Lack of educational opportunities is one of the many predicaments that the Manchar community faces. Pollution by industrial effluents of this fresh water reserve has contaminated the water of Manchar and has left the community suffering from a plethora of water-borne diseases. To address this health concern, the Foundation has developed various strategies which includes the implementation of a health education component in the boat school to educate children about preventive health measures. SEF also plans to regularly set up health camps in the area to improve the health status of children, women and community members. In this regard the Johi Organization for Rural Development and Natural Recourse (JORDAN) and Benson Pharmaceuticals supported the Foundation’s effort by donating medicines and arranged for doctors for organizing a health camp in the area. About 350 patients comprising primarily of women and children received treatment from doctors. Interested pharmaceutical agencies, doctors and nurses can contribute their bit in helping the disadvantaged of Manchar through the health camp.

Developing countries often face wide disparity in the standard of living of their populations. Such is the case of Pakistan where some are enjoying a life of luxury and wealth whereas some fall far below the poverty line; living in abject misery and are deprived of even the most rudimentary necessities of life. Owing to their economic desolation Manchar communities also face an acute shortage of basic necessities such as warm clothing during winters. The Foundation gathered a few funds from within its employees and other individual philanthropists and provided clothing to about 250 children of Manchar including clothes for boys and girls, socks, shawls, caps, sweaters and shoes. In this regard the Foundation would like to express their deepest sense of gratitude to Jaffer Brothers, Pakistan Cotton Fashion Apparel, Ms Masuma Lotia and Ms. Bina Shah for their generous contribution to help the destitute of Manchar. Interested individuals can visit the area and identify the gaps existing in the area and how they can contribute their bit in ameliorating the conditions of the region.

The demand-driven nature of the Community Supported Schools Program (CSSP) ensures that its progress is greatly dependant on the needs of the community, the teachers, the students and their parents. This dynamic attribute allows the program to undergo enterprising adaptation and enrichment. One such aspect of this enrichment is regular teachers training in order to share and acquaint teachers with new and more effective teaching practices and syllabi. From December 26, 2005 to January 2, 2006 the program along with the Learning Support Unit (LSU), organized a training for its elementary school teachers. Nearly 100 elementary teachers from Sehwan, Warah, Mehar & Larkana clusters participated in this 8 day training. The content of this widely appreciated training focused on the concepts of teachers’ beliefs, child psychology, more effective multi-grade teaching, health education and subject-based sessions on Mathematics and English.

One of SEF’s salient strategies to improve and support the quality of teaching and education is to provide teaching and learning aids according to each program’s requirements. On regular visits to the Community Supported Schools (CSS) its program team observed that there was a significant need for material that would allow for more child-centered environment. As a result, during the month of October 2005, the CSSP team was involved in distributing learning material within its schools. The team has also put immense efforts into compiling innovative manuals that will aid teachers in introducing newer concepts in the classroom with helpful activities and lectures.

Previously, SEF administered all Community Supported Schools through their partner Village Education Committees (VECs). These VECs held the primary responsibility of managing the schools. With a recent change in strategy these VECs have joined hands and have established the cluster-wise Community Development Networks (CDN). This network will serve as an umbrella organization over the VECs and will efficiently coordinate and communicate the activities and initiatives taken by the VECs. A memorandum of understanding was signed between CDN Larkana, Sehwan & Malir and SEF in November, 2005. It is also expected that this network will strengthen the grassroots participation in the social and educational development of rural communities