Our Father In Heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, and thy will be done, on earth, as it is in heaven. Church Presentation by TEAR Australia The wonderful theme "As It Is In Heaven" has been used in the New South Wales Conference (NSWC) especially bringing the Christians of Australia to understand their individual responsibility of doing God's will, thus bringing his kingdom on earth. PEP has been blessed by becoming a part of the NSWC that took place in Australia in July 2016. This special conference is arranged after every 2 years to encourage and inspire all the different groups who are involved in supporting TEAR Australia. Lilian Charles (Miss Lilian) the Coordinator of Primary Education Project was humbly invited to take up the opportunity to attend the (NSWC) and share the testimony of her leadership, and bringing transformational stories of communities of rural Sindh. As you read her testimony, you will realize that God has a special calling for each who he has chosen.
WHAT WAS THE SESSION "LIFE OF LEARNING" ABOUT: The session theme "Life Of Learning" revolves around a few important personal thoughts. I believe every work is an opportunity to learn something new. Every worker at the PEP platform is encouraged to believe that we are all leaders and we can accomplish anything if there an attitude of learning. The testimonies of the PEP beneficiaries "Sangeeta" and "Reema" are two such stories that portray a life of learning and have resulted in developed confidence and courage in their personal lives. Every student that has studied from a PEP school has a personal story to tell. You will read stories of great courage in the midst of opposition, becoming change agents for one's own community, educating lives for a better tomorrow, and transformation of individual lives. All these stories indicate that people have followed constant learning and molding that is required for living a fruitful life.
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My name is Reema, and I live in Khipro, Khameeso Bheel Village.
I work as the Area Coordinator for the Women's Empowerment Programme (WEP), and fulfill my service as a mother to my five month old son. During the first fifteen days of each month I make visits to different communities in my village and involve in having conversations with them about the importance of girls' education. On other days when I'm at home with family, I tend to stitching or help my mother in embroidery work. I feel lucky to be working for the Women's Empowerment Programme because being a part of the rural area, it's not easy to advocate for education. Being brought up in a culture where education was rare, I thrived successfully to achieve the opportunity to receive education. In my school days, it was known as a taboo to let girls out of the house, but my parents despite the opposition of the villagers sent me to school. Today when the same villagers see me working for others, they do realize that there are benefits and future in having an education. The work of the Women's Empowerment Programme had the same purpose that piqued my interest to involve myself to join in working together with Primary Education Project. The Women's Empowerment Programme through trainings develops skills in the women to contribute in their community's growth and future. We have a number Women Empowerment Groups in our village that work together to encourage women in sending their children and especially girls to school. In addition to this, the WEG trainings have been successful in developing a mindset that encourages the women to accomplish more than they can imagine. I never thought that one day I would be telling my story. The village where once I had to face contradictions because of going to school is now on its road to a different future, where there are hopes to possess more schools and a dream for education to prevail. Village: Raichand Menghwar, MirpurKhas "I don't want the children of my community to work all day in fields. I want them to be educated." Misree opened a school in a community hall, few years back with an enrollment of 50 children. He belongs to a Hindu community where education had been insufficient for many years. But because he was the educated one in his family, he wanted the children of his community to go to a school. Therefore, with the help of his friend, Misree decided to start a school for the children of his village. (From Left to Right- Misree) As time elapsed, Misree's school started to encounter little issues that were creating a roadblock for the children in their education. The children were not able to pay the fee, and because of that many children were often counted as absentees. It was distressing to see lesser children each day, and the prospects for Misree's community school looked dim. One day Misree discovered that two children from his community went to a different school from the one he had opened. This school was 20kilometers away from Misree's village. The school was supported by Primary Education Project, and Misree discovered that the school had a teacher, classroom resources, and efficient enrollment. This was just what Misree had dreamt for his own school. Misree decided to talk with the School Management Committee (SMC ) of PEP school in hopes to find a solution for the disappointing situation of his own school, and after reviewing what Misree was doing, PEP decided to help him run a proper school for his community. For Misree, this became the beginning of a big future! Misree was appointed as a PEP teacher in 2013 and attended the specialized Teacher Training provided by PEP. After the teacher training, Misree decided to build a separate school and motivated his community to contribute something in doing so. The community acknowledged his decision because of what he had learnt during the teacher training, and became successful in building a proper sustainable school known as Raichand Menghwar School, in Mirpurkhas. When Raichand Menghwar School was in its early days, the school was merely constructed with wood, but the ceiling was not there. The children used to take classes in the open room which wasn't going to be appropriate for long term. One day, the landlord of Misree's village was passing by, and noticed that the children were having classes in unfeasible condition. The Landlord objected at this condition of children and demanded that something better would be done immediately for their educational environment. The Landlord provided Misree 10 benches, a table and chair, a blackboard, 4ft pipe for clean water and a roof for the classroom. In the present, the landlord has promised Misree to build another classroom for the students due to increasing enrollment. Misree had never thought that his commitment and faithfulness to education would give him a huge reward. The Landlord of Misree belonged to a Muslim community who had authority over the Hindus living in his village. But as Misree expressed, the Landlord of his village has been very supportive. The Landlord was proud of the school his village owns, and because of what Misree had been doing to support it. Primary Education Project works for all faith communites with a special focus on Peace. It is rare to find such a relationship as that of Misree and his Landlord in Raichand Menhgwar Village. Due to cultural and religious differences, it is mostly hard to maintain an understanding between communities of different faith. Primary Education Project ensures that all faith communities are motivated towards peace with each other as well as having the equal opportunity to receive quality education. The current school building of Raichand Menghwar Primary School was donated by a generous UK donor Ms.Sheila (late) in December 2015. She supported all the PEP schools since 2002 and was a loving friend of Dr. Jane Jerrard, the former director of PEP. Adult literacy in developing countries has lower rates than in developed countries, and the effects on social status are devastating. Illiterates are stuck in a rut of poverty and are incapable of working higher paying jobs. In developing countries where literacy rates are lower, poverty comes with challenges of education. Schools are few and far between and funds to operate the schools are just as scarce. Illiterate adults, especially women, struggle to find a voice in their communities, and severe gender discrimination affects millions.
Because of having no Adult literacy education in areas of rural Sindh, women are especially becoming the target of discrimination. There is a struggle for women's rights, status, opportunities to grow, and gender equality. Take Bahgwani for example. She was uneducated and got married when she only became a teenager. Since then, Bhagwani continued to live in a bound culture where women had less or no freedom to live out their rights. She realized that by not having an education how it was difficult for a woman to live in a society. She couldn't help her children in getting an education, neither was she able to help her husband in meeting their financial needs. "I don't want my children to be uneducated like me. I want them to have what I couldn't, and that is education, respect, and a good life", says Bhagwani. Bhagwani has a heart that wants herself and her family to be educated. She was joyous and almost tearful when she learned about Women's Empowerment Programme in her village. After joining Women's Empowerment Programme at PEP, Bhagwani now has the opportunity to educate other women about the importance of education. With WEG's help she has started to learn how to read books on her own and is even helping the Women's Empowerment Programme to start an Adult Literacy course for all the members. Join Bhagwani and many other women in establishing a proper Adult Literacy Centre in rural Sindh because they believe in change through education.
![]() Jalo Jamadar is a small village located in rural Sindh where Mansingh's small community resides. Near that village, stands Jalo Jamadar school, built in a small hut. The children in this school always have something to look forward to, and the reason of that is having the joy to learn everyday. Living close to their school makes it easy for children, and especially girls to travel by foot to attend school. The school being built in a hut may seem fragmentary, but hearing the clattering noises of children gives the experience of watching a school just like any other. You can guess they are really enjoying when the little giggles fills the classroom when learning the songs for each alphabet. The children are seen imitaing the little actions even when playing after school. It's rare to have schools in a remote place such as rural Sindh, but having PEP schools has given children the hope that one day they will reap the seeds of education. Mansingh is delighted to see the children of his community grow. Working as the local area coordinator for the schools in his area makes him very proud. Although Jalo Jamadar school stands in a hut for now, he believes that this very school has the power to create future leaders. The community of Jalo Jamadar in a few years will have a lot to offer. They have learnt a lot about health, their rights, and the importance of girls education which is how the community has developed along in recent years. The community of Jalo Jamadar is strong in implmenting what they learn for their growth. They have built pit washrooms and are very careful to keep their livestock clean. Through the efforts of the Women's Empowerment Programme at PEP, many girls have been encouraged to join school. Parents who once were fearful of letting their girls go out, want to send their daughters to school now. The local teacher of Jalo Jamadar school is cooperative and ever delighted to attend the to the students of the class. According to Mansingh, this incredible change seemed like a blur vision once. But now he says, if a little school can bring about a hugh change in Mansingh's community, only think of the budding children who will have the power to change the world. JOIN US FOR "WE BELIEVE IN PAKISTAN" CAMPAIGN Nirmila considers herself lucky that she got the opportunity to study in a school. She is the youngest of the eight siblings in her family and one of the dedicated students of Rano Bheel Elementary School. She learnt a lot from the awareness programs provided by PEP and is famously known to have carried out a practical example regarding Social and Financial Education Programme (Aflatoun). Through the Aflatoun Savings Programme, Nirmila started a little business in 2013 by opening a shop in her area. She invested rupees 1500 in the shop by taking a loan of rupees 2000 from her school’s Aflatoun savings. When Nirmila opened her shop, she committed to pay rupees 100 each month to return the loan to the Aflatoun savings group. From the profit she received through her business, she purchased some of the necessary things she needed for her school, such as uniform, shoes, stationary and managed her own pocket money too. On one occasion, Nirmila's parents did not have enough money to pay her fees, but she had enough to manage to pay her fees through her own savings. Nirmila's family as well as her teacher were was very proud of what she had achieved. Her family believes she is truly an inspiration for other girls and for her community. Nirmila's business has now expanded and she gets a profit of rupees 5000. Nirmila is a student of Rano Bheel Elementary School Mirpurkhas (a district of rural Sindh). Anum's ContributionAnum is a student studying in one of the PEP schools at Tando Allahyar district of Sindh. She was inspired to join the WEP group in 2014 through observing a group who used to come for WEP meetings in her village. Through many trainings Anum learnt about girls' education, their rights and responsibilities, early marriage, cleanliness and about helping others through savings. She had been saving since 2014 and with her current savings that was rupees 10100/= she contributed to her family to buy a buffalo that was of rupees 15000. In rural Sindh people earn through the business of livestock which is why Anum's contribution to buy a buffalo was perfect for her family to start a business. Anum says savings can help women in lots of ways because they can contribute in supporting their families. It increases their importance of having a say in matters that men thought only they can handle, such as buying something only if the husband could afford. But if the wife has savings, both of them can contribute together and support their family which in result, encourages gender equality. The concept of savings through Aflatoun (Social and Financial education), children and communities greatly benefit as they learn skills that help them to have a balanced life and does make families struggle to make ends meet. Before having the education of Aflatoun in rural villages, communities suffered due to the lack of social and financial skills. But now, through having Aflatoun, communities are developing rapidly and know how to maintain a sustainable lifestyle. Impact more children by supporting the Aflatoun programme.
Khwaja Goth Area
Teacher of Meghawar Primary School. I lacked in confidence, and I didn't believe in myself. I lived a simple life, and education was not important to me. But, the Teacher Training taught me that life is best lived by having a purpose. PEP has a purpose, and I was inspired by the fact that all of us were a part of that purpose. Since then, I started to believe in a better future, for me and for my family. I now understand that without a sound education, we cannot solve our problems, and neither can we grow out of poverty which is so prevalent. These positive concepts helped me shape my life in a better way, and I was learning to impact others. I was also able to make some personal changes in my personality. I began to have a more positive attitude after the I.T.E.P, and I learned to encourage, support and cooperate with others more. The developments in me are the reason I was able to make a difference in my community. After the Teacher Training when I went home, I was determined to lead on and to help other members of my community get awareness about the importance of education. Through many conversations and encouragement I helped some of the girls in my community to start going to school again. Mostly girls in our communities drop out of school after completing Primary education due to cultural and religious traditions, and sometimes poverty. But after seeing me talking to them, they were motivated that education can build a person's personality, and so finally I felt like I achieved something. I used to arrange meetings for small groups of about 10 women and girls in my village and I used to address them about the importance of girls' education and the benefits. And after a few months, I started seeing results, and girls had started to enroll in Meghwar Primary School. Today we have 21 girls from my community going to a PEP school in Kwaja Goth (Sindh). I feel privileged to be a part of the girls' education campaign and I am willing to continue working as an advocate for girls in rural Sindh-helping them as well as myself to move towards a better future. I believe change is possible. You only need courage to take a step further, and I found that courage with PEP. I was a very fearful person, and speaking before people was something that felt like burden.
But, after the ITEP, I turned out a different person. I learned a lot of different things at ITEP that made a positive impact in my life. Such as planning, discipline, how to demonstrate a perfect attitude in class, and encouraging others. Apart from that I got the opportunity to join the devotions before we started the training. I liked one of the devotions where we learned about the parable of the three servants. This parable really spoke to my heart and inspired me to become a vessel of service to my community. After the ITEP I feel more satisfied with my budget. I used to earn 18000 rupees before becoming a teacher but my earning used to always quickly finish. Now, after learning to plan budget, I am able to save even through earning less. Through the ITEP I've truly realized what quality education really means. It doesn't only mean to teach children through text books, but it means to participate in their growth, hence, transforming them. The positive attitude of our trainers has given us a great perspective of how we can become effective role models for our students and communities. One of the most important things that we learned during the training was about CLTS. Community Led Total Sanitation training helped us understand the importance of creating a hygienic environment in our village. In our communities due to less knowledge about cleanliness, often children get sick and diseases occur. But after learning how to prevent ourselves from disease, our community has built 14 to 15 pit washrooms and are thoroughly using it. It is a blessing to be a part of a community that is developing to become self-reliant and purposeful. I believe providing education means to worship God, and Primary Education Project is a part of this beautiful worship. (Initial Teacher Educational Programme (I.T.E.P) is a very important part of our mission. We aim to strengthen teachers with the skills that will assist them in teaching students through effective leadership.) Before joining PEP, Waali was a simple house wife, reserved within her village. She had a secluded life style and she wouldn't socialize much. It was a culture in their community that a woman was to stay in pardah (veil). This meant, Waali was not allowed to move around much out of fear that something might happen to her because she was a woman. She never went to a school and she didn't know much about the life outside her surroundings. Having to follow this culture since childhood, Waali was cut off from lots of knowledge. She had no idea what education was, and neither did she understand anything about women's rights. But, after being encouraged to join the Women Empowerment Programme (WEP) at PEP, Waali felt something change in her thinking. When Waali came to attend the WEG training for the first time, she never imagined that she would learn so much! It was a complete new thing for her getting to know different people, as she was trying to participate with the other ladies at the training. She was very nervous at the beginning, but later on she turned out to be the most devoted participant. During the WEG training, she learned about her rights and how to speak for them. She came to understand how education was the key to an abundant life. Now she realizes that education is the only way to break the cycle of poverty and gain respect for her family from her community. While sharing her testimony, Waali said, "It is easy to differentiate between an educated and an uneducated woman. An uneducated woman will not be able to speak up and will hide away from people. But, an educated woman will be different. She can face people." As Waali gradually went through the process of transformation she became a role model for other women too. Today, Waali is a facilitator for the Women's Empowerment Group in her village. She leads a group of 30 women and she teaches them all that she learnt through the women's training at PEP. When Waali's family saw the way she worked with great efforts to brighten the knowledge of other women, they were proud and they supported her more strongly than before. Waali is an incredible supporter of girls' education, and through her efforts, 20 girls from her village have been enrolled in a PEP school. This picture is from last day of the WEG training. The three women are performing a tribal dance, of which Waali is a part (at the right side with the pink dress).
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