Enroll 1 million Pakistani street kids to school

Miss Naseem, Sana, and Zahra, dedicated social mobilizers working with AWARD Pakistan, took on the challenge of enrolling out-of-school and dropout children in rural areas of Faisalabad and Toba Tek Singh. They knew that education was the key to breaking the cycle of poverty, so they set out to meet with the families of 221 children who were either never enrolled in school or had dropped out due to hardships.

They visited each home, sitting with parents and listening to their concerns. Many cited financial struggles, distance to schools, or lack of female teachers for girls. Others admitted they were unaware of enrollment procedures or lacked documents like Birth Registration Certificates. With patience and empathy, the team explained the long-term value of education and how it could transform their children’s futures. They reassured parents by offering AWARD’s support with uniforms,  books, and stationery, and guided them step by step through the enrollment process.

Gradually, their words began to resonate. One by one, parents agreed to let their children return to school. On enrollment day, the atmosphere was filled with joy and excitement as the children entered 7 Government and 4 Private Schools, along with AWARD’s own preschool. In total, 24 first-time learners joined playgroup to Grade 1, while 101 dropout students re-entered classes from Grade 2 to Grade 11. The achievement went beyond the target, with 96 children in AWARD preschool and 125 in local schools, totaling 221 enrolled.

Parents expressed their happiness with heartfelt words. One mother shared, “I never thought my daughter would step into a classroom, but today she carries her schoolbag with pride.” A grateful parent added, “Because of this support, my children are no longer working; they are learning.”

Their smiles and laughter were a testament to renewed hope and the promise of new beginnings, all thanks to Naseem, Sana, and Zahra’s door-to-door campaigns and unwavering belief in the power of education.