On 23 June 2021, Cities for Children facilitated a workshop for civil society organizations in Pakistan entitled "Change Our Story" - Understanding and Implementing UN General Comment No. 21 on Children in Street Situations. This was the second in a series of three events to forge a path forward for street-connected children in Pakistan, with support from …
On 8th May, 2021, Minahil Khan, senior research fellow at the Research Society of International Law sat down with Madeeha Ansari, the founder of Cities for Children, to discuss the state of street children in Pakistan on the fifth episode of 'The Right' podcast series. The discussion attempted to explore the challenges faced by street children, …
Originally published in Dawn newspaper on April 25, 2021.By Madeeha AnsariIN an interview for April 12, International Day for Street Children, a young girl spoke of her life with a smile. Her grandparents lived in the same abadi where she was born, and where she now lives with her uncle — who does the same …
On 12 April 2021 – International Day for Street Children – Cities for Children along with the Special Parliamentary Group on the SDGs in Pakistan held a national consultation to review policies related to street-connected children and how best to support “Access for Street Children.” The event was supported by the Consortium for Street Children, …
Originally published in Dawn newspaper on February 28, 2021.by Madeeha AnsariA VIDEO went viral recently, of a young child being brutally beaten by his instructor in a madressah-style setting. The more the little boy cried, the more abuse he got to make him ‘stop’.The source of the video was unverified so the real details will …
By Hajra Khan, Research InternOn World Children’s Day 2020, we are committed to a future where the #VoicesofYouth are amplified and understood. In the spirit of representation, Cities for Children conducted a “mythbuster” campaign to tackle some of the misperceptions that exist regarding street-connected children in Pakistan. Our hope is to help build a future …
Originally published in Dawn newspaper on 4 November 2020.by Madeeha AnsariA NEPALESE colleague once shared the impact of a well-intentioned government rehabilitation programme for street-connected children. The plan was to take them off the streets and provide protection facilities where basic needs would be addressed — and local NGOs like his were approached for support.What …
The following research piece entitled Cities for Children: A Case Study of Refugees in Towns - Islamabad, Pakistan, was first published by the Refugees in Towns project of the Feinstein Centre, Tufts University, September 2019. It is a unique reflective case study drawing upon personal and professional experiences, exploring the lived reality and education-based challenges of …
by Zoha Jillani, CfC VolunteerA core aspect of Cities for Children's mission to protect the "Right to a Childhood", is the Right to Play. The role of play in a child’s life is essential for early learning, understanding and brain development. It is also closely linked to positive mental health. In order to open up a …
This article was first Published in Dawn on July 3rd 2020, Pakistan's oldest English newspaper.by Madeeha Ansari, FounderCHILDHOOD is a precious, fleeting experience. As we navigate our way through the most extraordinary time in living memory, one of the most important things we can do is to remember how this time will define the earliest memories …