Bricks to Books: Education for working children

During this reporting period, AWARD Pakistan continued to strengthen its From Bricks to Books: Education for Working Children initiative by advancing community-based assessments and evidence-driven planning in brick kiln communities of rural Faisalabad.

To gain a deeper understanding of the ground realities, trained social mobilizers conducted extensive door-to-door visits across multiple brick kiln settlements. These visits focused on assessing household living conditions, income dependency on child labor, health and hygiene challenges, psychosocial stress faced by children, and access to educational opportunities. The team actively engaged with parents and caregivers, building trust and encouraging open discussions about their children’s present conditions and future possibilities.

Through this field engagement, a total of 300 detailed household survey forms were collected. The data provided critical insights into the economic pressures forcing children into labor, the emotional and psychological impact of working in harsh environments, and the willingness of families to support alternative education pathways. Following this, the collected data have been thoroughly reviewed, and comprehensive assessment reports have been developed to guide informed decision-making for the next phase of the project.

Building on these findings, AWARD Pakistan is now in the process of designing a structured and context-specific educational program tailored to the unique needs of working children in brick kiln communities. This upcoming program will integrate psychosocial support and therapy sessions to help children heal from trauma associated with labor-intensive conditions. The initiative will focus on gradually transitioning children from brick kiln work into safe and supportive learning environments, enabling them to regain confidence, develop basic skills, and reconnect with education.

During this reporting period, AWARD Pakistan advanced the Bricks to Books: Education for Working Children initiative by strengthening its community assessment and evidence-based planning efforts within brick kiln communities of rural Faisalabad.

Recognizing that effective intervention must be rooted in a deep understanding of household realities, our trained social mobilizers conducted door-to-door visits across multiple brick kiln settlements. These visits focused on assessing the living conditions, economic pressures, child labor patterns, health concerns, and educational access of families working in kilns. The team engaged directly with parents and caregivers, creating a safe space for dialogue and trust-building.

As a result of this field activity, a total of 300 detailed household survey forms were collected from brick kiln families in rural Faisalabad. The data gathered provides critical insights into income dependency on child labor, psychosocial stressors faced by children, access to basic services, and parents’ readiness to engage in non-formal education programs.

The collected surveys are currently under evaluation and analysis. This assessment phase will enable AWARD to identify priority needs, segment beneficiaries based on vulnerability, and refine the next phase of program implementation. Findings from the survey will directly inform decisions related to educational placement, psychosocial support intensity, parental engagement strategies, and health and hygiene interventions.

By grounding future actions in accurate, community-level data, AWARD aims to ensure that upcoming program steps are targeted, responsive, and sustainable. This preparatory work is a crucial foundation for maximizing impact, ensuring that the most vulnerable working children are reached with appropriate educational and psychosocial support.

We remain committed to transforming evidence into action and will share outcomes of the assessment and next steps in the upcoming report.