Givology - give to learn, learn to give

Ms. Sania of age 22 years is working as school teacher with SHEED Society from last five years. Her education is matriculation (continued to stay and teach in the same institution). She was brought up in red light area Lahore by her parents and knew the situation of the children of the sex workers. She also has witnessed that many of young girls of the sex workers were forced by their mothers and acre takers in the prostitution only because they were not provided opportunity of the education and had no other choices for income. She says “I joined the SHEED Society only because of the reasons that SHEED is committed to work for the rights of the female sex workers and their children. After joining the SHEED society I am able to contribute for the efforts the education of the children. The students of my class now have dream to become TV artists, Teachers, Doctors, Managers etc but none of them says that they will be a prostitute in future. These outcomes give me much satisfaction and motivate me to work with more zeal and dedication. I wish to continue as school teacher with SHEED Society and keep on playing my role for the best future of the children of sex workers.

Currently Sania is handling class of 20 students in one of SHEED School. She has attended the teacher training organized by the SHEED Society. She teaches the subject of English, Mathmatics, Urdu, History and Islamic studies in her class. She also conduct life skills based activities for the children on weekly basis to help the students to know about physical and sexual abuse and develop their skills for protection of their bodies from abuse. She also helps her students to participate in various recreational activities and competitions that SHEED organizes in collaboration with other schools. On weekly basis, along with community mobilizers, she visits the homes of students for discussion with their mothers and caretakers about the progress of their children in education. She motivates them to send their children in school on time and to take care of their basic needs at home.

SHEED Society is implementing Apni Taleem (Our Education) Project in red light area Lahore, Pakistan. Focus of this project is the protection of the children of sex workers and to provide them education. Major activities include community mobilization with female sex workers to sensitize them for education of their children, sensitization sessions on child rights with sex workers and general community, advocacy with police and government officials for rights of sex workers and children, schools for children of sex workers and recreational activities for children of sex workers. Under Apni Taleem project SHEED has established two non formal schools where children of female sex workers are enrolled. In these schools children of sex workers get two year non formal education and then are mainstreamed in formal education system. In each school there are two classes each have capacity to accommodate 25 children. In each school there are two teachers, who have been trained by the SHEED on child friendly teaching methodologies. These teachers teach the children in a very child friendly environment .Teachers also conduct the life skills based education activities on weekly basis for children to build their skills for protection of their bodies.

SHEED Society is working in red light areas of Pakistan since 1995. Initially SHEED started its work by raising awareness among female sex workers for prevention of STIs and HIV&AIDS. With the passage of time SHEED learnt that children of sex workers are also vulnerable to STIs and HIV&AIDS as they face physical and sexual abuse. As prostitution is not legal in Pakistan so the sex workers and their children are not given any respect in the society. Children of sex workers were discriminated in the government schools and were not given admission in the government schools as they were children of sex workers. It was also observed that female sex workers themselves are uneducated and they do not understand the importance of education. They were not in favor of education of their children and had onion that their children have to become sex workers. It was also observed that many of young girls were forced to adopt the prostitution as profession as they had no other options available for them. As the result of this whole situation, children of sex workers were facing abuse at home and work place. To improve the situation of children of sex workers and for protection of their rights SHEED Society started Apni Taleem (Our Education) project in red light area Lahore to provide education for the children of sex workers. Through this project SHEED is also involved in advocacy activities with the administrators of government and private schools to lobby for mainstreaming of children of sex workers in formal education system. Through Apni Taleem Project SHEED started the first school in 2005 and second in 2006.

In the last four years 164 children got enrollments in the class of Mr. Amna. She helped them to learn the basics of English, Mathematics, History and Islamic studies and made them able for mainstreaming in formal education system. Out of 164 children enrolled her class, 35 children have got admission in the government and private institutions and now they are mainstreamed in formal education system. Student of her class participated actively in recreational activities and many speech competitions and won the first position.

In the last four years SHEED mobilized 3500 female sex workers regarding rights of children, importance of education for the children and enrolled 710 children of sex workers in our non formal education schools. Out of 710 children enrolled in SHEED School, 150 children have been mainstreamed in formal education system and now they are attending classes in government schools. Currently 95 are enrolled in both schools of SHEED Society.

Project team of SHEED Society for Apni Taleem Project is comprised of the following officials:

1. Ms. Lubna Tayyab; General Secretary; Matric; 15 year experience to work with the female sex workers on prevention of HIV&AIDS and Child rights

2. Mr.Tayyab Hassan Shah; Financial Officer; B.A. LLB; 15 years experience to work with SHEED on financial management

3. Mr.Bashir Anjum; Consultant; M.Sc .(Hons);Rural Development;10 years of experience to work with national and international organization in field of reproductive health, family planning, HIV&AIDS, adolescent & child rights; has experience in project development and project management

4. Ms. Rafia Shahzad; School Teacher; Matric; Five years experience of teaching with SHEED Society

5. Ms. Alia Rafique; School Teacher; Matric; Five years experience of teaching with SHEED Society

6. Ms. Aman Rasheed; School Teacher; Matric; Five years experience of teaching with SHEED Society

7. Ms. Sania Iltaf; School Teacher; Matric; Five years experience of teaching with SHEED Society

8. Ms. Zareena; Community Mobilizer; Primary; Seven year experience of community mobilization on prevention of HIV&AIDS, child rights and child education

9. Ms. Parvenn; Community Mobioizer; Primary; Seven year experience of community mobilization on prevention of HIV&AIDS, child rights and child education