Plan Pakistan: 2013 Annual Report by PlanAsia

Plan International Pakistan

This review sets out Plan's progress towords our vision & mission in 2013.

CONTENTS About Us Message from the Country Director Overview of the Country Strategic Plan Plan International Pakistan Programmes 1: Creating an Enabling Environment for Good Governance 2: Right to Quality Education 3: Right to Health and Health Services 4: Right to Adequate Standard of Living 5: Child-Centred Disaster Risk Management (CCDRM) Financial Overview

2 4 5 6 6 11 15 19 23 27

ABOUT US Our Identity Founded in 1937, almost 76 years ago, Plan is one of the world's oldest and largest childcentred community development organisations. Plan works with 50 developing countries across Africa, Asia and the Americas to promote child rights and lift millions of children out of poverty. In 2012 Plan worked with 84 million children in 90,131 communities. Plan is independent, with no religious, political or governmental afliations. Plan International is child centred organization and every thing it does must be measured against the impact it has on the children. Changes will not be made for the sake of change; rather Plan will change to best meet the needs of children.

Our Vision Plan is committed to achieving a world in which all children realise their full potential in societies that respect people's rights and dignity.

Our Mission Plan aims to achieve lasting improvements in the quality of life of deprived children in developing countries, through a process that unites people across cultures and adds meaning and value to their lives, by: · Enabling deprived children, their families and their communities to meet their basic needs and to increase their ability to participate in and benet from their societies · Building relationships to increase understanding and unity among peoples of different cultures and countries · Promoting the rights and interests of the world's children. 02

ABOUT PLAN PAKISTAN Pakistan is one of the 69 countries around the globe where Plan International is working. In Pakistan, Plan International is registered with Economic Affairs Division (EAD), Government of Pakistan since January 11, 1997. For nancial year 2013 Plan implemented programmes and campaigns in 23 districts in all 5 provinces of Pakistan using the Child Centered Community Development (CCCD) approach. These include the districts of Chakwal, Vehari, Bahawalpur, Rahim Yar Khan, Rajanpur, Layyah, Multan, and Muzaffargarh in Punjab; Chitral in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; Thatta, Ghotki, Saanghar, Badin, and Khairpur in Sindh; Ziarat in Balochistan and in 7 districts of Gilgit-Baltistan.

OUR PROGRAMMES & AREAS Plan Pakistan has an integrated programme with the following 5 thematic programme areas as specied in the Country Strategic Plan (CSP): · Enabling Environment for Good Governance · Right to Quality Education · Right to Adequate Standard of Living · Right to Health and health services · Child Centred Disaster Risk Management Moreover, Plan has programmatic interventions in various districts range from emergency response to advocacy campaigns. The work outside the PUs includes: Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and ood response programmes in 6 districts of southern Punjab and Sindh; a rural sanitation project in 35 communities in selected union councils of districts Chakwal and Vehari, and the Education in Emergencies project in districts Layyah, Rajanpur and Muzzaffargarh. Plan's advocacy campaigns include: Count Every Child (universal birth registration) in Ziarat and Gilgit-Baltistan; Learn Without Fear in Punjab, Sindh, Gilgit-Baltistan and Balochistan; and Because I Am A Girl all across Pakistan. Plan works in partnership with local stake holders – working with government departments and other like-mended development agencies and NGOs – essentially focusing on children and their families, and the communities they live in. Gender equity and civil society strengthening are cross-cutting themes in all Plan programmes.

OUR APPROACH Our programme approach is child-centred community development. This approach facilitates and engages children living in poverty and their families in implementing the programmes mentioned above, and towards fullling children's right to survival, development, protection and participation. To help ensure the sustainability of development efforts, we support the development and participation of community-based organisations including youth, children, men and women's groups. Plan Pakistan staff and partners have been trained and retrained, as per requirement, in the child centred community development philosophy and processes which makes it possible to adopts a rights-based approach to programming in order to implement our projects effectively.

COMMUNITIES AND CHILDREN In Pakistan Plan International's work covers close to 4,945 communities benetting about 1.6 million children across Pakistan.

MESSAGE FROM THE

COUNTRY DIRECTOR It gives me great pleasure to present to you the Plan International Pakistan Annual Report for the nancial year 2013. In July 2012 we entered the third year of our Country Strategic Plan cycle 2011 – 2015, and we undertook a midterm review to gauge our progress towards meeting the objectives set out in the CSP. The ndings of the review indicate that steady progress is being made to full the ultimate aim of the CSP: to achieve a strengthened civil society and responsive governance for realising the rights of children. The multiple challenges Pakistani children face in realising their basic right to an education still remains one of Plan's highest priorities, with this year being no different. Plan was among the few organisations in the country that were not only vocal, but also celebrated “Malala Day” by coordinating simultaneous activities in the ve provincial capitals by delegations of girls. As Malala made a powerful plea to all governments to work for peace and ensure free compulsory education for every child all over the world, our Pakistani girls presented a resolution to provincial education departments for every girl's right to receive and education. Another key demand made by the delegations was for an increase in the budget allocation for girls' education. Plan Pakistan also supported two adolescent girls from our communities to voice concerns of millions of Pakistani girls this year at a high level Commonwealth meeting in the UK. The meeting was held to highlight the far reaching, negative implications child marriage can have on the health and lives of young girls, and to discuss ways to end early and forced marriages globally. The young Pakistani girls spoke at the meeting and also met with the Pakistani High Commissioner and the UK Shadow Minister of International Development. To build capacities and resilience of communities prone to natural disasters, Plan's Child Centred Disaster Risk Management (CCDRM) programme worked with 120 communities living in the most vulnerable areas. While keeping in mind the need to involve young people and children in decisions that impact their future, a key focus of the CCDRM programme was to ensure active participation of children and young people in disaster risk reduction and management planning activities. A total of € 6.8 million has been spent on CCDRM related activities this year, which not only reects donor strategic focus in disaster risk reduction, but highlights Plan's expertise and knowledge in this area. During the year, Plan Pakistan continued to grow in terms of both geographical spread, and through innovative programming, we managed to secure new funding worth over € 7.6 million to improve the quality of life of poor and marginalised children. The potential and opportunities to reach out to more and more Pakistani children is ever present and with the continued dedication of our staff and partners, along with the support of our global ofces, we continue to strive forward. Some of our successes include advocating to the Government of Sindh on the policy level to draft a bill calling for the ban on corporal punishment in schools. The results of our work speak for itself, and due to our strong engagement with multi level government stakeholders, Plan is quickly emerging as a “go-to” organisation for WASH, Early Childhood Education and Youth Economic Empowerment. We have tried to make the 2013 report concise and interesting through stories and a pictorial layout and hope you nd it informative as well as enjoyable to read. In the end I would like to thank all our implementing partners, sponsors, donors and key stakeholders for their continued support and guidance. I am proud to be a part of the Plan Pakistan who continue to forge ahead with their untiring commitment and dedication to improve the lives of children and their families.

Rashid Javed Country Director

OVERVIEW OF THE

COUNTRY STRATEGIC PLAN CSP Period:

FY 2011-2015

Focus of the Country Strategic Plan:

Plan Pakistan will work in ve programme areas, implementing deeper and more focused programmatic interventions and in each programme area addressing the root causes of the lack of realisation of children’s rights. A foundation governance programme will focus on empowerment of marginalised groups including children, young people, and women in poor communities. A particular focus is on strengthening local and national civil society organisations (CSOs) to enable them to participate in planning, monitoring and holding decisions makers accountable. Technical support to duty bearers on participatory governance and rights based development will support an effective government at district level. Each of the ve country programmes focus on specic areas of interventions tailored to respond to key issues identied during the child rights situation analysis.

Country Programmes: CP 1

Creating an Enabling Environment for Good Governance

Country Programme Goals

All girls and boys are raised in a protective, encouraging, and nurturing environment where the duty bearers are responsive to their rights without any gender discrimination

CP 2

Right to Quality Education

Country Programme Goals

All children enjoy access to education opportunities in an enabling and empowering environment for lifelong learning and development.

CP 3

Rights to Health and Health Services

Country Programme Goals

Children and young people realise their rights to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health and to sustainable and affordable potable drinking water services. Right to Adequate Standard of Living

CP 4 Country Programme Goals

Poor and vulnerable families, especially women and young people, enjoy their right to an adequate standard of living.

CP 5

Child-Centred Disaster Risk Management All girls and boys are raised in a resilient and stable environment and have the ability to realise their rights in emergency situations.

Country Programme Goals

PLAN INTERNATIONAL PAKISTAN

PROGRAMMES CREATING AN ENABLING ENVIRONMENT FOR

GOOD GOVERNANCE The aim of the programme is that all girls and boys are raised in a protective, encouraging and nurturing environment where the duty bearers are responsive to their rights without any gender discrimination. Strengthening local governance is an overarching theme for all CSP programmes. This includes capacitating incumbent local governments, CSOs and communities to mainstream the participation of children and young people, ensuring gender equality, advocating for rights of children across Pakistan, and provision for protection at all levels of planning. The focus of the programme for 2011-2015 is: · Promoting children's right to protection and participation at all levels within the government structures as well as CSO programmes · Strengthening CSOs and providing technical assistance to local governments at Union Council (UC), subdistrict and district levels for planning and implementation of programmes incorporating rights of children · Children in difcult circumstances: child labour, domestic labour, sanitary workers, and street children · Participation of children and young people in issues impacting their rights and development · Youth engagement and leadership skill development · Mainstreaming (i) birth registration, (ii) non-discrimination and inclusiveness including gender into programmes and projects, and (iii) child protection in DRR and DRM

Key intervention strategies: 1. 2. 3.

To strengthen the child protection mechanisms at national, provincial, district and community levels To build the capacity of the local CSOs and district governments in CCCD and child protection Increased access to social and protection services for marginalised groups of children (children with disabilities, children living or working in the streets and involved in domestic work) To contribute to positive changes in national policy and practices on rights of children by promoting the importance of CCCD programming through research on programme practice and policy to strengthen civil society advocacy and alliance building

Key achievements and activities Child protection: · Work with the relevant government departments continued at both district and federal levels. In districts Rahim Yar Khan, Bahawalpur and Ghotki, Plan developed child protection units in collaboration with the Social Welfare Departments. Plan also facilitated child protection management information systems in all these districts. · The Sindh provincial assembly passed the Sindh Prohibition of Corporal Punishment resolution during its last session. Plan has been working on the issue with the Sindh government since 2010 and a draft bill was forwarded in April 2011. This is the rst ever piece of legislation passed in Pakistan in which Plan played an active role. · Plan Pakistan has been selected by The Child Protection Working Group Task Force to pilot a process for developing a framework including analytical tools, indicators and commensurate activities for risk-informed child protection. The best practices gleaned from the pilot will help improve the integration between child protection and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR). · 158 Child Protection Committees (CPCs) have been set up to strengthen Community Based Child Protection Mechanisms (CBCPMs.) Children, community members, CSOs, and government departments, particularly the Social Welfare Department are key stakeholders for the protection and promotion of child rights at the community level. These local level child protection mechanisms will further contribute to the strengthening of provincial and national level child protection mechanisms/system. Gender is a cross cutting theme, and new initiatives were taken in the year under review to ensure gender mainstreaming in programming in line with Plan's gender policy. ·

To create the awareness on the issues of violence against women, a sixteen day activism campaign focusing on child marriage was organised in collaboration with Action Aid and Ideas for Life Trust · A research study was conducted on the issue of Child Marriage; the report was presented in a research dissemination seminar in Islamabad with key stakeholders. · A media campaign on television and radio is being run on the issue of child marriage · A number of projects related to gender issues and concerns are in various stages of implementation. These include:

o o o o o

· ·

The Girl Power Programme Reproductive Health Initiatives for Adolescents Building Skills for Life Fast Track Secondary Education Livelihood projects funded by the Asian Development Bank and the European Commission Strengthening networking and alliance building for working on gender and child rights issues with relevant government bodies, Plan Pakistan was represented at different local and national forums The Asia Child Marriage Initiative (ACMI) Forum was established The Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) syllabus was reviewed from a gender perspective. The revised ECCD Syllabus is now comparatively much compact and addresses gender issues and concerns satisfactorily

Civil society strengthening is embedded in Plan programmes and projects. Plan initiated a unique forum of INGOs in Pakistan which is titled “Partnerships Approaches in INGOs”. This forum is a representative body of 10 different INGOs with development and humanitarian focused programmes and projects in Pakistan. Awareness raising on child rights: The “Police Training and Capacity Building for Democracy and Human Rights” project was successfully completed in January 2013 which achieved its target of training 5,000 members of the police force in Islamabad.

Networking and advocacy ·

Plan Pakistan supported the Ministry of Human Rights in organising three events: o National Conference on Child Rights to translate ratication of Optional Protocol on Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography and SAIEVAC o The Universal Children Day was also celebrated and a campaign on child rights was also launched. The Prime Minister of Pakistan also spoke at the occasion o Plan was also represented on the Universal Human Rights Day Plan Pakistan and the Ministry of Law, Justice and Human Rights signed an MoU whereby Plan and the Ministry Shall together for the rights of children focusing girl child.

Programme integration: Efforts to integrate child protection, gender, and CSO strengthening continued, as did the integration of other themes such as education, livelihood, and DRR. Two partnership cooperation agreements were signed with UNICEF for Promoting Child Rights in Cotton Farming Areas of Pakistan (Punjab and Sindh provinces). This was an integrated project and was designed in line with the CCCD approach. in Addition, all thematic areas also spearhead advocacy/lobbying with relevant key players/decision makers to make child friendly polices that facilitate fulllment of their rights.

Case study Story of 9 year old *Kamran, a marginalised child, who's life took a turn for the better when his parents were persuaded to enrol him in a Plan drop-in centre Introduction The city of Chakwal, during the last decade has seen an increase in the amount of litter and garbage in the city. Rising garbage piles has attracted Gypsy and Afghan refugees; children, both boys and girls take to the streets to scavenge for scrap to sell to local junk yard owners. Collecting of garbage helps these children earn some money to contribute to their household income. Chakwal is home to a large number of Afghan refugees who have had a presence here since the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan forced many citizens to ee the country. With the passage of time their population has multiplied. Unskilled and poor, children of these families turn towards scavenging for scrap as a way of livelihood. Street and working children are often exposed to dreadful conditions and are vulnerable to all different forms of abuse. They can also fall prey to various diseases. Some of them drop out of school at an early age and many never see the inside of a class room. Some perils faced by them include: hunger, thirst, dangerous and/or badly

paid jobs, prostitution, sexual abuse, diseases, exclusion, police harassment, imprisonment, drug addiction, illiteracy, etc. Realising the gravity of this situation, Plan Pakistan as a child centred organisation, felt a responsibility to start a project for the rehabilitation of the children. PU Chakwal decided to empower local organisations to address the issue of street working children and came up with the project titled, “Rehabilitation and reintegration of street working children”. The aim of the project was not only to rehabilitate the children enrolled in the drop-in centre, but also to mainstream them to formal schooling in coordination with local institutions. The centre provides services which include non formal education, healthcare, psychosocial support, nutritious meals and recreational facilities to the children. The children are also encouraged to take part in plays and puppet shows. National and international days of importance are also celebrated enthusiastically. Older children are provided with vocational skills and life skills based education so that they can earn their livelihood in a way that does not violate their basic rights and dignity. These activities are helping children gain condence and aims to motivate them to learn further in schools

and become productive citizens. Parents and community members appreciate Plan's initiative aimed at helping children realise their rights. Over the past two years 268 boys and girls have been enrolled at the drop-in centre. Out of these 68 children, including 21 girls have transitioned to state run primary schools to pursue formal schooling. Kamran Ali is 9 years old and lives on the outskirts of Chakwal. Kamran and his family – his mother, father, and siblings – beg on the city streets. Says Kamran: “I have one brother and one sister; people call us names and use foul language when they see us”. Kamran and his siblings have never been enrolled in a school because of our extreme poverty and lack of stability in their lives. One day staff from the drop-in centre visited Kamran and talked to his parents about children's right to health and education. This was followed by other meetings till eventually Kamran's parents agreed to send him to the drop-in centre, where other children from the community were also enrolled. “It was wonderful” says Kamran. “We would have lunch together with the staff and other children and we learned how to read and write, and I also learnt good manners there now I can greet people properly, request the teacher for help, and share with other children.”

Kamran proved to be a quick learner and he soon decided that he wanted to go to a regular school. “I convinced my parents that this (my going to school) would be good for us as a family”. With help from the centre staff, seven other children and Kamran were admitted to a government primary school near their homes. Being in a new surrounding was awkward for the rehabilitated children at rst, but they soon adapted: “In the beginning the other school children did not like us but gradually we became friends”. Kamran excelled in his studies and when the results of the annual examination were announced to his delight he had passed the rst grade with the highest marks in the entire class! Says a beaming Kamran: “The headmistress of the school gave me a cash prize of Rs. 5,000 (US $50), and upon hearing of my success many parents from our neighbourhood who were not in favour of education enrolled their children in my school”. A total of 13 children, among them Kamran's brother and cousins were enrolled in the school by their parents. Primary school is not the end of the road for Kamran, his journey has just begun: “Now my parents take a greater interest in my education. I dream of being a pilot in the Pakistan Air Force one day” says Kamran Ali, age 9. * The subject's name has been changed to protect their identity

RIGHT TO

QUALITY EDUCATION The aim of the programme is that all children enjoy access to education opportunities in an enabling and empowering environment for life-long learning and development.

Key intervention strategies: In 2011-2015 the country programme, Right to Quality Education, focuses on improving access, quality and governance through: · Advocacy for institutional and policy reform (e.g., operationalisation of the ECE policy) through technical support to district and provincial governments in up-scaling ECE in public schools · Supporting schools in formulating their development plans and linking these plans to the Education Departments' plan of action at district and provincial levels · Creating access of girls to post primary and life skills based education in a protective environment · Capacitating rights-holders (communities and children) to claim their rights for quality education, while at the same time supporting duty-bearers in meeting their obligations · Conducting and supporting research to identify gender gaps in ECCD and incorporation of recommendations in Plan's ECCD/ ECE with a gender perspective · Conducting and supporting research on Why Teachers Use Corporal Punishment and its sharing with Provincial Government, Punjab and other stakeholders

Key achievements and activities: Key activities included: · Working with School Development Planning to improve education governance in public schools · Providing technical support to district education departments and the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) to initiate ECE in public schools · Providing support to FDE to review the ECE syllabus piloted and to revise it for adoption for all FDE schools · Capacity building of school teachers, schools councils and district education department mentors to create child friendly environment in schools · Non- Formal Primary Education to provide learning facilities to school dropouts and out-ofschool working children – both girls and boys · Empowering girls by the provision of post primary and secondary education through alternative models of Fast Track and Distance Learning · Providing ECE facilities for ood affected children of pre-school ages, making schools safer for children · Promoting child rights in cotton farming areas to create access to ECE and education for working children · Collaborating with the Government of Sindh to formulate a law on banning corporal punishment in schools · Replicating the corporal punishment redressal system pilot project in one district of Punjab and assessment of the corporal punishment system piloted in selected public schools for its reduction · Community mobilisation to develop ownership of local stakeholders in the education of children

Collaborative partnerships ·

Plan has strengthened partnerships with organisations such as Rupani Foundation, National Rural Support Program, Children's Global Network, Mountain Institute for Educational Development, Systems Foundation, RASTI, Bedari, LHRLA, BUNYAD, Lodhran Pilot Project, SAFWCO, HANDS thus forming a wider network of organisations working in the education sector

· · · ·

Local district government departments in Chakwal, Vehari, Thatta, Muzafargarh, Rahim Yar Khan and Bhawalpur The Government of Punjab, Sindh and Gilgit-Baltistan, FDE, Directorate of Staff Development (DSD), Punjab, and Punjab Education Foundation for successful implementation of the programme Strengthened linkages with provincial governments at the district level and after 18th Amendment Alliance building and networking for advocacy to promote quality education as a right of all children, and improving coordination and networking among Plan partners, other actors, and the Government for sharing and up-scaling of Plan programme models has been a successful approach to improve access and education quality A national level study on “Why teachers use corporal punishment” was conducted in collaboration with provincial government, and the ndings were shared and assessed.

Strengthening communities · · · · ·

Communities, school councils, and student representative committees were facilitated in the school development planning process to identify and address education issues at the local level in Chakwal, Vehari, Layyah, Muzafargarh, Rajanpur and Thatta The groups also developed contingency plans for safer schools in the three DRR districts School councils, mothers groups, and education committees played an important role in local management and supervision of ECCD and SIP programmes in the six outreach districts Community surveillance committees were strengthened to support and ensure girls' access to education in a protective environment Parents, children, mothers, women, media, government ofcials, school teachers and students were sensitised through the Learn without Fear (LWF) campaign for promoting a child friendly environment in education settings

Participation of women and children: The participation of women in Plan's non-formal primary and secondary education programme through women forums, education committees, community surveillance committees/child protection committees for supporting learners to attend NFE and AFC centres has been effective in promoting importance of education of girls and their role in reducing protection issues that is a barrier to education for girls. Engaging children in School Development Plan (SDP) development through Student Representative Committees (SRCs) enabled them to develop their leadership and planning skills and increased their condence to play an effective role in identifying issues and improving schools. Networking and advocacy: Plan Pakistan has strengthened its linkages with provincial governments to provide support for initiating ECE in public schools. Plan's ECE Syllabus is under review of the ECE Technical Committee for revision and adaptation as the standard ECE syllabus to be used in all government schools in Punjab. Programme integration: Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS), health, child rights and protection, DRR, livelihood and gender initiatives have been designed to address the issues of education quality, school safety and environment, and holistic development of children. The integration was ensured from design to implementation by engaging the stakeholders in the SDP process to facilitate rights holders and duty bearers to play their due role more effectively. The process enabled women, children, men, and marginalised groups to participate in the problem identication, and later, in decision-making to take a leading role for their own development.

CASE STUDY The story of a young, married girl who's wish to continue her education came true through Plan's Non Formal Education (NFE) project. She has now completed her secondary education and is much more hopeful for the future. Plan in Islamabad is working in 11 out of total 34 slums, mostly with Christian minorities who were actually low caste Hindus at the time of partition between India and Pakistan. Even after converting to Christianity, the concept of untouchable is deeply embedded in the society, therefore they remain one of the marginalized groups. Although there has been a lot of change in the lives of those who are educated and are enjoying a high social status, the illiterate are conned to the traditional work like domestic workers, washing, cleaning and sanitary. The girls in the target areas usually drop out from school at an early age due social discrimination and start working with their mothers as domestic workers or taking care of sibling at home. Being too young, having no education and lack of skills pushes them into low-paid labour. Education – especially of girls – is not a priority for them due to the high cost of urban living. Fast Track secondary Education (FTSE) programme was initiated with support of JNO for girls' domestic workers to promote girls' secondary education (grade 10) through an alternative model of non-formal education in two years and equip them with vocational and technical trainings so their socio economic conditions could be improved through a dignied job. It has two major component; education and vocational skill. *Saiqa Khalid lives in one of Plan's partner communities. Saiqa was born into a poor family – her mother has worked as a domestic worker for most of her life and her father is a sanitation worker. A very low income and lack of opportunities resulted in Saiqa being married off at an early age. Saiqa has two children and prides herself as a courageous and responsible mother. Recounting her story Saiqa told us: “When I was of a school going age my parents forced the responsibilities of marriage on to me due to poverty and my dream of getting an education remained a dream, but I did not abandon it. I often thought about continuing my education and I was always amazed when girls my age complained about school and found it hard. I imagined going to school to be the most enjoyable thing in the world.” 13

Since Saiqa was a member of a Plan partner community, Plan staff was not an uncommon sight for her. One day the Plan team introduced the concept of FTSE to the community. The most attractive feature of the project for Saiqa was that it aimed to provide opportunity of education even to those who had never attended school. “I was amazed, but I was puzzled at how this could be possible? It takes up to ten years for people to sit for the matric exam, and here they are talking about just two years! If it could happen it would be a miracle”. Saiqa wasted no time in registering for the programme. But along with anticipation and hope there was also fear; fear that this opportunity was too good to be true and the project may fail. But with the passage of time her fear about the project subsided but the huge challenge of raising a family and studying soon became evident. “During these two years I faced numerous problems and challenges at my home. At one stage, I was ready to quit the centre because of my children's school timings”. I shifted my daughter from one school to another and dropping her off and picking her up from school and picking her up clashed with the centre's hours. I discussed this with the project team and they fully supported me and provided me with the exibility to adjust my timings. The teachers were very cooperative as well”. Saiqa plans on continuing with her studies, and wants to sign up for a computer course as well, but Saiqa's new dream is to become a teacher so that she can work with girls who faced challenges similar to the ones she faced. With Saiqa's passion for education there's a good chance that this dream might come true too. * The subject's name has been changed to protect their identity

Right to

Health and Health Services Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health (ASRH) and Mother Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) The broad objective of this programme is to help children and youth realise their rights to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health and to avail sustainable and affordable potable drinking water services. During FY 2013, increasing community participation in their primary health care activities was a strategic goal. Plan signed two MoUs with district governments to strengthen community health committees and to ensure the participation of local leadership in identifying their health rights and working actively towards realising those rights. Similarly, for the ASRH component, MoUs were signed with Youth, Sports, and Archaeology departments of the Government of Punjab. The MoUs will help ensure support for the Government of Punjab in developing Adolescent Development Policy Framework (ADPF), which is in line with the CSP, and will help in establishing youth help lines managed by the Government. Another MoU was signed with Lahore College for Women University's department of Mass Communication to ensure better understanding of information related to ASRHR and youth friendly reproductive health services for undergraduate journalist students. An agreement was also signed with Girls Guide Association of Pakistan to introduce ASRH to school-going adolescent girls to full their right to information.

Programme objectives 1.

To improve the quality of neonatal and maternal health interventions and services through a continuum of care and outreach public health programmes To increase awareness on Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health (ASRH) and through research and assessments to support advocacy on ASRH

Participation: Girls, boys, men, and women enthusiastically took part in designing, implementing, and monitoring project activities ensure that their MNCH and ASRHR rights are addressed through the relevant government departments. Community level health and environment committees were strengthened so that they can take steps for the sustainability of interventions. Village health committees and Community Based Organisations (CBOs) were also supported with small grants on the basis of performance. Role of Partnerships: Plan has been working in partnership with provincial and district level Health and Social Welfare departments with the intention of availing their services, and at the same time, strengthening their service delivery capacities. Plan also worked in close collaboration with provincial and district governments, the ministries of Health and Youth Affairs, UN agencies, INGOs, and community forums to effectively address MNCH and ASRHR challenges. Plan Pakistan in collaboration with Rutger WPF, ActionAid, national NGOs like FPAP and other sector stakeholders lobbied for the adoption of “Adolescent Development Policy Framework” (ADPF) and were able to inuence the Government to acknowledge and full their commitments on Adolescent friendly services on ASRH and MNCH. This is reected in the youth policy recently approved by the Government of Punjab.

Water Environment and Sanitation (WES) The country programme on Right to Health and Health services has also seen the implementation and ownership of the WES programme in Chakwal and Vehari through the community development Unit of Housing, Urban Development and Public Health Engineering Department (HUD&PHED) of the Government of Punjab. The action framework includes the Punjab Government as an implementing partner. To rollout the Pakistan's Approach to Total Sanitation (PATS) approach in Chakwal and Vehari, Plan has signed an MoU with HUD&PHED. Local Government & Community Development (LG&CD), Education and Health departments were also involved for coordinating efforts to achieve WES programme outcomes. This is the rst time that serious efforts have been made to involve provincial departments in the planning phase of the project. The objective of such exercises is to take all partners on board and to utilise all the dimensions of intersectoral approaches to improve the situation of water, sanitation, and environment. During FY 2013, the WES programme continued focusing on increasing community engagement and ownership of matters related to water, environment, and sanitation. Some of the communities with the support of district 15

line departments initiated the rehabilitation of their obsolete water supply schemes. Efforts were made to scale up WES programme interventions by spreading the impact of the programme from the village level to the UC level. The component of capacity building remains a priority; most of the government staff trained as master trainers are cascading their knowledge to build capacities of their staff for successful PATS implementation.

Programme objectives: 1. 2. 3. 4.

Facilitate children and communities to access safe drinking water Enable communities to achieve human feces free environment for all, in order for children to enjoy good health To promote alternative energy sources so that children can enjoy a clean environment To promote adequate housing infrastructure for urban squatter settlements in Islamabad

Participation: To ensure that their water and sanitation needs are addressed by the relevant government departments, girls, boys, women, and men actively participated in designing, implementation and monitoring project activities. Community level sanitation committees were established which took steps for the sustainability of interventions. HUD&PHED also supported CBOs with small grants based on their performance. The communities where CLTS/SLTS was implemented have started constructing latrines. Youth groups in communities in Vehari are also involved in implementation of Plan's programme on PATS in order to enable households with sponsored children to have their own latrine and play a vital role in eliminating open defecation in their villages. Role of Partnerships: Plan has been working in partnership with provincial and district level PHED departments with the intention of availing their expertise, and at the same time strengthen their operational capacities to increase their outreach. Plan also worked in close collaboration with provincial and district governments, the Ministry of Climate Change, UN agencies, other INGOs, and community forums to address water and environmental sanitation issues. During the year under review Plan Pakistan in collaboration with WaterAID and other sector stakeholders started a campaign titled “Keep Your Promises on Sanitation” to mobilise the Government to full its promises made on sanitation outcomes with the national and international community at different forums. Sustainability: It is through empowered communities that we hope sustainable development will be achieved. The following steps were taken to increase the WES programme's sustainability: · Comprehensive training programmes for communities and government line departments · Manual for capacity building of Sanitation Committees produced · Manual for SLTS is under development to ensure involvement of schools for sustainability · Pool of community resource persons created at the cluster level · Pool of trained masons (latrine construction and biogas technology) created at the cluster level · WASH core groups established in Chakwal and Vehari districts to take forward the WASH agenda by involving different stakeholders (Government, HUD&PHED, LG&CD, Health and Education departments, and I/NGOs) · Coordinated efforts with other stakeholders were carried out at the national and provincial levels

Key achievements and activities: We consider our key successes to be those programmes that, while perhaps less tangible in nature, have the greatest sustainable impact on the health of targeted communities, especially children and women. These programmes are the ones that build capacity and that inspire condence in members of communities to claim their rights to health, information, and services, and equally importantly, help promote and instil ownership of individual, family and community health. Good relationships and rapport with district, provincial, and federal government departments has helped Plan and its partners to successfully implement health care initiatives. The real secret of our success, though, has been the involvement and enthusiasm of communities. Plan and implementing partners were able to establish YHL in Punjab, and ADPF is in nal stage of approval. HUD&PHED has taken positive initiatives and has managed to block fund allocation of around PKR 1 billion for water and sanitation projects to be implemented in the villages that have been declared ODF. This is a great success of the WES programme.

CASE STUDY This is the story of * Razia: forced to drop out of school in the 3rd grade and married off at the age of 12. Soon Razia found herself with child and because of limited access to proper nutrition during her pregnancy, her infant child died because of malnutrition. But this was not the end of Razia's sufferings: shortly afterwards she developed a cyst in her uterus, and after a few years her husband was murdered. With the efforts of a Plan partner organisation she received much needed medical care. After a full recovery, Razia now works as an ECCD caregiver.

Plan Pakistan initiated a project titled Re p ro d u c t i v e H e a l t h I n f o r m at i o n w i t h Adolescents (RHIA) which aims at providing information on sexual and reproductive health information to services to young people in rural areas of the country. The overall goal of the initiative is “improved sexual and reproductive health of vulnerable and underserved adolescents in the project areas.” The most basic component – and probably its most attractive feature – is Adolescent Friendly Centres (AFCs). These centres have been established in communities that not only provide adolescents with information regarding sexual and reproductive health but also give them a platform for healthy recreational activities. Services offered to young people by the centres include sessions on educational sessions on sexual & reproductive health and life skills, recreational activities and counseling facilities, and linkages and referral systems. Razia is nineteen years old, and has seven brothers and ve sisters. At the age of 12 years Razia was married off by her parents. In Razia's village the archaic and unjust custom – known as “watta satta” in the local language – is prevalent, broadly translated it means “give and take”, and entails two siblings (brother and sister) marrying into another family. In Razia's case, the family of the girl that her brother wished to marry asked for Razia's hand in marriage for their son, Razia's family

readily accepted the proposal without even considering her wish. At the time Razia was studying in grade 3, and she had just reached the age of puberty. When she found out about the plans that her family had made for her without asking her, her surprise quickly turned into dismay. She had never considered marriage and did not know the person she was to be married to. Not long after the decision was made, her family made the arrangements and her friends helped a bewildered Razia with her makeup on the day of the wedding. When Razia reached her husband's home after the wedding she cried and begged them to let her return to her parents' home. But her pleas fell on deaf years; her tears were met with reproaches and anger. Married life was a hard road for Razia. Her husband's family was very poor and had a hard time making ends meet. According to Razia, “My husband was a waiter in a local hotel from which we were provided meals 3 days of the week. The remaining days were usually spent in hunger”. A few months into her marriage Razia became pregnant, and because of improper diet she suffered from malnutrition. To contribute to the household income she picked cotton in a nearby eld – hard work for a measly Rs. 30 (US $ 0.3) a day. Any money she earned, Razia gave to her husband. The Razia who studied in the 3rd grade and played with her friends during recess could never have imagined the tough times that lay ahead of her; she was pregnant, did not have enough to eat and worked hard to survive. The hard work which included carrying heavy loads was not good for her health and the health of her unborn child. The consequences manifested themselves in the form of a premature birth of an infant suffering from malnutrition that died soon after birth. Razia also developed a cyst in her uterus because of complications. Razia's troubles did not end here: one day, on his way to the city to buy supplies, her husband was shot and killed by robbers who stole his motor bike. After his death the relations between Razia and her in-laws deteriorated to an extent where she was forced to leave her husband's house and moved back in her parents' home. Hearing her story, local adolescent grow and a representative of a Plan partner organisation met with Razia, and found a depressed and isolated girl, and after listening to her story, counseling sessions were arranged for Razia. Subsequently Razia became a member of the local Adolescent Friendly Centre (AFC) where she got the chance to interact with other young people, share her story with them and learn more about sexual and reproductive health services and ASRH Right that gave her condence and ability to make informed choices in her married life. She also applied for, and was given, a job as a caregiver in the local Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) centre. Says Razia: “I felt that not only was this a turning point in my life, but one of my happiest moments as well, as for the rst time in my life I felt a sense of independence”. Soon the smile that she had lost years ago returned to Razia's face. Razia works with children at the ECCD centre in the morning visits the AFC after work. In the evenings she studies to pick up from where she left when she was pulled out of school. A condent Razia says: “I am very happy and busy in my new life and my troubles seem like a distant memory, because I am independent, I don't need support from any one!” Because of this Plan project Razia's community is more aware of the negative consequences of early child marriage, and the devastating impact it has on a child's life. The gradual process of changing behaviours has started with one major outcome being the inclusion of children, especially girls in decision making.

RIGHT TO

ADEQUATE STANDARD OF LIVING The program was implemented in the environment of poor overall economic performance; sustained price escalation (oil, food prices, utilities), repeated natural disasters (successive oods) and dismal law and order and internal security situation due to extremism. The long-term country programme objectives and intervention strategies remained relevant to the prevailing economic conditions of the country. The country programme goal is that poor and vulnerable families, especially women and youth, enjoy their right to an adequate standard of living.

The three specic objectives are: 1) Promotion of international “Social Performance Management Standards” standard among the selected Micro Finance Institutions in Pakistan. 2) Building technical skills in youth (girls & boys) and strengthen local Technical Vocational & Education Training institutes. 3) Building the capacities of the poor farmers in agriculture, livestock and environment sector.

Key Achievements and Activities: Under the rst objective: · An independent assessment was commissioned to gauge the impact of SPM work undertaken in Pakistan since 2010. The assessment report acknowledged signicant recognition in the local micronance sector as compared to 2009, when Plan International Pakistan rst developed an SPM agenda. The report mentions that, “The rising competition in the micronance sector, credit crisis in Punjab province and demands on micronance sector for accountability and transparency, has put client protection in the spotlight. · Plan Pakistan was the only organisation that conducted detailed client protection training at the national level. Under the second objective: · Comprehensive work continued through the on-going Youth Economic Empowerment (YEE) project “Creating Access to Quality Market Driven Technical Vocational and Education Training (TVET) and Business Development in District Chakwal of Punjab Province”. · Through the project signed between Plan Finland and Plan Pakistan, awareness sessions were carried out for youth, parents, and community gate keepers regarding the importance of “Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET)” and the range of employment choices available for young people. Around 288 awareness sessions were carried out by Plan's partner organisation, the National Rural Support Program (NRSP) that targeted 3,878 young people (51% girls) and 1,567 parents (66% adult women). · A comprehensive baseline research was carried out to analyze three aspects: i) Demand for skilled labour by employers ii) Mapping and capacity assessment of the local public/private TVET institutes, and iii) Determining youth perspectives regarding their access to TVET. · A contract was signed with PMN to develop “Youth friendly loan products and services”. · Financial support was provided to 80 young people (64% girls) for enrolment in various TVET institutes. · An internal “social monitoring” research was conducted to seek youth perspectives regarding increased awareness about TVET and the level of understanding among employers regarding decent work standards and women friendly work environments · Another YEE project, “Provision of access to Market-driven training and employment opportunities to vulnerable youth and women in rural districts of Southern Punjab”, funded by the European Union and Plan International UK, was initiated 19

A range of short duration technical skills training termed as “Handy Skills” has been introduced at the village level for targeting, both female and male members of the youth groups. These trainings generated an enormous interest and awareness among young people · 18 different types of Handy Skills training modules were developed which included sewing machine repair, assembly of rechargeable lights, assembly of motor cycle brakes and clutch wire, maintenance of peter engines, motor cycle repair and maintenance, etc. Sixty-six Handy Skills training events were administered at the village level, and around 1,367 young people (66% girls) were provided training · Consultation has been carried out with 102 employers and local business in order to assess the capacity of the market to absorb trained TVET graduates, and seventeen MoUs have been signed with employers for job placement and internships · In PU Vehari around 150 young people were provided nancial support through sponsorship funds to support youth enrolment in various TVETs · A Plan partner organisation, Home Net Pakistan, is implementing an initiative titled “Awareness raising on labour laws, organising and registration of domestic workers forum, vocational skills training of girls in Fast Track Secondary Education (FTSE) centres”. This is a multi part project and includes raising awareness on labour laws and formulation and registration of the “Domestic Workers Forum” · Domestic Workers in 10 communities/ slums in Islamabad were identied and ten member based organisations of domestic workers were established with a total of 150 members Under the third objective, the “Plan Milk Value Chain Project” (PMVCP) continued. · Through the project 100 Farmers' Milk Cooperatives (FMCs) in 100 villages of Vehari District were established · Meetings were conducted with 361 women to increase female membership · Milk marketing linkages with processors were developed and outlets of selected FMCs were opened for directly selling quality milk to consumers · A district level network of 100 FMCs named “Rural Community Welfare Organisation” (RCWO) was established to represent 100 FMCs · During the reporting period the Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved the second phase of the project, “Empowering Rural Women through Dairy Value Addition Enterprise”. Equipment and supplies were distributed to 60 women trained in milk value addition product making during the rst phase to support them in establishing their individual enterprises Work continued through the partner Farmers Integrated Development Association (FIDA) in PU Vehari: · Fifty-four Farmers Interest Groups (FIGs) were established with an average membership of 15 farmers. 145 capacity building and awareness sessions involving all the members of FIG were carried out to promote modern farming practices by involving experts from the Agriculture and Livestock departments, and private sector agriculture input suppliers. · FIDA, in collaboration with RAEDC, trained around 30 young people (boys) as horticulture technicians · Thirty women living in rural areas were trained for processing food and preservation of vegetable and fruits · A national level of farmers' congress was organised in Vehari District to provide farmers with a platform to voice their concerns at the National level.

CASE STUDY A young man enrols in Plan's vocational training programme after dropping out of school and fulď&#x20AC; ls his dream to acquire technical skills to maximise employment opportunities, and become a contributing member of his family.

A Youth Economic Empowerment (YEE) project, “Provision of access to Market-driven training and employment opportunities to vulnerable youth and women in rural districts of Southern Punjab” was initiated through funding from the European Union and Plan International UK. As part of the project youth groups formed in 78 villages of three districts were offered career counselling by Plan partner, NRSP. This was followed by training need assessment exercises. Young people living below the poverty line were also identied, which helped in administering nancial support through the project. Young people were offered enrolment in short duration technical skills programmes titled, “Handy Skills”. Eighteen different types of training modules were developed which included repairing sewing machines, assembling rechargeable lights, motor cycle brakes and clutch wire assembly, maintenance of peter engines, motor cycle repair and maintenance, etc. *Danial is an eighteen year old resident of Chak 30/WB (a Plan partner community), Vehari District. He has two younger sisters and his father is a farmer who cultivates a small plot of land – less than two hectares. With rising living costs Danial's father was unable to support his three children and pay for their education on his meagre income of Rs. 5,000 per month; consequently, Danial had no choice but to abandon school after the 8th grade. After dropping out of school Danial mostly stayed at home, doing nothing productive. His father wanted Danial to learn some kind of vocational skill but lacked the resources to put towards such training. Danial managed to nd work at a local factory but could not manage to hang on to the job because he lacked the right skills to perform his tasks effectively. One day, when Plan, in collaboration with Farmers Integrated Development Association (FIDA), launched a new initiative in the area to provide young people access to a free technical and vocational programme; Danial's father approached the local Community Based Organisation (CBO) to seek information about the selection process. According to Danial, in the past he had a keen interest in learning more about repair and maintenance of electrical and home appliances. Along with other young people Danial lled out the Training Needs Assessment form in which he mentioned his interest in the training and how he planned to work to support himself and his family after the training. Danial's happiness knew no bounds when he was selected for the short training course organised by the government Vocational Training Institute (VTI), Vehari. According to Danial, “I treated this opportunity as a blessing from God and worked hard to absorb each and everything taught to me by the instructors. I was convinced that this was the last opportunity for me to make my parents happy and to be able to acquire the skills to help me earn a living and to be able to contribute to day to day household expenses”. Danial's hard work paid off and he secured 70% marks in the nal exam conducted by the institute and earned a certicate upon graduation. After completing the four months training course Danial started working as an intern at a local shop in the nearby market, “Pipple Adda”. The shop owner was more than satised with Rashid's work and his clarity on theoretical principles and technical terminology. “I know specic terminologies about the appliances I repair; which can be sometimes new, even for the experienced shop owner”. When we visited him, Danial proudly stated: “so far I have earned Rs. 3000 (US $ 30), however I am very condent that the certication will help me build a good reputation in the market and attract new clients”. * The name has been changed to protect the subject's identity

CHILD-CENTRED

DISASTER RISK MANAGEMENT (CCDRM) This country programme contributes to the country program goal: All girls and boys are raised in a protective and resilient environment where the duty bearers are responsive to their rights without any gender discrimination. The CCDRM programme is being implemented in 6 riverine districts with 120 communities by engaging 28 local CSOs. The communities have achieved better understanding on the how to respond to the disaster, especially oods. This deeper understanding was reected in the utilisation of the target communities' capacities in response to the 2012 oods. By timely evacuation of their homes community members minimised losses and showed resilience to cope with the oods.

Key Achievements and Activities Result 1: Children, their communities and schools have increased awareness and capacity of childcentred disaster risk reduction. Resilient and Humanely Developed Communities · The project's message and approach have received a favourable response from communities in general and children in particular, as children in all the selected 50 villages showed great enthusiasm for establishing their very own organisations. During the reporting period regular monthly meetings were conducted with Village Organisations (VOs). In each VO sub committees (DMC, early warning, and rescue) were established with equal male and female membership. These committees were actively engaged in development of contingency plans at the village level · Fifty Children Youth Groups (CYGs) with a total membership of 1,477 (589 girls and 888 boys) are actively engaged in contingency planning at the village level. During the reporting period bimonthly meetings were conducted with these groups. Fifty training events were conducted with these groups. Twenty mock drills exercises were conducted. These CYGs also participated in different events at district level, e.g., river day, mock drill exercises, etc. · Fifty Village Organisations (VOs) with a total membership of 1,356 (542 women and 814 men) and 50 Disaster Management Committees (DMCs) with active membership of 100 (50 women and 50 men) were actively engaged in developing contingency plans, and as a result, early warning systems were strengthened in both districts. · In Ghotki District during the 2012 oods, VOs disseminated early warning and helped communities in shifting to safer places with their livestock. Similarly, in district Layyah during the monsoon rains of 2012 timely messages were communicated. Result 2: Enhanced awareness and strengthened capacities of duty bearers (local governments / GLAs) for Disaster Risk Reduction · During the reporting period 20 meetings were conducted in Layyah and Ghotki districts with the local District Coordination Ofcer (DCO), the departments of Social Welfare and Education, the District Disaster Management Authority, and Community Development Ofcers. In these meetings detailed capacity assessment was carried out to gauge the existing resources and gaps, understanding the priorities of different departments on DRR, gaps in district contingency plan of district governments, etc. District contingency plans for districts Layyah and Ghotki were also reviewed · Four trainings were conducted with district government departments, in which 120 government ofcials were trained. These training were designed after holding discussions with district government authorities, keeping in view the needs and the capacity of specic district government departments · Resource centres were established in two districts – Layyah and Ghotki. This resource centres 23

work as an information management centre by engaging volunteers, CSOs, and other stakeholders. The district resource centres are well-equipped with necessary 'soft' and 'hard' materials, and equipment Plan and partner organisations worked in close coordination with DDMA personnel and facilitated district ood contingency planning in Layyah District. Working closely with DDMA in Layyah Plan and Rural Development Policy Institute (RDPI) became the members of the District Disaster Management Committee, and the district level contingency plans were jointly developed In Layyah, the district contingency plan was reviewed with close coordination with the district government. CSOs were also consulted and issues and problems identied in village contingency plans were incorporated in the district contingency planning

Result 3: Civil society organisations / local partner organisations and networks capacitated for child centred disaster risk reduction processes and priorities · Institutional needs assessment of 10 Partner CSOs in Layyah and Ghotki was conducted in order to get a clear picture regarding their strengths and weaknesses. · Institutional / organisational support was provided to CSOs through the provision of equipment (laptop computers, furniture, digital cameras, etc.). Proper utilisation of the equipment was ensured through regular interaction with the CSOs · The Plan DRR team and IP district teams delivered full length support to CSOs in pursuance of increasing their level of competency, particularly in the areas of nancial management, recording and reporting, and delivery of trainings · District contingency plan were reviewed and mock drill exercises were organised in Layyah in which committee members from 25 communities, and representatives from different NGOs and government departments – i.e., the DCO ofce, Social Welfare department, Education department, Rescue 1122, civil defence, and Tehsil Municipal Administration – participated · Two volunteer task forces were formed in districts Layyah and Ghotki. In each task force 100 volunteers (30 women) were registered by the Social Welfare Department. The the task forces are made up of representatives of VOs, CSOs, and trade unions, lawyers, journalists, and students. Records of the volunteers are maintained in an up-to-date database for emergencies Result 4: Increased awareness and commitment among national institutions and other actors (media, academic institutions, INGOs, NGOs, civil defence) of the importance of children's participation in risk reduction, with a focus on ood disasters · A DRR Forum has been established at the national level, with members including representatives from various humanitarian organisations (INGOs and NGOs).

Response work during the reporting period Heavy monsoon rains in September 2012 caused widespread loss of life, livelihood, and infrastructure across southern Punjab, northern Sindh, and north eastern Balochistan. On 20 September 2012 the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) reported that oods had affected 4,472,351 people, caused 370 deaths, injured 1,197 people, damaged 766,818 acres of crops, and washed away 274,935 and 7,818 head of cattle. According to media reports, roads in the ood affected areas were washed away, leaving many places inaccessible. The affected areas were hit by shortages of fresh drinking water and food. Outbreak of disease was also reported. Plan International Pakistan initiated its emergency response after the rapid needs assessment was completed. While utilising its exiting stockpiles the initial response, including the provision of health and hygiene materials, while catering to the needs of at least 3,000 displaced families. Building upon the immediate response the project was developed to enhance response outreach to another 3,000 children and their families through the provision of hygiene kits and education and awareness raising activities 24

aimed at improving the deteriorated hygienic conditions. Fifty-eight Child Friendly Spaces (CFSs) were established to start recreational and educational activities with children. Five most affected Union Councils were utilised, both for child protection activities and addressing learning needs of children. Health and hygiene kits were distributed in these centres and WASH facilities were also provided in all centres. A visible impact of the project was that there was marked improvement in children's' personal hygiene practices. Children, especially girls, got an opportunity to play for specic times with different toys at the village level. In daily routine life many village girls were deprived of such opportunities. Girls and boys gained visible condence, which was on display during the performance of different activities such as the back to school campaign and orientation sessions, etc. In response to the oods of 2012 in Rajanpur District of south Punjab, under the One Room Shelter project, 975 one room resilient shelters for ood affected families have been constructed successfully which benet 5,850 ood affected families. Among other associated activities, mock drills and villages level contingency planning has been carries out in 26 communities. A visible impact of the project is that communities constructed 93 resilient shelters on self-help basis.

CASE STUDY This case study highlights Plan's work with a rural community in Rajanpur District to ensure the safety of children, not only when disaster strikes, but also to prepare school staff and parents to respond to accidents involving children that can happen any time, without warning. The efforts bore fruit in the form of children receiving timely and effective rst aid from teachers; and children, parents, and teachers gaining a better understanding of rst aid principles and disaster risk preparedness.

More than 70% of Pakistan's population resides in riverine zones. Flooding in river Indus and its eastern and western tributaries remains the most recurrent natural hazard in Pakistan. River Indus is the only river that irrigates the province of Sindh and links it to the Punjab province. The areas close to the banks of river Indus are among the most fertile, but it is ironic that residents of riverine areas are among the most neglected. The communities residing in these areas are politically marginalised, physically isolated, and deprived of basic economic and social services. A total of 22 districts are located on the Indus riverine belt. A systematic approach was followed to select the 6 most vulnerable districts chosen on the basis of socio-economic deprivation, recurrent natural hazards, and risk and vulnerability to disasters. Analysis of the authentic secondary data and assessment exercises carried out in these areas prove them to be the most vulnerable to natural and man-made disasters, with ooding as the most recurrent event. *Names has been changed to protect identities of individuals School children, like all young children, are susceptible to injuries during play. It is therefore necessary for school authorities and teachers to be prepared to help children, not only during natural and man-made disasters, but to also have the knowledge and materials required to aid them at all times. Plan understands this very well, being a development organisation that places the welfare of children at the centre of all its activities. With the collaboration of its partner, Rural Development Policy Institute (RDPI), Plan conducted rst aid training sessions at schools in Rajanpur and helped form DRR groups there. First aid kits were also provided to the schools. Government Public School, Basti Lal Khan, was one of the schools to benet from the rst aid training and kits not long after the training sessions. According to Ms. Sughra Ameer, a school teacher there, “the training and rst aid kits have proved to be a blessing for us. We did not know much about administering rst aid and felt extremely helpless in emergency situations. But now we have more condence thanks to the training”. This condence was evident when a child, Murtaza, hurt himself while playing during recess, he was attended to by the head teacher who dressed his wound. “It's very good that help is available in the school now” says Allah Wasaya, father of the injured child. We are very happy that teachers are equipped to handle such situations in school. We feel this is a blessing. We have survived oods and have been homeless, we understand injury and loss very well” says Zarina, a parent of a student named Shiraz. Shiraz's family has learned some hard lessons during the oods and they realise the value of reducing risk and learning how to deal with it: “It makes us very happy when our children tell us that how we should respond to disasters such as oods, re, and earth quakes”. The training sessions administered to the children have also helped dispel myths and reduced incorrect, traditional ways of aiding those in distress: “We used to tackle emergencies in traditional ways, for example, when someone fainted we would sprinkle water on their face, but my children have now told me the alternate way of dealing with such a situation” says Zarina. The enthusiasm of parents and teachers proved to be the catalyst in motivating the local school council to pass a resolution to provide rst aid material to the school from the council funds. Mr. Saif Ullah, school council member, says: “Now we feel that our children are more secure at school, we are doing whatever we can to make sure that rst aid material will always be close at hand in schools. Moreover, school council members are also keen to be trained in administering rst aid”. Says Saif Ullah: “We would like to thank Plan Pakistan which is enabling us to take better care of ourselves and our children”.