To reflect on the progress of our work and communicate our achievements to stakeholders, this resource presents the summary of the GIRLS Inspire project in Pakistan and its connection with the Sustainable Development Goals.
Pakistan
The barriers girls face in Pakistan
Girls’ education is at a disadvantage in Pakistan. The number of primary schools for boys stand at 98,638, while those for girls are at 53,822 (Alif Ailan). Girls’ enrolment rate at primary level stands at 64 per cent, of which 34 per cent drop out. The enrolment rate for girls at secondary level is a mere 23 per cent, while the state is constitutionally bound to provide free education up to secondary level (Article 25-A of the Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan).
Early marriage deprives girls of many of their basic rights including the right to education, the right to play, the right to health, the right to marry a person of her choice, among others.
Girls’ education has proven to be a good measure to delay marriages. Lack of education results in less economic opportunities for women and girls, and those who still opt to join the workforce get petty jobs, face sexual harassment, gender-based violence (GBV), and much more.
As most of the girls drop out of school at primary level, they are forced into child labour, child domestic labour, household chores, and are soon married off by their parents in order to have one less mouth to feed.
According to the Innocenti Research Centre, UNICEF, 37 per cent of Pakistani girls get married before reaching the age of 18. Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey (2006-07) mentions in its section on teenage fertility that almost half of the girls between the ages of 15 to 18 years were already pregnant or had a baby to take care of.
Map of GIRLS Inspire in Pakistan
GIRLS Inspire in Pakistan
GIRLS Inspire works in the target districts of Muzaffargarh and Bahawalpur in South Punjab to provide schooling and skills training to disadvantaged women and girls. On the Education Index, Muzaffargarh and Bahawalpur stand at 88th and 85th, respectively, out of nearly 150 districts in terms of education levels (Alif Ailan District Ranking 2015).
In Pakistan, the collaboration between the Commonwealth of Learning (COL), Bedari and the Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (SPARC) works to strengthen its own organisations, to raise awareness within communities about the barriers to girls’ empowerment and to provide learning opportunities in order to empower those who are currently married (victims of child marriage) and those at risk of early marriage.
The focus of Bedari will be to raise awareness in the target communities through theatre performances, sessions for parents, local opinion makers, and boys and men, self-growth sessions for girls and advocacy events. The mission is to bring to light the harmful impact to society of child, early and forced marriage and other gender-based discrimination and violence.
The work of the Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child is focused on promoting and protecting the rights of girls and to empower them through service delivery and capacity building. The mission is to provide employment-oriented skills training, to work with training institutions to strengthen placement opportunities for girls and to connect girls with small/micro-financing schemes for sustainable economic empowerment.
Outcomes
Outcome 1
Institutions improve institutional capacity to design and deliver quality gender sensitive skills-oriented learning programs for girls and women and increase their technical skills to leverage open and distance learning (ODL) which address the barriers girls and women experience, among local partners.
To ensure our work is sustained beyond the project, we have developed an open resource which is a culmination of our work in building local capacity. Click here to learn more and access the resource.
Reporting to our funders allows us to reflect on achievements and lessons learned. At the close of the Australian funded project, we are proud to measure our progress and exceed our targets. Click here to read more.
GIRLS Inspire is working to end child marriage thanks to funds generously donated by Global Affairs Canada (GAC). Click here for the video representing the submission of the first annual report to GAC.
This sample Semi-Annual Partner Report (PDF) from SPARC Pakistan is an example of how we track partner activities against our Performance Measurement Framework.
To review progress made, we reflect with our Steering Committee every quarter to ensure we are on track against our targets to support women and girls. Click here for our January 2017 report.
Bedari’s Gender Policy: gender policies and strategies are critical in promoting and implementing gender equality.
Team GIRLS Inspire gather in Kuala Lumpur for the Pan-Commonwealth Forum Conference to raise the voices of girls and women, network to build capacity on open and distance learning and promote resources on open learning.
Sharing knowledge on how we can use technologies to reach the unreached communities strengthen our work as a team. Follow our conversation on innovations in open & distance learning following our webinar session.
We are honoured to work with passionate partners who work tirelessly for girls and women! Hear from one of our teams in Pakistan who pledge to #BeBoldforChange!
Building knowledge on child protection practices enhances organisations’ ability to bring safe and effective programs for girls. Watch the recording of the Child Protection session of our Webinar Series.
Outcome 2
Communities increase awareness on the benefits of girls’ education, and the use of open, distance, and technology-based education and training, among parents and community leaders, as well as increased awareness of the negative consequences of child, early and forced marriage (CEFM) on development.
To reflect on the progress of our work and communicate our achievements to stakeholders, this resource presents the summary of the GIRLS Inspire project in Pakistan and its connection with the Sustainable Development Goals.
Reporting to our funders allows us to reflect on achievements and lessons learned. At the close of the Australian funded project, we are proud to measure our progress and exceed our targets. Click here to read more.
Following the journey of a girl saved from child marriage, we have discovered a new advocate to fight against CEFM! Click here to view Ramsha’s mother’s video and story.
GIRLS Inspire is working to end child marriage thanks to funds generously donated by Global Affairs Canada (GAC). Click here for the video representing the submission of the first annual report to GAC.
To achieve gender equality, it is essential to work with both men and women, girls and boys. Click here to explore how we work with men for girls’ empowerment!
How can education play a role in ending child marriage? Click here to view the documentary produced by Bedari that tells a Tale of Two Marriages.
We are honoured to work with passionate partners who work tirelessly for girls and women! Hear from one of our teams in Pakistan who pledge to #BeBoldforChange!
Outcome 3
Girls increase their knowledge about their health and social rights and the negative consequences of child, early and forced marriage (CEFM), gain skills that are locally relevant and validated by the labour market, and have aspirations for employment.
To reflect on the progress of our work and communicate our achievements to stakeholders, this resource presents the summary of the GIRLS Inspire project in Pakistan and its connection with the Sustainable Development Goals.
Reporting to our funders allows us to reflect on achievements and lessons learned. At the close of the Australian funded project, we are proud to measure our progress and exceed our targets. Click here to read more.
GIRLS Inspire is working to end child marriage thanks to funds generously donated by Global Affairs Canada (GAC). Click here for the video representing the submission of the first annual report to GAC.
Storytelling is crucial to measure change. Click here for Faaria’s story from Pakistan which illustrates what can happen when girls are saved from child marriage and have access to opportunities!
How can education play a role in ending child marriage? Click here to view the documentary produced by Bedari that tells a Tale of Two Marriages.
Resources
Child, early and forced marriage
Gender Equality
Practical Tools for Educators
