Sargodha, Pakistan. In a small local colony
of Sargodha city in Pakistan, homeless children who
used to wander the streets now sit within protected walls and learn about peace.
The charity school, Quaid–E–Azam
Public School, started a
year ago, educates 22 children, ages 4 to 12 years old, who get little help
from others and cannot afford to attend school.
In previous years, the
school focused on developing peace thought in people, which accounts for their
slogan “What Our Mother Earth Needs: Love and Peace, Love and Peace.” In 2007,
however, the school began to form a concrete agenda to use general education to
promote peace and help society. The school now employs two full-time teachers
and runs classes from 8am to 12:30pm.
On March 25, 2008, the
school held their first Annual Result meeting following the decision to change
the school agenda. At the arrival of the Chief Guest, Sister Livina Herman Gill,
Coordinator of Women and Children Development CC, the schoolchildren threw flowers on
the ground. The ceremony was opened as both children and teachers sang the
National Anthem. Children with high marks and those graduating to the next
class received special prizes, and treats were given to all. Diamond Joseph, veteran education specialist,
talked on the importance of education, and his experiences in different types
of classrooms, and his recent visit to Japan for an educational symposium.
Sister Livina also spoke the benefits of education, and the impact education
can have on society, urging the children to continue their studies and tell
others about the school.
At the end of the
program, all members of the school met together to plan for the upcoming year,
and discuss how to teach society to come together and how to develop peace
within the world. “What Our Mother Earth Needs: Love and Peace, Love and
Peace!”
|
