamabad at Afghan Kachi Abadi. The iftar dinner was attended by more than 300 individuals including community elders, ARC Staff members and 220 young students enrolled in Star School established by ARC Pakistan.

One of the major disruptions in the refugees’ life is the discontinuation of educational opportunity for their children. The internally and externally displaced people, when living in the camps require priority attention on education. Afghan Katchi Abadi was no alien putting hundreds of out-of-school children at risk owing to lack of public schools in the vicinity. ARC Pakistan took the challenge in the real earnest and established Star School in January 2016. The school now has a student population of more than 220 including boys and girls keen to acquire education.

Active community involvement is vital for the effectiveness of any development or reform initiative. It is only through developing a sense of ownership and contribution within the community that sustainable change can be achieved. This idea behind community iftar is to put the community at the center. Local Mosque Imam – Qari Ali Muhammad Dishani and School Principal Mr. Sahib Shah have played a proactive role in identifying community-based vendors to organize this Iftar. Their enthusiast ic involvement is testament to the community’s dedication and ownership in supporting program activities of ARC Pakistan.

Senior Management of ARC Pakistan had an engaging one-on-one time with community elders to discuss the current situation and future possibilities to open more non-formal schools in the community. The SMT later proceeded for an interactive session with young students

on their lives in a school.

Appreciating the community’s effort to run Star School effectively, Deputy Chief of Party ARC Pakistan, Mr. Zabardast Khan Bangash said,

It’s a proud moment to see communityelders and parents putting their heart ineducation and sending their children toschools despite living in a Katchi Abadi(Mudhouses)

ARC Pakistan also distributed goodie packs to school going children at the culmination of Iftar. The surprise brought smiles on hundreds of students and the young girls were left feeling encouraged and energetic by a pleasant gesture from ARC Pakistan.

Speaking on the occasion, Country Representative of ARC Pakistan, Dr. Tariq Cheema said,

It was only through effective communityengagementthatwewereabletobridgethetrustde�icitamongparentsinsendingtheirchildrentoschool

Dr. Cheema also pledged organization’s support in opening Two more non-formal schools in Afghan Katchi Abadi as more parents are willing to send children to school than ever before

ARC Pakistan is committed to improving educational outcomes in the country through its Educate A Child (EAC) program funded by Education Above All (EAA) Qatar. The program aims to enroll One Million Out-of-School Children (OOSC) in 55 districts across Pakistan in a span of three years. The program in the �irst year achieved the challenging target of enrolling 178,000 OOSCs and is on track to achieve the ambitious target in the program’s life (2018-20).

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ARC Pakistan Celebrates Ramadan with Community Members at Afghan Kachi Abadi Sector H-13, Islamabad

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ARC Pakistan in collaboration with Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) achieved another milestone by establishing 22 Non-formal schools (NFS) under Prime Minister OOSC Enrolment Program in Islamabad Capital Territory. These newly established schools will house a total student population of 880 Out-of-School Children (OOSC) coming from most humble backgrounds. ARC Pakistan and its partner organizations are committed to improve educational attainments across 55 districts of Pakistan through effective community engagement for school space and provision of school facilities including uniforms, books, stationery and bags for newly enrolled children.

ARC Pakistan established 22 Non-Formal Schools in Islamabad Capital Territory

ARC Pakistan is striving for better teaching standards through teachers training ARC Pakistan in collaboration with its partners including Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) organized a �ive-day (May 13-17, 2019) Training of Trainers (ToT) on Accelerated Learning Program (ALP) for its newly appointed 29 Non-Formal School teachers in Islamabad. The purpose of the training was to develop a cadre of trainers who can train other teachers of ICT through trickle down trainings. A plan for trickle down training has been developed for each trainee to be implemented from June till September, 2019.

ARC Pakistan and its partner Pakistan Alliance for Girls Education (PAGE) in collaboration with Oxademy, UK rolled out a cost-effective, easily accessible and self-paced online Teacher's Training course. The purpose of the course is to streamline teacher training and improve their pedagogical content knowledge and skill. In its pilot phase, sessions on language learning skills will be delivered to 20 teachers appointed for Non-Formal Schools of Islamabad. Successful trails will lead to replication on a nationwide scale, to ensure that training can be available at the �ingertips of teachers all around the country, including remote areas. Oxademy, UK generously provided their "Brekkie Email" platform free of cost bringing maximum value for money to further the cause of education in Pakistan. The course content will be delivered in small chunks through email to ensure easy �low of knowledge towards a better future.

ARC Pakistan in collaboration with Oxademy, UK started online teacher's training course

ARC Pakistan held a quarterly review meeting for its Educate A Child (EAC) project to review program’s performance of the previous quarter (Jan-Mar 2019) and set targets for the next quarter. The meeting witnessed enthusiastic participation of provincial teams and provided an opportunity of introspection on view from the �ield. The purpose of the meeting was to collectively discuss the challenges faced in the previous quarter and how they can be addressed. The Senior Management team appreciated the team efforts towards improving educational attainments in the country.

ARC Pakistan organized a planning review meeting in Islamabad

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ForbetterNutrition - In a Non-Formal School M u s l i m C o l o n y , Islamabad, we organized two sessions on nutrition ( o n e f o r y o u n g e r

students and one for older students) with an emphasis on tricks and tips to enable students remember lessons in future

For better Plantation - In a small village of Lahore; Attoki Awan, we distributed fruit trees t o s t u d e n t s e n r o l l e d i n a nonformal school so that the students have enough to plant at the school and to take one or two home to make the surroundings

green.

For better Ramadan Meals - ARC Change-makers distributed food packs to all 47 families of Shehrot community in Gilgit for preparing Ramadan meals.

For better well-being - An expert nutritionist delivered a day-long session to community members living in a far-�lung village of Gilgit, Baltistan. The session provided insights on healthy diet to combat malnutrition and de�iciencies in young students that severely affects their learning abilities.

For better sources off o o d - A R C t e a m distributed hens and roosters to deserving families of school going children in both Ishpitdas

and Shehrot communities of Gilgit with an aim to provide a reliable and sustainable source of nutrition for the students enrolled in the schools

Forbettergardens - ARC team distributed high quality vegetable seeds and sowing equipment (shovels, watering cans, etc.) purchased from local vendors within Gilgit to both the Ispitdas and Shehrot communi-ties for their kitchen gardens

Changemakers365isallaboutdoingthedoable.It'saboutopeningoureyestotheopportunitiestomakean impact in a person's life with relatively fewresources.

ARC while tackling humongous issues faced by refugees around the globe, is also doing the doable effecting real change for $500 or less each and every day. ARC Changemakers visited various locations of Pakistan and implemented innovative ideas to bring a meaningful change to do better towards a better future.

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Glimpses of Changemakers 365 activities in Pakistan

Forbetter health - A nutrition session titled "Eat the Rainbow of Colors" was organized at Non-Fo r m a l S c h o o l i n I s p a l a l , Islamabad with an aim to provide basic information to community w o m e n o n a h e a l t h y a n d balanced diet.

Forbetterenvironment- ARC changemakers d i s t r i b u t e d v a r i o u s supplies to Ms. Rabia - School Teacher at Non-Formal School Shah Allah Ditta, Islamabad to start teaching students "how to garden". The supplies included seeds, soil, tree seedlings, garden forks, trowels, jerricans, watering cans and sprayers.

ForbetterHygiene - An artist was engaged to paint school building with attractive wall-chalking's highlighting t h e i m p o r t a n c e o f

nutrition and hygiene at Non-Formal School Muslim Colony, Islamabad

Fo r b e t t e r I n c om e - Distributed sewing machines, needles, cloth, and Charpai (women beds) to start a community center at a Non-Formal School in Natt Kalan, Lahore. A community center; where women could come to work when their children are at school and earn extra m o n ey to c o n t r i b u te i n household expenses.

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HR Updates

ARC Pakistan distributed gift packs among 447 students enrolled in its seven Non-Formal Schools of Islamabad. The Staff members while distributing gifts packs to the children coming from most humble backgrounds had an engaging one-on-one time with the students. The goodie packs also included mehndi cones for girls' students and they were left feeling energetic making beautiful patterns of mehndi on friends' hands.

ARC Pakistan organized Charity Activity in Non-Formal Schools and distributed Eid gis

ARC Pakistan organized a Fun-trivia activity at Islamabad officeA recently shaped Staff Support Committee at ARC Pakistan organized a Fun-Trivia activity at Islamabad Of�ice. The purpose of the activity was to energize the team members and boost team spirit. The winners of trivia quiz were given certi�icates and gift hampers. A clean and green of�ice competition followed by trivia quiz aimed at transforming workplace in line with environment friendly initiatives. The Deputy Chief of Party inspected the of�ice premises and handed over a special prize to the winner department consistent with the 'Clean and Green' theme.

ARC Pakistan organized a Community Iftaar at a Non formal School in Ispalal, Muslim colony. The purpose of hosting a community iftaar was to build a cohesive society and increase community's ownership to maintain and sustain the ARC established community-based learning center. The Iftaar witnessed enthusiastic involvement of community elders, parents and students enrolled in Star School, Ispalal.

ARC Pakistan hosted a community Iaar at a Non-Formal School in Ispalal, Muslim Colony

Ms. Saba Ishrat joined ARC Pakistan as a Provincial Manager for Sindh. She is a learning assessment specialist with more than 10 years of experience for formal and non-formal primary education in Pakistan. She has worked at managerial level at international non-governmental organizations (AKESP, ITA, AKU-EB and AKU IED) to liaison with government institutions for advocacy and research projects to improve educational attainments in the country.

Mr. Bashir Khan joined ARC Pakistan as a Senior Grants Manager. He has ten years of working experience in �ields of Grants Management, Financial Management, Donor Reporting & Compliance in Humanitarian & Development Organizations. He has worked in various International Organizations including International Rescue Committee (IRC), International Relief & Development (IRD), Winrock International (WI) and The Urban Institute (UI).

Mr. Zahoor Mohammed joined ARC Pakistan as a Monitoring and Evaluation Associate for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Mr. Zahoor has 12 years of working experience in Project Management and M&E. He has worked with both national and international humanitarian organizations. He was also engaged in emergency humanitarian responses for Internally Displaced People (IDPs) in remote areas of FATA.

Recent additions to ARC Pakistan's family

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Snapshot of Targets Achieved

Out-of-School Children Enrolled

178,886101,447 77,439

School Management Committees

Village Education Committees

721 18

Reactivated

Trained

School Development Plans

212 35

Developed

Implemented

Non-Formal Schools Established

24

Children Enrollment Drives

10

Training on Pedagogy, Classroom Management SDP

Development & Resource Mobilization

42 Events

1249 Trained

734

515Female

Male52

Training of Literacy Mobilizers on community based

Child Tracking System (CTS)

Male02

Events

52 Trained 0

Female

1175 284

Reactivated

Trained

4426 Students

2428

1998Girls

Boys

Children Bene�itted from School Supplies

Success Story

The fight for the first brick of an academic foundationA Multi-Dimensional Story of Resistance

The struggle is real when one has to take an initiative in a community that has experiences and memories of war, violence, neglect and oppression, a community that was forced to leave their roots and move to a new place not because they wanted to but because they had no choice or a community that holds on to negative traditions passed on to them by their elders.

This story is about the two star schools, one located in the middle of Afghan Refugee camp, just behind one of the Pakistan’s leading universities (NUST) and other opened in a small house, in the middle of suburbs of Islamabad (Sara-e-Kharbooza). The places are different, the stories are different, however one thing that is common is both of these is the “�ight”-the �ight against the resistance!

The resistance was sometimes from the parents and

sometimes from the community, however the �ight was there. A resistance well fought, for the right purpose to achieve, i.e. Education. Fatima, a literacy mobilizer, played an inspiring and pivotal role in the opening of these two schools is. She is the front liner, the one who does the work, the one who does not let the day to day challenges stop her.

When I see the happy faces of studentsstudyingintheschool,doingwhattheywanttodoandlearningnewthingseachandeveryday,Ibelieveallthestruggleswereworthit

While discussing the details of how Afghan School was established and initiated at the �irst place, Fatima shared a long list of hardships she faced in making star

school, a place that it is today. There was a time when Fatima was faced with parents who came out of their houses to stop her from talking about education and her dream of opening a school for Afghan Refugee girls. She had to take extra security with her but she never stopped. There was not a single day when she did not get up, dress up and show up!

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P. O. Box No. 571, Islamabad, Pakistan

P: +92 51 2820437-40 F: +92 51 2820436

E: info@ millionkidstoschool.org

ARC Pakistan

MillionKidsToSchool

#MillionKidsToSchool

millionkidstoschool

www.millionkidstoschool.org

Legal Status: ARCPakistan,thelocalchapterofARCInternational,isregisteredwiththeGovernmentofPakistan,MinistryofInteriorvideletter

No4/17/2016-PE-IIIdated24thMarch2016thatallowsittoundertakeworkforthesocioeconomicdevelopmentinPakistan.

Contact:Tariq Cheema | tariqc@arcrelief.org

Z. K. Bangash | zabardastkb@arcrelief.org

Saima Ashraf | saimaA@arcrelief.org

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Inthebeginningitwasalmostimpossibleforme to enter the locality of Afghan Refugeecamps because hundreds of people stood infrontofmelockingthedoorstothefschools,sothatnogirl childcanenter the school,but Inevergaveup. Iknewthat Imuststandtalland strong today for the future of thesechildren.Iwillalwaysbedelightedtoful�ilthepromiseImadewithAghaJaan,thefatherofthe�irstenrolledgirlchildintheschool,thatAsima,hisdaughter,willde�initelystudyalongwithallherfellowcousinsandbrothers

There was a time when educating the girl child was considered a taboo in the Afghan community, and today the school requires the construction of extra space to adjust the abundant in�low of students from the community. The school currently has 222 students and out of the 100 are girls and 122 are boys.

Today Asima, the daughter of Agha Jaan, is one of the brightest students and Agha Jaan is the most passionate advocate for girls’ education in his community.

The efforts of EAC team and especiallyFatima, in convincing the community toaccept girls’ education is something I willalwayscherish.IwantmydaughtertoreachreputablepositiononedayandforthatIwillalwaysbegratefultoEACprojectfortakingthe�irststep SaysAghaJaan

Asima is only one example but there are many more (Nazia, Shahida, Noorzia), who joined Star School I-12,

as a result of continuous social mobilization to �ight the resistance from within the community.

The journey of Sajida, a �ifteen-year-old girl, underlines a totally different dimension of ‘resistance’, that too against education. Sajida is currently studying in the Star School, Sara-e-Kharbooza, successfully promoted to grade 1, showing impressive results in her study. Sajida is one of the students in Islamabad whose father didn’t allow her to study because of her gender and community pressure. She never experienced the excitement of going to school, reading story books and interacting with other children in her 15 years of life.

I never imagined that Iwillwearneat andcleanuniform,haveaschoolbagatmyback,withbooksinitandgotoschooloneday.Iamvery happy that now I can do all this andmore,Icanread,writeandlearnlikeallotherkidsaround SaysSajida

Sajida is able to go to school because ARC realized that many girls are not in schools due to schools not being in the close vicinity so we not only opened a Non-Formal School in the area where she lives, but also appointed a female teacher from the community who is well trusted and respected by community members. This is what made it possible for us to enroll girls in that school.

Asima and Sajida are two of the many thousand girls who can now go to schools and continue their education because we addressed the problem. We brought schools closer to them, we answered each and every dif�icult question their parents and community had and above all we aspire to unleash the abundance in every human being.

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Rolling Worldwide Launches Through June 2020

Starting from June of 2019, we will change our name from “American Refugee Committee” to “ALIGHT”. Becoming Alight is more than a name change. It’s a commitment and re-envisioning of the promise we have made to the people we serve- the promise to in unleash the abundance every single human being.

Alight is a that serves our idealism. It is human-centered organization our journey of co-creating and co-designing solutions with people from all walks of life and we do so with the desire to build full and fulfilling lives. It is a reflection of who we already are and all the possibilities of what we can become.

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