Community Engagement gains
momentum in Rahim Yar Khan

22nd July 2016

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Active community involvement is vital for the effectiveness of any development or reform initiative. It is only through developing a sense of ownership and contribution within the community that sustainable change can be achieved. This is the idea behind Humqadam-SCRP’s efforts to put the community at the centre of the school construction and rehabilitation efforts.

The 1341 Community Committees for School Infrastructure (CCSI) active across KP and Punjab are not just limited to overseeing the construction work at schools. Their heightened interest in the wellbeing of the schools and the students is already showing promising developments.

In District Rahim Yar Khan, the community is stepping up to understand the needs of the schools and tackle them. In Government Boys Primary School, Basti Haji Essa, there were only two classrooms to accommodate almost 300 students. The lack of space led to students attending classes shelter less in the open. The available space at the school was insufficient for the construction of new classrooms that could accommodate all students.

The school’s CCSI took up the challenge of acquiring additional land for the school and convinced community member Riaz Ahmed to donate 7 marla of adjoining land to the school. This resulted in the construction of 6 new classrooms, which will save hundreds of the school’s students from attending classes outdoors. A similar act of generosity was displayed by another local community member who donated 18 marla (approximately 4900 square feet) to the Government Boys Primary School Wahi Rahim. To date, about 500 students are crowded in only three rooms at the school, with an estimated need for 6 new classrooms.

More often than not, the land donation is either by the community member who owns the land or bought by the funds raised by the CCSI. In rural Rahim Yar Khan, such land is mostly agricultural and a constant stream of income for an agrarian community, but the willingness to give up a profitable enterprise for the cause of improved education environment is testament to the community’s dedication and ownership in their schools. These community-based initiatives are critical to Humqadam in meeting school the infrastructure needs. The additional land goes a long way in expansion, construction of buildings, and providing quality playgrounds.

“The enthusiasm with which the parents and the students champion the cause of education is very promising, so I decided to do my part in helping them out by donating the land for the Humqadam-assisted school,” remarked Riaz Ahmed, one of the local community members, and a generous donor to GPS Basti Haji Essa, RYK.

CCSI initiatives are not limited to land donations. The community is stepping up to meet different requirements of the schools in Rahim Yar Khan District. This assistance often goes beyond the school infrastructure development process, as is seen at Government Girls School, Bhutta Kot. The school had been severely understaffed for many years – there were only two full-time teachers to teach 115 students. Budgetary limitations of the school meant that private teachers were unwilling to work for the salary that was on offer.

To address the poor student teacher ratio, Sumaira Bibi, a member of Humqadam-SCRP’s CCSI, realised the need for dire action and stepped up to teach the students of the school pro-bono. As of 1st January, 2016, she has been teaching at the school, and has significantly lessened the staffing burden. She said, “As new classrooms are being constructed, the enrolment is bound to increase, and I felt that it was vital for somebody to step in and shoulder the responsibility of a teacher.”

The communities are actively involved with Humqadam’s School Support Teams (SST) members in transforming their schools into true community schools. Where the government-mandated School Council falls short, the CCSI members come together to pool resources and funds.

Of note is GPS Sultan Veha where the CCSI and SC through joint efforts were able to achieve laud worthy feats. The CCSI conducted a door-to-door campaign convincing parents to send their children to school. This resulted in the enrolment of 54 out-of-school children. The CCSI then raised money to buy materials for the school uniform of these students and one member Rehmat Bibi stitched the uniforms free of cost.

Across the District, the CCSI members have conducted plantation drives, helped improve WASH facilities (through the donation of dustbins and soap dishes), and provided First-Aid Kits in a bid to foster a more nurturing educational environment in schools.

Humqadam-SCRP is currently constructing 245 classrooms and 116 bathrooms at public schools in District Rahim Yar Khan. Soon construction of hundreds more will commence throughout the district.

With Community Mobilisation charging up through more CCSI input in the school construction, design and student development, this momentum of community support and ownership in the school construction and rehabilitation process bodes well for the long-term sustainability of the schools in District Rahim Yar Khan.