Non-formal school for the flood hit children

Hello Friends,

We learn from the floods of 2011 and 2012 especially in South Punjab, that young people who have endured too much still dream, hope and yearn. Most of them long for an educator, who will listen, extend a hand; excuse mistakes and open doors to give a chance of a lifetime gift. The success stories in NUR Foundation School in Habit Mastui, Dera Ghazi Khan, illustrate how - areas of weakness. Our teachers plan the coursework accordingly and help students overcome the areas of difficulty. Students such as Ayesha are very happy to attend school and being an opportunity to exercise their right to education.

The teachers underwent formal training sessions such as communication skills, conflict management, curriculum planning. These trainings are part of our capacity building initiative to equip our teachers to provide quality of education to these students and professional development of our teaching staff.

Together we are creating valuable synergies to provide gift of education to these children giving them immense opportunities of learning & growth. By giving them skills for life we not only benefit them socially but also economically and also give them an opportunity to exercise their right to choose to bring about a revolutionary change in their lives.

Without your help this all would not be possible. We look forward to our working together in future as well.

Links:

• www.fmsystem.org

Even after two years of facing one of the worst floods in the history of Pakistan, the community of Basti Habit Mastui Mouza Samina, Dera Ghazi Khan has not lost the hope. Their determination to revive their lives is getting stronger with every passing day.

FMH constituted the non-formal school in order to provide education to the locals to eradicate illiteracy which was expected to rise as a result of the flood. Massive destructions were encountered in this unfortunate event. FMH, as a part of its flood relief efforts, initiated the provision of non-formal education in this area.

To this date, more than 300 students are benefiting through this non-formal education program. It has all been possible because of the support of our generous donors who have helped us in educating these children and build a hope for their bright future. We look forward to join hands with our supporters as together we can bring their lost hopes back.

Links:

• www.fmsystem.org

Floods in 2010 profusely affected the Southern Punjab. Nur Foundation has started a school for the students of D. G. Khan, a remote area with the help of local partner Malik Syed Khan at Basti Habit Mastui Mouza Samina.

About 220 students are getting free education from this school. Students of Habit Mastui showed excellent result within a year. 76 students got double promotion and 13 got single promotion in a year.

The students and their families were extremely delighted at the opening of the school as they had lost hopes after the floods. We thank all the donors and supporters who helped us build this new ray of hope for the students. We look forward to join hands with our prestigious supporters. Together we can bring their lost hopes back!

• Let's bring back their hope! (PDF)
  

This project was started to rehabilitate schools in DG Khan which were destroyed during the heavy floods in 2010.In order to avoid disruption in education in Habit Mastui, Nur Foundation started providing non-formal education to the students immediately after the floods.

In December 2011, from the 21^st to the 24^th,Nur Foundation Education Team visited Habit Mastui Schools in Dera Ghazi Khan. This time, the team had formulated an agenda to be carried out in the schools being visited. Highlight of the agenda was a special promotion policy for the talented students of Habit Mastui School DG Khan. In this policy, about 28 students of level first and 25 students of level prep were promoted to the next level after a formal assessment.

For the rest of the students, routine midterm assessments were conducted in all Nur schools. About 1500 students appeared in the exams. This assessment was especially helpful for those students who were to appear in the primary and secondary Punjab board examinations in February and March 2012. 

Other important aspects included in the agenda were a monitoring and evaluation of the project, formal training session with the teachers on class room management, meeting with the members of community based organization and community members and distribution of stipends, stationary, books, sweaters and warm clothes to all the students enrolled in Nur schools in Habit Mastui.

Flood affected children are receiving quality education primarily because of your support and funds. Students in DG Khan and Nur Foundation are extremely thankful to their donors who made non-formal schooling possible. This, however is for the time being until enough funding is collected to rebuild schools and rehabilitate formal system of education in Habit Mastui region of DG Khan, Pakistan.

• Lets make their dreams come true! (DOCX)

05.04.2011: In a third world country like Pakistan, education for the youth cannot be compromised in the least. In fact, the aspect of education should be paid particular attention to given its dire importance in the developing world.  The disastrous flooding in the summer of 2010 in Pakistan caused widespread damage to over a third of the country. And of course, school premises were included in the list of destruction the flooding caused.

Hence bearing this in mind, Fatima Memorial Hospital – Nur Foundation decided to set up a school in the outskirts of Dera Ghazi Khan in a locality known as Haibat Mastui. As reported earlier on, the school began operations in November 2010 and was running successfully with over 400 students enrolled for non-formal schooling. But as April began to approach, our team of educational experts from Lahore, embarked on a three day trip to visit the schooling facility in Haibat Mastui on the 27^th of March 2011.

The main purpose of this trip can be described as a three-fold process in nature.  Firstly, as the academic year for schools in Pakistan begins in April, it was necessary to categorize students their respective grade levels based on their educational ability so the transition from a non-formal to a formal school could be made. Secondly, stationary and books were to be distributed amongst the children in the school. Last but not the least, proper training sessions were to be undertaken with the teachers in order to ensure they could handle various issues within the school. 

Written and oral assessments were conducted by the educational experts sent in from Lahore. These tests were based on a variety of topics taught in primary level. Moreover, formal interviews with students were also carried out. On the basis of these tests, approximately 180 plus students were placed into classes on the basis of their competence, age and gender. The students were placed in the following classes: Nursery I & II, Prep I, Class I (two sections) with 1 teacher responsible for each of the aforementioned classes. 

With the help of your generous donations, food items such as packets of biscuits and chips, as well as stationary and books were distributed amongst all the children which were all happily accepted. Detailed sessions on a variety of topics were held with the five teachers in charge of the above mentioned sections. Hence, the purpose of the trip was completely fulfilled.

The next trip is planned for end April where monitoring and evaluation of the school will be conducted. Furthermore, there are plans to distribute books and stationary to children as well.

Fatima Memorial Hospital - Nur Foundation is enormously grateful of all the funds we have been receiving. These children are the future of our nation and with your support we will ensure that it is nourished into a sturdy, bright and auspicious tomorrow. Please continue to visit Global Giving in order to receive regular updates about the continued success of this project.