With the resumption of school activities, community and school engagement activities increased. In 15 project intervention schools, 30 meetings were held with school and parent vigilance committees to promote COVID-19 preventive measures and safe school operations. 270 teaching staff and community members were reached with awareness on Telehealth Service - Sehat Kahani and 101 users registered for 24/7 medical care on the Sehat Kahani App.

Data collection for SRP- Midline survey has been completed in all the intervention and control schools. The SRP team met with the DHO-ICT to discuss possible cooperation between the DHO office and the SRP/ITA to improve the school health services program in the intervention schools. Two of the 4 short project documentary videos have been finalized with feedback from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training.

ITA, in partnership with Room to Read and in collaboration with School Education Department, Government of the Punjab, is reaching out to schools across Pakistan with 28 Room to Read titles adapted from 10 different languages. So far 145,908 books have been distributed among 1,737 schools and 400,000 students under the Pakistan Literacy Project.

You can access the books on literacycloud.org.

The closing ceremony of CLF YAA 2020-2021 was held on September 8, 2021 to celebrate International Literacy Day in collaboration with Bank of Punjab (BoP) and Ms. Shadab Zeest Hashmi. YAA is organized each year to encourage the youth who have the passion for story, poetry and writing to show their writing skills. For this year’s YAA, CLF received 2000 online submissions from across the country for both English and Urdu writing competitions. The Rs 400,000 donated by BoP were distributed among first position holders in four categories. The four categories were divided by age group and language i.e. Category 1 Urdu (age 10-13), Category 2 Urdu (age 14-18), Category 3 English (age 10-13) and Category 4 English (age 14-18). The 2nd position holders received Rs 70,000 while the third position holders were awarded Rs 40,000 along with other prizes including medals, certificates and citations.

CLF Kitab Gari aims to promote reading habits for imagination and pleasure, increase the accessibility of books for our young generation, teachers and communities. This mobile rickshaw library is stocked with 500+ books, both fiction and non-fiction for children up to 16 years and for teachers. The Kitab Gari visits bring along several inquiry based and fun-filled learning activities for the children. It focuses on 4 main learning strands: Storytelling /reading (voice/digital), Arts and Crafts, Documentaries/Movies and Board Games. CLF Kitab Gari was featured on Public TV and ftv media production.

Kitab Gari also hosted a session with IVY School to raise awareness about mobile libraries.

ITA is planning to hold CLFs in Bahawalpur, Lahore, Rahim Yar Khan and Karachi. Stay tuned for more updates!

ITA, Bedari, Punjab Women Protection Authority (PWPA) and Oxfam in Pakistan jointly organized multi-stakeholder consultation meeting under the Creating Spaces project to end Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) and Child Early and Forced Marriages (CEFM). The meeting was focused on implementation of existing laws ending VAWG and CEFM, activation of women caucus and its role, provincial assembly business and improving gender gaps and GBV issues with parliamentarian and civil society.

The SISOP by Telenor is designed to empower girls and boys to use Information Communication Technology (ICT) and the Internet responsibly, in a safe manner. It promotes responsible and safe online behavior of children by building their capacity in self-protection online through play based interactive awareness sessions and modules. It also enhances the capacity of project staff, teachers, School Management Council members and students on child protection via workshops and engagements. In September, trainings on Digital Literacy and Digital Safety were conducted in various Federal Directorate of Education schools.

LSK is committed to arrange vocational and technical courses for students. This month, beautician course was launched for 15 LSK girls in TEVTA affiliated institute. 12 students got admission in government schools.

ITA celebrated International Literacy Day on September 8, 2021 with the pledge to work for narrowing the digital divide through innovative low-cost digital learning solutions.

ITA celebrated the Global Week to Act for SDGs from September 18-26, 2021. Our students highlighted the Global Goals 2030 so we can collectively take action for an equal, safe and inclusive world. To raise children\'s awareness about SDGs for a better world, they were made to fill the SDG worksheets at LSK schools.

ITA celebrated International Translation Day on September 30, 2021. ITA is proud to have has translated 28 books from 10 countries in Urdu and Sindhi in collaboration with Room to Read, School Education Department, Government of the Punjab and School Education & Literacy Department, Government of Sindh. Promoting the Joy of Reading and Learning through translation!

CEO ITA Baela Raza Jamil participated in the UKFIET conference 2021 from September 13-17, 2021. She gave a presentation entitled: Education, Equity, Voice and Justice: the COVID Dividends.