Pakistan: Thanks to new wells, more children are attending school

Starting situation

Sindh province lies in southeastern Pakistan – large parts of it are desert or semi-desert, and the people are poor. Rainfall has been decreasing for years, and families have to travel ever greater distances to fetch water. This task is often done by the children. There is no time left for school.
 

The Terre des Hommes partner organization

The organization "Association for Water, Applied Education & Renewable Energy" (AWARE) was founded in 2005 and is primarily committed to supporting disadvantaged population groups in remote regions of Pakistan.
 

Measures and impact

With the support of Terre des Hommes and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), AWARE is installing solar-powered water pumps. Fifteen villages in the desert region now have access to clean drinking water for the first time. This is leading to far-reaching changes: children who were often responsible for fetching water now have time to go to school.

AWARE and Terre des Hommes have renovated the schools and also offer attractive leisure activities for the girls and boys: For example, they can meet in "children's clubs" where they receive homework help and can talk to peers about their problems.

The measures are proving successful: School enrollment rates in the region have risen significantly. And the functioning water supply is also improving nutrition in the communities, as vegetables can now even be grown in the desert. The health of families has also improved thanks to the water pumps. To further reduce the previously high maternal and child mortality rate, women and midwives are receiving hygiene training.
 

Challenges and Planning

One challenge for the project is the scarcity of jobs in the region. Many families have to earn their living as migrant workers, while others leave altogether. The solar-powered wells now offer the possibility of local agriculture, which can be a major incentive for many families to stay and send their children to school.