Plan's rehabilitation work in Pakistan

Following the 2005 earthquake, Plan has been working to support the rehabilitation of affected communities in the Siran Valley area through the provision of good quality education for all children.

In the immediate aftermath, Plan, along with the Pakistani Government, army and other international/national organisations ensured that the 150,000 affected population in Siran Valley received assistance. With Plan’s support:

• 2,500 children attended primary school and pre-school centres
• 12,000 families were provided with shelter 
• 3,000 families were provided with health and hygiene kits
• 12,000 children were provided with winter clothes
• 3,500 families were given one-month food rations

Rehabilitation

The design and development of Plan’s current rehabilitation programme sector started in November 2005 and aims specifically at enhancing access to quality education, especially for girls, in the earthquake-affected areas.

1. Girls and boys receive quality education

• 7,800 children (approx. 40% of whom are girls) enjoy access to improved quality education in 75 schools in Siran Valley.
• Training and on-the-job technical support provided for primary teachers to equip them with skills and increase their awareness of child-friendly teaching methods.
• Children have improved access to safer school facilities as Plan, in partnership with the communities, has replaced school tents with transitional shelters in 25 locations.
• Adolescent girls have improved access to quality secondary education, through newly established Community Managed Schools in Siran Valley.

2. Children and adults are actively involved in matters affecting children’s education, and school leadership is supportive and effective

• Community forums were established and strengthened in Siran Valley. Plan worked with these groups, applying participatory methods, raising awareness of girl’s education in general and gradually linking them to the technical interventions of various other partners.
• Parent-teacher associations and Student Representative Councils have been formed, reactivated and trained, to increase participation of students and their parents in the governance of 60 schools. 

3. Adequate number of appropriately qualified teachers deployed in Plan supported schools

• Plan and partners trained and supported “para-teachers” in primary schools where the student/teacher ratio was compromised. This has significantly increased enrolment and improved the quality of teaching and learning in the concerned schools.

4. Facilities at Plan supported schools are adequate for the learning needs of boys and girls and are child-friendly

• Community Education Committees (CEC) were formed and trained in all ten school construction sites to represent the community in all matters concerning the building of schools.
• The first 10 permanent schools are due to be completed during Autumn 2007.
• Recently, Plan initiated the reconstruction of 12 additional schools.

5. Girls and boys aged up to 5 years in Siran Valley are receiving early childhood care and development (ECCD)

• Approximately 3200 children aged 3-5 years, 52% of whom are girls, are enrolled in 94 pre-school centres and 6 home-based centres at 55 village locations. 
• Local caregivers have been identified and trained on early childhood care and development methodologies and now receive regular support from health workers and teacher educators.
• Educational committees have been formed and trained and these parents are now playing an active role in the management of the centres.

6. Children and young people and their families are better able to cope with psycho-social and health consequences of the earthquake

• 1100 girls and boys have increased awareness of health and other issues through the formation and training of 55 children forums.
• Regular children's events (sports, theatre etc.) are held with the help of teachers, community members and pre-school caregivers to raise awareness of various issues related to children’s rights.
• Regular capacity building of partner staff, community volunteers, teachers and health care providers on psycho-social issues has been provided by psycho-social experts. Training topics covered were: psycho-social effects of the earthquake; including stress, loss and grief, stages of child development, functional and dysfunctional behaviour, family violence, life skills, as well as training on establishing self-help groups.