About Safe Kids
Background
According to UNICEF data from 2018, only half of the children in Pakistan have basic clean drinking water at the school. Majority had no proper sanitation facilities. No data was able for proper hygiene facilities.
We are Pakistani Descent Americans. Above data is very disturbing. Having visited Pakistan with our parents and after interacting with our cousins, we witnessed this situation at first hand. My cousins belong to middle class families. One can imagine the severity of situation for lower economy children in public schools.
With above background and first hand knowledge, we decided to help the children from lower economy families back in Pakistan. We realized that not only there is lack of facilities; more importantly is lack of awareness. So, we aimed to focus on two factors: raise awareness about basic hygiene as well as help provide clean drinking water, basic sanitation and hygiene facilities for school going children.
WHO/UNICEF Join Monitoring Pregame has aimed to provide safe drinking water and adequate sanitation and hygiene facilities to children of the world by 2030. We work in collaboration with local Government appointed persons. Our SAFE Kids project will help schools in underserved areas of Pakistan to achieve these goals.
According to UNICEF data from 2018, only half of the children in Pakistan have basic clean drinking water at the school. Majority had no proper sanitation facilities. No data was able for proper hygiene facilities.
We are Pakistani Descent Americans. Above data is very disturbing. Having visited Pakistan with our parents and after interacting with our cousins, we witnessed this situation at first hand. My cousins belong to middle class families. One can imagine the severity of situation for lower economy children in public schools.
With above background and first hand knowledge, we decided to help the children from lower economy families back in Pakistan. We realized that not only there is lack of facilities; more importantly is lack of awareness. So, we aimed to focus on two factors: raise awareness about basic hygiene as well as help provide clean drinking water, basic sanitation and hygiene facilities for school going children.
WHO/UNICEF Join Monitoring Pregame has aimed to provide safe drinking water and adequate sanitation and hygiene facilities to children of the world by 2030. We work in collaboration with local Government appointed persons. Our SAFE Kids project will help schools in underserved areas of Pakistan to achieve these goals.
Our Mission
Mission Statement
Clean water and environment is the basic right of every school going child. Our mission is to raise awareness as well as help improve clean drinking water, basic sanitation, and hygiene for school going children in underserved areas of Pakistan.
Our Team
Arham Razzaq
My name is Arham Razzaq and I’m a high school student living in the United States. I pride myself in my academics, especially within the field of science. I started this project because as a Pakistani-American teenager, I have visited Pakistan many times in my life.
Fakiha Aslam
Fakiha Aslam is a talented young lady, with significant experience of working in Education department, with special focus in providing quality education. She has a keen desire to soothe the ailments of calamity stricken poor souls in her ambiance.
Dr. Zuhaa Khalid
I am Dr. Zuhaa Khalid. Currently, I am a 4th year medical student at Army medical college, Rawalpindi, Pakistan. I did Matriculation and Intermediate from Army Public School, Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
Reyan Usmani
My name is Reyan Usmani and I am a sophomore living in the United States. I enjoy biology, because of learning about different living things and how they interact with each other and the environment.
How We Work
Assessment and Monitoring
We work in collaboration with a local Government appointed person. The local appointed person/teachers initially inspect each school for WASH (water supply, sanitation, and hygiene). WHO and UNICEF Joint Monitoring Program (JMP) service ladder is used for monitoring of WASH in schools. The school’s financial needs are also assessed. Each school is then monitored by re-inspection after few months.
WASH Inspection Card
WHO/UNICEF JMP Service Ladder for Monitoring of WASH in Schools
Awareness Campaign
- We provide and distribute educational material and pamphlets in native language (Urdu) in each classroom, school cafeteria, outside school food vendors, near water supply and sanitation facilities
- Teachers hold educational demonstration sessions
- Teachers also check immunization status of elementary school children
- Educational information is also sent to parents (triangle: child-teacher-parents)
- Educational and prevention material is provided in case of any infectious disease outbreak
Fundraising
The financial needs of each school are also assessed so as to improve clean water supply, sanitation, and hygiene facilities. We hold fundraisers in our local Pakistani-American communities in USA. The desired facilities are provided to each school according to their needs.
Assessment and Monitoring
We work in collaboration with a local Government appointed person. The local appointed person/teachers initially inspect each school for WASH (water supply, sanitation, and hygiene). WHO and UNICEF Joint Monitoring Program (JMP) service ladder is used for monitoring of WASH in schools. The school’s financial needs are also assessed. Each school is then monitored by re-inspection after few months.
WASH Inspection Card
WHO/UNICEF JMP Service Ladder for Monitoring of WASH in Schools
Awareness Campaign
- We provide and distribute educational material and pamphlets in native language (Urdu) in each classroom, school cafeteria, outside school food vendors, near water supply and sanitation facilities
- Teachers hold educational demonstration sessions
- Teachers also check immunization status of elementary school children
- Educational information is also sent to parents (triangle: child-teacher-parents)
- Educational and prevention material is provided in case of any infectious disease outbreak
Fundraising
The financial needs of each school are also assessed so as to improve clean water supply, sanitation, and hygiene facilities. We hold fundraisers in our local Pakistani-American communities in USA. The desired facilities are provided to each school according to their needs.
