Shattered dreams: Silver lining for village youngsters
An educational initiative for children’s capacity building closes down.
CHARSADDA:
There isn’t a single primary school in Hisar Dherai, a village in the suburbs of Charsadda. Hundreds of children from the village have to walk for about four kilometres along a thoroughfare to reach a primary school.
Last year’s floods also took their toll on the deprived village, which comprises of an estimated 800 households.
However, the floods provided children with new opportunities, when the Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (Sparc) decided to open child-friendly spaces (CFS) to cater to villagers in the aftermath of the floods.
The centres were opened in Charsadda and Nowshera districts where children would engage in academic and extra-curricular activities.
“I learnt the English alphabet, drawing and how to recite the Quran. We would come to the centre in the afternoon and play cricket, table tennis and carom board and study,” said Hasnain, a student.
However, the centres were closed down after completing their tenure last month, thus bringing an end to the joys of students. About 150 children, who had no access to schools otherwise, gathered at the Hisar Dherai Centre on the eve of its closure to receive school bags in a village where there is no school for them.
Salma, a 10-year-old, who had never been to school, was sad over the closure of CFS in her village. “I learnt so many new things and enjoyed being here,” she remarked.
She added that she wanted to study but her father could not afford to send her to school as he was sick.
Misal Khan, a village elder, told The Express Tribune that CFS was a blessing for their children. “All day long children loitered in the streets. Their lives were changed by the centre and they were encouraged to pursue education.” He said he regretted the decision.
Mujeebur Rehman, who had followed his son to the centre for the closing ceremony, said the children have to walk four kilometres to reach a school in Charsadda bazaar.
“Children have to walk along a thoroughfare and at least three children have died in traffic accidents,” he said.
According to Sparc Programme Manager Jehanzeb Khan, the initiative proved very successful. “The government needs to pay attention to flood-hit areas and fulfil its promises to construct a school in this village,” he remarked.
Outside Hisar Dherai, there are immense mounds dating back to the early period of Gandhara civilisation. Charsadda was known as Pushkalavati in those times and this area is said to be the greatest seat of Buddhist learning.
Ironically enough, Hisar village, which is situated over the foundations of a Buddhist university, still lacks a primary school in today’s information age.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 11th, 2011.
There isn’t a single primary school in Hisar Dherai, a village in the suburbs of Charsadda. Hundreds of children from the village have to walk for about four kilometres along a thoroughfare to reach a primary school.
Last year’s floods also took their toll on the deprived village, which comprises of an estimated 800 households.
However, the floods provided children with new opportunities, when the Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (Sparc) decided to open child-friendly spaces (CFS) to cater to villagers in the aftermath of the floods.
The centres were opened in Charsadda and Nowshera districts where children would engage in academic and extra-curricular activities.
“I learnt the English alphabet, drawing and how to recite the Quran. We would come to the centre in the afternoon and play cricket, table tennis and carom board and study,” said Hasnain, a student.
However, the centres were closed down after completing their tenure last month, thus bringing an end to the joys of students. About 150 children, who had no access to schools otherwise, gathered at the Hisar Dherai Centre on the eve of its closure to receive school bags in a village where there is no school for them.
Salma, a 10-year-old, who had never been to school, was sad over the closure of CFS in her village. “I learnt so many new things and enjoyed being here,” she remarked.
She added that she wanted to study but her father could not afford to send her to school as he was sick.
Misal Khan, a village elder, told The Express Tribune that CFS was a blessing for their children. “All day long children loitered in the streets. Their lives were changed by the centre and they were encouraged to pursue education.” He said he regretted the decision.
Mujeebur Rehman, who had followed his son to the centre for the closing ceremony, said the children have to walk four kilometres to reach a school in Charsadda bazaar.
“Children have to walk along a thoroughfare and at least three children have died in traffic accidents,” he said.
According to Sparc Programme Manager Jehanzeb Khan, the initiative proved very successful. “The government needs to pay attention to flood-hit areas and fulfil its promises to construct a school in this village,” he remarked.
Outside Hisar Dherai, there are immense mounds dating back to the early period of Gandhara civilisation. Charsadda was known as Pushkalavati in those times and this area is said to be the greatest seat of Buddhist learning.
Ironically enough, Hisar village, which is situated over the foundations of a Buddhist university, still lacks a primary school in today’s information age.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 11th, 2011.