‘Poverty Stricken Girls of Jandar Banda Have High Spirits, Great Ambition, and Sparkle in the Eyes to Transform their Community‘
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), formerly known as the North-West Frontier Province, is one of the four provinces of Pakistan. 34.4% of children are currently out-of-school in KPK – a total of 1,723,215 girls and 736,242 boys (34.4%). Jandar Bānda in Manshera district of KPK is a town located about 44 mi (or 70 km) north of Islamabad. In 2016, poverty grew by 5.4% in Mansehra (PPAF*) and this is progressively getting worse.
The population of Jandar Banda comprises mainly of poverty-stricken deprived Pathans that live in adobe houses (constructed from adobe clay). With no government school in proximity, children of Jandar Banda have no access to primary or secondary education. The number of out-of-school girls is extremely alarming, and it’s gradually becoming worse. With all the support from donors, PAGE is able to create a STAR school in Jandar Banda, in the most impoverished villages of the Mansehra district. This STAR school delivers education to 39 students in total.
The families belong to destitute communities, and the school, as a result of parents’ ambition, manages to educate 37 girls and 2 boys. The girls have high spirits, great ambitions, and sparkle in their eyes to transform the community. Initially, the girls used to bring books and school supplies in shopping bags. PAGE has been fortunate to provide children with proper school bags, new books, and educational supplies.
Our Ambassador Fouzia Haneef Khan has taken the responsibility to fundraise for this school.
*According to Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF)