Doha, Qatar, 11 February 2019: Education Above All (EAA) Foundation’s global programme, Educate A Child (EAC), in partnership with the British Council, is pleased to announce the ‘Ilm-Possible: Take a Child to School (TACS) Phase II’ project in Pakistan, aiming to enrol 200,000 out of school children (OOSC) into quality primary education throughout the country. 

Building on the previously successful Phase I strategies of TACS, this three-year joint project is also supported by Generation Amazing, the social and human legacy programme of Qatar’s Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, to enhance the learning experience of class 1-5 students by introducing a football for development module called ‘United Generation’ that promotes ‘life skills through sports’ as part of a normal school day in 66 public schools. 

Generation Amazing is supporting EAC and partner British Council in using football in education for social change. The programme, which seeks to boost retention rates at school, has already piloted this life skills resource in eight districts. Activities are employed both in and out of the classroom to create an exciting, dynamic learning environment that promotes and encourages positive social change through sports and education in a way that is both interactive and stimulating for children. The activities fall primarily within two types of categories: Classroom Learning Discussions and Sports Sessions.  

Generation Amazing is contributing to making school environments in Pakistan more inclusive, helping teachers develop better relationships with their students through the insertion of fun activities that break the routine of the school day. Fawad Aziz, a nine-year-old student beneficiary, recently remarked: “We love Generation Amazing. We get to play football and learn things such as how to cross the road, and the importance of playing together.” Through Generation Amazing a total of 9,016 students have already been reached in the TACS II project and significant positive behavioural change has been noted, as student beneficiaries were observed to be more respectful towards teachers, parents and classmates. Furthermore, the students displayed a greater propensity towards personal responsibility and an ability to work in teams. 

Dr Mary Joy Pigozzi, Executive Director, Educate A Child (EAC), states:

“EAC believes that quality education has the power of positive transformation.  Reaching out of school children (OOSC) is one of the most crucial aspects of holistic growth and development for each and every nation. Through our partnership with British Council and Generation Amazing, we aim to support a sustainable future in Pakistan. Together, we strive to reach 200,000 of the country’s most vulnerable and marginalised children and inspire them with a quality primary education that will positively impact their lives, communities and country.”

Ms Faiza Inayat, Director of Ilm-Possible: Take a Child to School Phase II, states: 
“Under Ilm-Possible: Take a Child to School we are always looking for innovative means to support our retention objectives and to keep children engaged and supportive of their own education. The Generation Amazing model aims to do this by utilising an easy to understand and interactive approach. The Generation Amazing programme has had considerable impact in the schools where it is implemented.”