The Power of Connection - SEL as a Journey On World Mental Health Day, our Programme Officer Syeda Ansa reflects on her own personal journey to resilience, and how we embed Socio-Emotional Learning (SEL) in our work at Cities for Children.In a fast-paced world where daily noise can drown out our inner voices, creating space for …
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 …
Originally published in Dawn newspaper on November 11, 2023By Madeeha AnsariAS part of a global research project on forced migration, I was able to listen closely to the stories of children who had perhaps one, perhaps two parents of Afghan origin, and whose only memories were of life in Pakistan. The most powerful, common motif …
Through the thoughtful and impactful programs we create, Cities for Children caters to the three rights of each child – right to read, to play, and to safety - and help associate learning with joy and motivate children to stay in education. Our Seekho Sikhao Saathi (Partners in Learning) programme is one such program. Cities for …
From October 2022, till March 2023, we supported our partners to set up Temporary Learning Centers in Sindh, Pakistan. Through these two magical spaces, one in Umerkot district and one in Hyderabad, over 250 bright young learners found joy, stability, hope and friendship.In Umerkot, we worked with humanitarian partners Charity Doings Foundation to provide a space that became a hub of …
Shanzay Ejaz, Communications InternThe countrywide closure of schools in 2020 as an emergency response to the Covid-19 crisis led to huge disruption in education for children in Pakistan. The implications were disproportionately serious for girls, in a country with already slow progress towards gender parity. In order to help and support street-connected children to continue …
We are proud to announce the launch of the policy brief on street-connected children in Pakistan in collaboration with the National Commission on the Rights of the Child (NCRC) and UNICEF, on 21st April at Margalla Hotel, Islamabad. The event was attended by over 150 guests including activists, civil society and government officials, as well as senior …
By Founder, Madeeha Ansari. Originally published in Dawn Newspaper on March 22, 2022.WHY would children, given an option, ever want to stay on the streets?This question arose when speaking to staff from a reputable organisation in Peshawar, with decades of experience in outreach and rehabilitation for children who live or work on the streets. It …
Originally posted in Dawn newspaper on January 6, 2022. by Madeeha AnsariIN February 2021, a landmark bill to ban corporal punishment in all educational and childcare settings was moved in the National Assembly by MNA Mehnaz Akber Aziz and passed with cross-party support. The Islamabad Capital Prohibition of Corporal Punishment Bill 2021 was then sent to …
by Josh Adetunji, Projects VolunteerOn 3 and 4 August 2020, Cities for Children organised two consultations with civil society members and government titled ‘Policy Meets Practice,’ with the aim of addressing challenges faced by street children in Pakistan. The Consortium for Street Children defines street-connected children, or “street children”, as children who depend on the …