Education Pakistan Project #50476

Book Bikes - Girls Reading to Succeed

by Alif Laila Book Bus Society

Summary

This Project will run a bicycle library in 6 low income communities of Lahore, Pakistan and will provide a rich supply of books to 300 children on average. This is an action to bring smiles to children stuck at home in times of covid; battling mental stress, uncertainty, school closure and loss in income of their parents. This critical literacy support service will not just bring activity based learning but will also act as psycho-social therapy for these traumatized children.

$20,000
total goal

$5,255
remaining

45
donors

1
monthly donor

3
years

Challenge

We are addressing a very unique and mostly ignored aspect of COVID-19 in Pakistan, which is how to mitigate the negative effects of home confinement in children. Home confinement, fear of disease, lack of interaction with friends, financial loss, school dropout, have caused psychological stress at a vulnerable age. It is especially acute for those from low income communities and one-room homes. With no school to divert and occupy them, children have been struggling to remain mentally healthy.

Solution

Our bicycle library will give access to some of the most renowned children's books to 300 children. It will carry small puppets to pretend play and hold story telling sessions by our mobilizer. This will give reprieve to home confined children & work as psycho-social therapy for those under stress. It will act as an agent to create awareness about the pandemic and following SOPs. We will use open spaces to park the library where 50 children from each community will benefit.

Long-Term Impact

This project will provide access to quality literature to 300 children from 6 communities and improve reading skills, it will benefit children under stress through activity based story telling, traumatized children will be counselled and taken care of. It will give them hope and bring smiles through its puppet theater & fun activities. Those dropped out of school will get a sense of direction and mentor to guide them in this difficult time.