“...promote and encourage international co-operation in matters relating to education, in particular with a view to contributing to the elimination of ignorance and illiteracy throughout the world...” (UN Convention on the Rights of the Child: Article 28.3)

Project Concept Note

“Development, Care and Education of Children

In Federally Administered Tribal & Northern Areas Pakistan”

Context

Global interdependency is posing formidable challenges for future generations and societies. The workplace of the 21st century is becoming vastly different from that of even the 20th century. The new century is increasingly favouring a work force consisting of individuals who are intellectually flexible, skilled in problem solving, emotionally resilient, and well able to interact with others in constantly changing social environments.Highly competitive economies maximizing the human potential are more important and necessary than ever before.One of the most valuableinvestments that is rarely viewed in economic development is early childhood development (ECD). Several longitudinal ECD studies that are based on a relatively small number of at-risk children from low-income families demonstrate that the potential return on ECD investment is extraordinary. However in developing countries, for instance Pakistan, billions of public dollarsand donor grants are spent each year with claims to subsidize poor communities. Unfortunately, the majority of the population is not aware that the most successful economies are associated with a high quality workforce which initially stems from the nurture and care involved with early childhood development. The trend of parents in low income and poor families still continueswith widening gaps in rich and poor across the country. The trend of low income families unaware of societal affects gravely persists in the least developed parts in particular Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and Federally Administered Northern Areas (FANA) Pakistan. These areas have a great lack of knowledge regarding the importance of ECD and its potential advantages.

In the context of Human Development, ECD is one of the most pressing needs of the country in the current age. It would not only help to enhance reception of knowledge, skills, technology and expertise in later stages of education but it will also help with respect to attitudes and behaviour towards society, culture, environment and economic systems. A gradual decline in the intergenerational transfer of knowledge and values has resulted in a negative trend in the developmental attitude of children. The cultural system of intergenerational transfer of values after its degradation for almost three decades has not been substituted by any competent model. This gap has resulted in trends like fundamentalism, mental fragility, psychological fragmentation, an increasing aptitude towards extremism and intolerance as opposed to moderation and self-control.

This increase in negativity among children coupled with the fast escalating gap between poor and rich has given rise to hatred against those who control the resources both at micro and macro-levels. It has turned into increased terrorism in the country. The number of people who earn below US$ 2 per day is almost 80 million. The earning of almost 23% of the population is less than one dollar.

These statistics show the suffering of the absolute poor during the recent food crisis. According to the WFP, 78 million people of Pakistan have become food insecure. A large number of women and children are victims of malnutrition. The government of Pakistan has established a national task force on Food Security to work out a solution to this problem. The UN system in Pakistan is also vigorously working on developing a proposal of short term and long term strategies for overcoming the issue of food insecurity.

The first years of a child’s life are a crucial developmental period and children who are nurtured and stimulated during these years are substantially more prepared for formal learning and are more likely to have social skills that they need with the passage of growth. Parents are the child’s first teachers but early childhood education programs are also important especially in areas where parents care lessduring this crucial stage. The children from the poorest families in the most vulnerable parts of the country especially in the target areas who have never received access to any kind of moral education become highly vulnerable to a mafia who want to harass the government and the rich for their own powers. These controlling and manipulative segments provide some kind of scholarships for the children, supply them with food and a form of education which disavows the children’s self respect and denies their human dignity. Therefore, a large number of them turn into rebels toward the existing systems and norms.The children grow up tofalsely believe their rebellious attitude will bring about transformation which in turn, would help eliminate the inferiority complex developed among them by their isolation from the system. These older manipulative people have established their own pseudo educational systems in the name of faith/religion for their own personal gains to take personal revenge.Their ownneglect and deprivation brain wash these children and youth,then use them for spreading harassment and extremism which tantamount to terrorism in the country.

Pakistan is one of the counties which has been worst hit by terrorism.Both the national and international intellectuals and development professionals have come to a consensus that this development of terrorism is the outcome of extreme poverty and lack of access to quality education.

Although Pakistan has been targeting “Education for All” fordecades and a large number of actors have been working in the field of education to promote enrolment, literacy, primary and secondary education, the gap is still unlikely to be filled even in the next few decades. But yet in the formal public education system, the ECD concept is limited to Kachi (nursery) classes. Recently, the government of Pakistan has initiated some pilot models based on the pattern of Public Private Partnership for introducing ECD in government schools.Therefore there is a dire need to expand and promote early childhood care and education services to these least developed parts of country.

The current project proposes a model of Early Childhood Care Development and Education(ECCDE) which is premised on the objective of poverty reduction, alleviation of malnutrition and gender empowerment in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas and Northern Areas of Pakistan. Under this project, the ECCDE program will work to improve children’s nutrition, hygiene, and even their weight and height for their age. Their health will improve due to increased chances of survival and reduced mortality. The program will improve children’s overall psychosocial attributes i.e. ability to think and reason, their relationships with others, their self-image and sense of security, their language, communication and learning skills etc. After attending the ECCDE centres, the children will have a higher chance of entering into primary school with higher performance rates and a lesser chance of having to repeat grades or classes in school.

The proposed program would create an environment in which protection and support for the issues of child health nutrition psycho-social and cognitive development would be given full attention. By virtue of being child-friendly, family-focused, and community-based, this program would strengthen ongoing social service programs and improve the physical and mental capacity of the target children. The program focuses on the relationships that young children develop with adults and other children, which are crucial to early learning and development. The curriculum will include a variety of activities appropriate for the children’s ages and needs.The program specifically aims at changing parental behaviour by educating parents about the health and nutrition needs of their children. The program will also develop cadres of qualified staff in the target communities through high quality trainings and professional development courses ensuring their long stay in the institutions offering good and attractive packages.

Overall Goal of the project

The project aims to first improve enrolment and reduce the drop out rate of school going children in disadvantaged groups.Second, the project aims to improve the socioeconomic conditions of the target communities by social mobilization, self-employment and quality education.Third, the project goal is to develop responsible, conscious and moderate citizens – children would be enabled to grow up as healthy, capable, confident and caring people – be able to lead fulfilling lives and contribute to their families, communities and eventually the wider society.Fourth, the program will Influence the overall public education policy through advocacy and best practices.

Specific objectives

The fundamental objectives of the project are:

  1. To build the access of children to all aspects of their development, i.e. their social, emotional, intellectual and physical development establishing community based ECD Centres;
  2. To raise the awareness in communities about the understanding of mental, physical and social educational needs of their children;
  3. To mobilize and build the capacity of the target communities for themanagement and sustainability of the program;
  4. To provide self-employment opportunities to the young women of poor, neglected and deprived communities in the form of Community Based Early Child Development and Education professionals;
  5. To building capacity of primary schools teachers to embed ECD and Education from the kachi (Nursery)classes.

The following set of core principles will underpin this program providing:

  • Equal access to education and care opportunities to both male and female children from all families
  • Child-cantered, individualized teaching and learning methods
  • Development of skills for lifelong learning and participation in a democratic way
  • Role of teachers as facilitators
  • Involvement of parents and families
  • Community engagement in public education
  • Culturally appropriate learning environments and approaches
  • Ongoing professional development of local staff

Table of Contents

The ultimate goal in applying these principles is to close gaps in rich and poor families and create open societies, with active and socially responsible citizens who think critically and creatively and celebrate and defend diverse opinions and ideas.

Description of Activities

  1. Establishment of ECD Centres one in each 20 villages of the target area.
  2. Organize a week long trainers’ workshop for the project staff and project partners mainly for community based organizations (CBOs).
  3. Organizea three week training workshop for 20 ECD Centres Teachers and Community Volunteerswho work as facilitators for parenting groups.
  4. Organize three training workshops on ECCD practices and protection from abuse and neglect of children for 40 CBO Managers.
  5. Organize three training workshops for 40 government and community primary schoolteachers. Workshops will include the development of relevant material with an integrated approach of ECCDconcepts and strategies combined with concepts of protection from neglect and abuse.
  6. Organize four training workshops for 20 religious leaders from target villages. Workshops will includeECCDconcepts to use during Friday sermons. The training will also reach out to fathers who attend mosque.
  7. Organize training on ECCD/ Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses for 20 health professionals.
  8. Organize 40 parenting courses for 2,000 families and caregivers on proper ECCD practices including promotion of psychosocial, cognitive development and management of child health and nutrition. Parenting courses will also include material on special care and protection for children with disabilities.
  9. Conduct a survey to measure the status of childrenand implement a regular monitoring system on child development.
  10. Provision of a core of four videos and accompanying books that focus on all aspects of child development including physical, cognitive, language, emotional and social development from conception through the age of eight at community based ECCD centers in target villages.

The Executing Organization

The GRACE Association Pakistan (GrassRoots Association for Community Empowerment) is a Non Profit Organization (NPO) registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) under The Companies’ Ordinance 1984. The GRACE Association has been working for community empowerment at the grassroots level for many years. The emergence of GRACE was based on the goals of securing the rights of indigenous and ethnic communities through promotion of education, children’s’ rights, and women’s’ rights. Enhancing access to health, education and socioeconomic development facilities are an integral part of the GRACE Association. Based on these goals, our mission is to empower and improve the quality of life of marginalized and vulnerable communities in less developed parts of the country. This mission will be accomplished by launching sustainable and replicable projects as well as building partnerships. By utilizing valuable skills and resources such as participatory research, development, knowledge management, and advocacy, we will reach our mission to enhance the lives of women and children.

GRACE’s work in early childhood care and development (ECCD) was instigated through a self funded sensitization and awareness project in March 2007. The project was developed based on indigenous knowledge of needs, attitudes and practices. This project enabled GRACE to analyze the critical situation of young children in communities specifically Kwardu, Astana and Sukkamaidan in Skardu District. GRACE was able to reveal knowledge gaps in effective child care among parents, teachers and other local stakeholders. Our organization realized that early childcare and education are essentials for communities living in inaccessible, remote and isolated regions in the Himalayas and Karakorum mountains where 90% of children are growing without proper nurturing and care. Statistics show enrolment in pre-school is hardly at 2 percent for boys and is at 0 percent for girls. Illiterate mothers are the primary caregivers to children, especially in the years prior to the start of school. In turn, GRACE in consultation with target communities, including parents, community development workers, local religious leaders as well as political figures and community based organizations (CBOs), designed the ECD Centres pilot project aiming to provide parents and caregivers with childcare enabling skills and information. Information provided promotes psychosocial, cognitive, and physical development of children under 8 years old. The project also aims to take a holistic approach to children’s’ growth and development within the family and the community. Also, we at GRACE put special emphasis on increasing the role of fathers as well as primary school teachers in raising children.

The ECCD project has targeted and will reach to 20 villages and over 2,000 caregivers in FATA/NA in two years.

Promoting coordination between different stakeholders to enhance our cause through social mobilization and community participation is vital to our success.

Management

The project will be led by Grace Association Pakistan and a community based organization in each village will be the partner. Grace will provide required technical and financial resources and capacity building opportunities and each CBO ECD Committee comprising influential community elders, religious figures, community volunteers and parent and teacher representatives are responsible for social mobilization, local resource mobilization, ensuring enrolment and quality services in the ECCDE Centres. They are also responsible for all local consistent supervision and monitoring of project activities.

Grace Association Pakistan is registered with the National Association for Young Children (NAYV)USA, so the overall guidelines and management, follow up procedures will be followed. Local line departments will be fully consulted and involved during implementation,

Grace Association Pakistan has constituted a steering committee for the overall vision, policy guidance, and advocacy. This committee willbe the top decision making body established for steering the project. It will approve the six monthly work plans and budget as well monitor the progress of the project. It willbe represented by local public representatives and representatives from partnering organizations, education departments, as well as the Chairman of Grace Association. Grace Association Program Office Skardu and Peshawarwill provide secretarial service for organizing and facilitating the meeting. The following are the strategic methods for the implementation of the project:

1. Partnership building: For efficient and effective implementation of the project GRACE Association Pakistan has developed partnership with local community based organizations. GRACE is the lead implementing agency and the CBOsare the project implementing partners. Partnership building will enhance the amount of efforts and multiply the expected results and outcomes of the project. The partners will also help in sustaining the benefits of the project in the long run.