Written by Syeda Ansa Gardezi (Senior Programmes Officer & Trainer) at CfC In many underserved communities, young girls are taught to shrink themselves, to stay quiet, avoid attention, and leave leadership to others. Their ideas often go unheard, their confidence unspoken, and their voices confined by social expectations. But when girls are given safe spaces to …
The Op-ed originally appeared in The News, authored by Communications Officer Arooba.In Islamabad, a certain language of order is spoken.Encroachment operations framed as necessary exercises in urban governance have long shaped how the city manages informality. The recent removal of katchi abadis in various areas of Islamabad fits squarely within this tradition. Bulldozers move …
By Mah-Noor Ghani - Research VolunteerLast year I travelled to Pakistan to conduct fieldwork for my Master’s dissertation in Sociology of Childhood and Children’s Rights. As an educator, fostering panel member and workshop facilitator involved in various child-focused projects, I’ve long been committed to amplifying children’s voices, rights and lived experiences. During my studies, I …
On #MalalaDay, we are honoured to share stories of the heroic girls leading learning in their schools during our recent Seekho Sikhao Saathi project, supported by the Malala Fund. Each case highlights a special socioemotional learning (SEL) outcome that we have been nurturing during this time, by providing careful coaching and support.Sadia* - Finding ResilienceJust …
By Fran Sharman (UK Programme Officer)“Hiya!”One small word, which has grown to mean a lot. It was one of the first words that the children that we work with in transitional accommodation picked up from me. I wasn’t even aware that this word was how I greeted the children every week, yet overtime it …
By Amal SurmawalaClick, click, click.The sound of plastic snapping into place bounced off the walls of the otherwise quiet classroom. A group of “Bari Saathis” in our Seekho Sikhao Saathi programme with 20 FDE schools sat in a semi-circle, brows furrowed in concentration as they carefully pieced together bits of a creative play kit. Toyi …
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 …
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 …