Children are back in school
Seven year-old Sawera, ActionAid’s sponsored child from Kot Adu, is one of the many children who lost their chance to get an education when the floods hit their village and destroyed their school buildings.
"I am very happy to be back in the school," Sawera told us. "While in the camp I missed my friends, but now most of us are together again."
I love to draw pictures of trees and birds; I am happy I have crayons and an art book. I want to become a teacher when I grow up.
While in the relief camps or living with host families, children’s education suffered the most. With a lack of basic necessities such as food, clothing, shelter and medicines, children also suffered emotionally.
"Before the floods came, I was learning to write the alphabet. But when the school closed, I had no pencils and notebooks, so I almost forgot what I’d learnt. Now I am learning to write and spell again."
ActionAid prioritised women and children in its flood emergency response. Our local partners helped to rescue families and provided them with cooked food, essential medical care and protection support in the camps, in coordination with the local government.
As the water receded and people started to return to their villages, children’s education and emotional healing was a top priority for ActionAid.
We established village level schools to help girls and boys continue their education. Through cash for work support, communities were supported to build one-room buildings to be used as schools. White boards, books, pencils, crayons and play materials were also provided. Educated women and men from within the community were engaged as teachers and were provided with training.
Many children like Sawera are befitting from ActionAid’s village school initiative. Her father Iqbal Hussain is also very happy to see his daughter back in school, learning, playing and gradually overcoming the emotional trauma caused by widespread destruction and displacement. "I am a field labourer and since the floods, I have not been able to find much work."
ActionAid has solved my biggest problem by starting a school in the village. I want my children to get an education and be successful in life.
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