Coverage of this event appeared in national dailies, The News and The Nation, on April 4, 2024.
In a vibrant showcase event held on Wednesday, April 3, 2024, Cities for Children marked the successful completion of the Seekho Sikhao Saathi programme in collaboration with the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE). The event, attended by a diverse range of education stakeholders including representatives from the Ministry of Education and Professional Training, Federal Directorate of Education, donor organisations, civil society, and 60 representatives from the 10 participating schools, served as a platform to highlight innovative practices. The special focus was on how building foundational skills in younger children and socio-emotional learning helps enhance children’s motivation to learn and attend school.
Students and teachers actively participated throughout the event. IMSG Margalla Town and IMCG Malpur performed lively demos to illustrate what the sessions had looked like in their school. Students from IMSG Rawal Town set up a corner to proudly display the various colourful models, charts and other artworks they had produced for various sessions throughout the programme. Bari Saathis from IMSG New Shakrial and IMSG Sohan presented speeches where they shared their thoughts on the programme and how it helped them grow. Mehnaz Akber Aziz, the lawmaker who championed legislation to end corporal punishment in schools in ICT, commended the team’s commitment to fostering safe, nurturing learning environments, stressing the importance of early learning opportunities for children’s development and well-being.
The flagship Seekho Sikhao Saathi programme was initiated by Cities for Children in response to pandemic-induced school closures and has evolved into a transformative initiative empowering both older and younger children. Based on a Child to Child model, the programme trains older children (Bari Saathi/Big Partners) to become education champions, delivering playful early learning sessions to younger children (Chotay Saathi/Little Partners). According to Founder Madeeha Ansari, “This builds crucial foundational skills for younger children and socioemotional skills for older girls to navigate life- making them partners in learning.”
For this particular iteration, Cities for Children partnered with the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) to conduct playful-learning based sessions in 10 public schools in Islamabad Capital Territory. Older girls in Grades 6 and 7 (Bari Saathi) were trained to become champions of learning for younger children in Grades Prep and 1. The event celebrated these girl leaders of learning, recognising their creative efforts and personal growth in self-confidence, agency, empathy, and relationship skills. Shayan Mujeeb, Programme Officer at Cities for Children said: “It was a privilege to witness the girls grow into confident leaders and make independent decisions, all while teaching little children with love and empathy.”
Sadia Malik, representing the Malala Fund, underscored the importance of holistic education and investing in girls’ empowerment. She praised Cities for Children’s efforts to support the learning and well-being of children in urban poverty, emphasising the fundamental right of every child to a safe and nurturing childhood.
In a country facing unprecedented numbers of out-of-school children and high dropout rates, initiatives like Seekho Sikhao Saathi play an important role in ensuring access to quality education and nurturing environments for all children.
Cities for Children remains steadfast in its commitment to championing the learning and well-being of children living in urban poverty, safeguarding their fundamental “right to childhood”– the right to read and play in safety.
