In Summer 2018, we organised our “Hansti Basti” or “Happy Hoods,” programme in collaboration with Pehli Kiran School System and the Community Support Programme at Bahria University in Islamabad. The program was designed to ensure that over the course of six weeks, Pehli Kiran students worked with volunteer mentors to build social emotional skills and create an environment where they felt encouraged to go to school. Each session had its own theme, and a combination of art, theatre or discussion-based activities.
Alizeh Hameed, our former intern, was there for the first session and shared her experience with us:
“We discuss katchi abaadis and the plight of street-connected children in our drawing room conversations, but these aren’t enough to prepare us for the ground realities. After a walk through narrow alleys under the scorching July sun, we came to an open-air set-up with an aluminum shade. This was the school we would be working in, packed with students. It was the most basic set up, with eager, wide-eyed students waiting to see what was in store.
They were divided into groups for their activities with their volunteer mentors and the energy, enthusiasm and intelligence they showed left me in critical self-observation. I was here to see that the children were engaging with the kind of activities planned, participating and being confident, but I found myself learning from them. Their compassion and peer-support were evident even on the first day.
I tried to coax a shy little girl into a conversation during the first session, where her response to each question was just a nodding of her head. Later, I observed that a more outspoken friend had taken the shy girl under her wing and was making sure she felt confident to participate in the art activity at the end of the session. The camaraderie between them was beautiful.”
By the second session, which covered emotional awareness, the students, including the shy ones, were speaking up and participating in the activities. The school principal proudly exclaimed, “I can’t believe these are my children speaking up!”
Hamary Hero
Over the course of the program, the children and volunteers developed deep bonds. In the ‘Hamaray Hero’ session, for instance, when asked to draw pictures of their heroes and role models, one student drew her volunteer, Hamza Sultan, “because he taught her new things every time.” The drawing and comment show how a few small deeds can go a long way, and make lasting impact.
The sessions were designed to build on each other so the motivation kept growing and by the end, volunteers were prepared to take real ownership.
Wider impact
This program ended up being a source of learning not only for the children, but also for the volunteers and teachers. For instance, after having worked with the children for a few sessions, one volunteer said she learnt that “children need to be taught with love.”
Moreover, having recognised the impact on students’ confidence and motivation by the end of the program, the management of the Pehli Kiran Schools expressed renewed interest in creating an extracurricular program, with more activities like these throughout the academic year.
After all, happy children learn better, and will be inspired to keep coming to school.