Life Skills For Kids (LSK)
Life Skills for Kids (LSK), aims to eliminate the worst forms of labour and provision of alternate earning resources for better life style
Program Overview
LSK, undertaken by ITA and Store Enso (EO) with the facilitation of Bulleh Shah Packaging (Pvt), is an education intervention designed to provide Life Skills-Based Education for children involved in waste collection (2015- 23). As waste collection or picking is one of the most hazardous types of work, children from these backgrounds are particularly vulnerable to lack of protection, physical distress and are likely to miss out on schooling. Education is a fundamental right as per Article 25 A of the Constitution of Pakistan for all children 5-16 years and a national commitment of the Government of Pakistan to meet SDGs 2030, including SDG 4 on Education and its targets.
Within Lahore, a majority of the waste pickers reside in slum areas where the dumping sites are located. LSK aims at eliminating the worst forms of child labor as per ILO Convention 182 (to which Pakistan is a signatory) in selected 8 target locations by providing education and life skills opportunities to these children along with pre-vocational skills to help them maximize options for safer livelihood opportunities. The project aims to not just directly benefit the children, but also their parents and siblings.
Under LSK, a total of 6 rented campuses were established and are operating near selected & targeted areas in Lahore with 500+ children who have been a stable cohort since 2015. LSK has completed its 5 years; its first batch of grade 5/ primary has passed the examinations and is promoted to 6th grade for middle school.
Main Objectives
- Eliminate Child Labour through the implementation of a long term formal education program for working children combining curricular and pre-vocational activities
- Engage and empower communities towards alternate options, health, nutrition and economic solutions for their children effectively withdrawing them out of labor
- Provide formal and non-formal life skills based educational arrangements for target groups and children
- Connecting social and vocational networks for lifelong wellbeing of children/youth
Main Pillars
- A holistic Education bridge Program
- Literacy Skills integrating in vocational/pre-vocational skills
- Life Skills (Health & Hygiene, Communication Skills, Confidence building and Expression)
- Nutrition, Medical, Recreation
Services
- Free Education (customized to each learner)
- Life Skills Based Education
- Digital Learning
- Vocational & Technical Skill building
- Well Equipped School
- Adequate staff, regular training and support
- Fresh food (Lunch daily with milk &fruits)
- Free Uniforms, Shoes, Sweaters, Bags, Stationery, Books, Note books
- Health & Hygiene
- Medical checkups (quarterly & as needed)
- Free Transportation to school (where required)
- Community Engagement
- Recreational and co-curricular activities
- Fire & Safety Trainings
TVET, Life-Skills & Livelihoods -Sustainable Futures
Two LSK vocational centers for girls/women are operating with certified instructors in trades of tailoring and embroidery. 300 graduates are currently supplementing incomes through certified skills.
An online sales initiative “HunarTarash” (sculpting skills) has begun linking artisans to the market.
The graduates are linked to customers for producing
- School Uniforms
- Stitching & designing garments
- Customized bedding-and patchwork throws
- Embroidery and crochet work
- Table/Sofa covers, craft hangings, fabric dolls, bags, pouches etc.
- Safety masks and PPE kits
Encourage the work of under privileged artisans through online orders and purchase:
https://www.facebook.com/hunartarashITA
