Enabling Safe Access to School for Girls Through Empowering Unemployed Deserving Individuals with Self-Employment
In rural areas of district of Rahim Yar Khan and Lahore, schools are far away and transport links are unavailable. Access to schools has been a major challenge for girls in rural areas of the district where there are no transportation facilities or very limited other options available. On account of poverty and unemployment, parents are unable to afford transportation facilities for girls, which results in a high drop-out rate and increases the number of out-of-school girls in rural areas.
So, to address the aforementioned SGDs, and the problems listed i.e. enabling access to school for girls and graduating families out of poverty, HDF introduced an innovative social entrepreneurship model which will ensure alleviating both problems and sustain an action beyond the project lifecycle. Through this model, HDF has distributed 16 Tri-Wheelers in the month of April and May among middle-aged deserving individuals which will provide safe and supportive learning access to school-going girls through empowering unemployed youth with self-employment, as well as meeting the sustainable development goals of quality education and decent work & economic growth.
The distribution ceremony in Rahim Yar Khan was chaired by Mr. Rana Naveed Ahmad, Chief Executive Officer, District Education, Ms. Rehana Irum, Focal Person of UNICEF & Principal Govt. Girls High School RYK, Mr. Khalid Mughal, President Private Schools Management Association (PSMA) RYK, Mr. Waheed Iqbal, District Population Officer, Mr. Zia-Uul-Qadir, Deputy Director Operations, National Commission for Human Development (NCHD), Ms. Samina Sarwat, and Ms. Robina Mansoor, Representatives REEDS Pakistan, Mr. Sajid Gill, District Manager, Bunyad Foundation, and Mr. Muhammad Usman Azhar, Secretary General, Chamber of Commerce & Industry RYK. Among other attendees were community members.