The Taliban destroyed hundreds of girls’ schools in Swat, creating an even bigger gender gap in education than was previously present. In that society, girls are less likely to be educated than boys, and even if they are sent to primary school after elementary education, they are less likely to go to high school and much less likely to go to college than male children. To create gender equality, SRI has made education for girls a high priority.
Activities for our education program include:
- Building coeducation schools in remote and inaccessible areas that do not have access to education
- Reactivating 'Ghost Schools' (abandoned government schools) by renovating and upgrading the abandoned buildings and getting committment and follow up from the government to provide teachers for these shools
- Formation of Parent Teacher Associations in local government schools with the help of the communities that we organize and train. This creates accountability and helps the schools run more efficiently
- Teacher-training programs to develop critical thinking, confidence and leadership
- Creating a school curriculum based on civics, good citizenship and volunteerism
- Seminars and workshops to raise awareness about gender equality and the importance of education, especially for girls
- Enrollment campaign for girls’ education
- Scholarship and Mentoring programs for deserving children.
SRI's Projects for its campaign to put:
20,000 Children in School by 2020
Swat Relief Initiative is unique because we make every effort to ensure that our work is effective and follows the ideal concept of charity