COVID challenge!
This has been a difficult year. COVID-19 forced schools to shut down and presented many challenges for teachers and children. The biggest challenge was that the students’ home assignments are difficult to complete without access to a computer and a Wi-Fi connection.
The restrictions against gathering in larger numbers added another layer of difficulty. Although we maintain a device for Wi-Fi at the after-school site it is not always sufficient with just one computer. Teachers have worked hard to download assignments sent by schools through email for individual children and have made sure that communication with the schools is maintained. The teachers schedule safe time with the children, as the space is limited and only a few students can come at the same time. Children attend school at their allocated time to ensure that social distancing rules can be kept. We look forward to next year when we complete the community center and are able to take advantage of the facilities.
Even with the shutdowns, children were excited to get well-deserved new books and backpacks. They have worked hard this year to ensure that they continue to compete with their peers.
The day school initiated for pre-Kindergarten classes at Chak Jalal Din has been operational, although not at full capacity. The hope was to have children ready for formal English-medium school admissions in 2021. However, school admissions are delayed until 2022
as the COVID situation remains uncertain. The delay will not affect the children’s education. They will continue to attend the day school and teachers will teach the next level syllabus.
On August 15, our staff and children came together to commemorate Pakistan’s Independence Day with enthusiasm and pride. The celebrations included tableaus and speeches that highlighted the
value of freedom and the sacrifices made to achieve it. The event emphasized the importance of safeguarding our rights and freedoms while dedicating ourselves to serving our country with hard
work and love.
Brick Kiln (Bhatta) Worker Community
Open Hands Global is committed to making a difference in the brick kiln worker communities. Kiln workers are marginalized people that have suffered enslavement for generations and are trapped in a cycle of debt.
We initiated a program in the kiln community of Kadlathia village this June. Kadlathia is 20km outside Sheikhupura and is home to 117 families.
Our primary objective here is to bring generational changes to this community by prioritizing quality education for the children.
Program Initiation at Kadlathia Cont’d
We initiated the program in July 2020, rented a space 20 minutes from the community, and purchased a second Toyota Hiace to transport the kids. Unfortunately, we were not able to retain the initial program coordinator, but we are excited that the program is now headed by Ms. Keety Fernandez. She was a Senior Teacher who we chose because she shares our vision and has a passion for education. There are seven people on staff for this site, four teachers, one van driver, one admin assistant and a junior staff member for cleaning.
The children in the program are excited and never miss a day. They get a snack 3 days a week. They will get snacks every school day when we can afford it. The children are in a safe and happy environment. They get to learn through teamwork and one-on-one mentoring. However, these children present a big challenge for the teachers. The children speak colloquial Punjabi, but the national language is Urdu. They need to speak Urdu at a level high enough to attend English-medium schools. The teachers are giving their all to see tangible progress. The children are starting to read in Urdu and English and they are able to sing short English songs. The program incorporates extracurricular activities and children are learning to express themselves through art, under teacher supervision.
Program Initiation at Kadlathia
We spent weeks going to the Kadlathia community and doing needs assessments and aptitude tests to select our first batch of 30 children. The eagerness and desire of the children to be part of the program was overwhelming.
A 10-year-old girl waited in line for hours to take the aptitude test. She unfortunately had a fever, so we couldn’t admit her as a precaution against COVID. The next day she was first in line. She still had a fever. We had to send her home again. She came back the next week. She did not stop asking until she could take the test and have the hope of being selected. She is now in the program.
It was hard for the team to say no to so many eager and excited children, so we accepted an extra 15 students. We selected 45 children ages 4-13 from the Kadlathia community.
Update
The progress on the community center building has been slow in the last quarter due to COVID. The Government of Pakistan required extensive audits and paper work from organizations that receive international funds. This led to delays in the release of funds by the local bank. Open Hands Global Pakistan worked diligently to complete all the requirements and it seems like the end is in sight. The inside of the building has been painted and the terrazzo floors are in the process of being polished. Doors and windows are built and waiting to be installed.
We are thankful and hopeful that the center will be functional for March 2021. This is a big project and I thank all our donors for their ongoing support. With a $500 donation you can still fund a memory plaque to go on a main wall in the center.
