4-Days Training Workshop on ‘Capacity Building of Champions for Change’ which was organized by Thar Education Alliance (TEA) with the collaboration of ECO Science Foundation and Thar Institute of Engineering and Science concluded today with an award ceremony, speakers urged to maximize the number of females student in School, and also appreciated the presence of 50 CFCs from different academic background and areas.
Before the formal conclusion session, these 50 CFCs shared their stories and issues on Twitter regarding girls’ education in Thar with the hashtag of #GirlChampionsThar.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Thar Education Alliance (TEA), Partab Shivani expressed that interrogative approaches and database activism can play a vibrant role because random numbers or non-credible sources can discourage the content when you lobby with the education department without knowing the population, out of school children ratio enrolled children, and the budget allocation, you couldn’t defend the case, along with these positive approaches and positive communication is a better way despite the citric.
At the end of the session, participants assigned to design a three-year budget plan, and then they presented in a group. In addition, Digital media portfolios are your own television and you’re owner, there isn’t any limit of the audience and you don’t need to pay a single penny to get the time and space in this medium, interrogative approaches could be more helpful if you use data, findings, and research in your tweets, posts, and feeds.
Digital Media Expert, Farhad Jarral said when we were in schools’ teachers used to assign us homework on a daily basis, lets repeat this same approach here at social media, doing homework before writing or sharing any story on social media will give weight to your unheard story in unserved areas. You should know to whom we are approaching to solve this issue, and who are the concern authorities, organizations, experts, journalists, and proper channels who can empower your voices through their handles and outlets.
‘Back to two years, when Thar Education Alliance organized ‘Thar Science Festival’ though it was the first time in the history of Tharparkar when science, technology, and the engineering was discussed throughout the Thar, and when such little approaches trended on Twitter within 2-3 hours it becomes an international trend and the majority of the high profile personalities, reputable figures, and thousands of verified handles including the political personals, diplomatic, and policymakers actively participated in that trend and it went viral throughout the world.’ Farhad added.
President TEA Yaqoob Peechi, Deputy Director Social Welfare Department Malji Rathore, Retired SDO Apa Roshan Ara, and others shared that if a female is raising or highlighting the issue occurring with a female student can easily be heard, they know-how difficult it is to counter and face the social taboos to attend the school, and also, the way they convince their family to be educated is tougher, today when Pakistan is observing you on social media through your tweets, and you people are tagging to powerful voice meant worthful.
Saba Chachar, a master trainer also expressed that before arriving at Thar for me the image of Thar was just sand dunes, huts, and mud-plaster, but as she entered in the district headquarter, and interacted with the trainees she totally surprised to see development and developed minds, Thar is full of talent it is dire need to enhance and polish their capacities.
Trainees also shared their 4 days experience at the closing ceremony including Nazeeran Charo, Amrat Jumani, Geeta Raghani, Sameena Kanwal, Sanober Gul and others, they expelled that it was their 1st experience, an outdoor activity, diverse people, untold stories, and STEM-oriented activities totally changed their mindsets, before this training thy don’t know the utilization of their gadgets but today they have knowledge to address the issue globally.
Speaking to the session ‘Educational Governance and Departmental Structure’, Prem Sagar, a renowned trainer, said that your vision is to educate the girls and to promote the girl’s education through different channels.
There was a 14% decrease in the out of school children since 2012-2017 and our educational budget, unlike the general idea, have increased with a growth rate of 17.5% since 2010. However, the pandemic has flipped the paradigm as all educational institutions have been put in lockdown, consequently exposing the lack of internet infrastructure in the country.
Kiran Sadhwani, 1st Thari Engineer from Mithi, also shared her journey that why and how she earned a bachelor’s degree in the field of computer engineering.
She also addressed and encouraged ‘Champions for Change’ that how they can bring change in their fields.
‘When you explore the things and just take a step forward you will realize that fields are increasing with the passage of time and technology has made everything easier.
Not just engineering and medical can glorify our personalities, but if you have goods and you’re interested to do journalism, activism, business, commerce, or language and literature then go with it.’
Computer Engineer and TIES Faculty, Farhat Mirza emphasized the importance of computer.
She interacted with 50 change agents, and also appreciated their presence, you can work at your home as freelancer, access, and skills are needed but such steps can make you stable to sell your skills digitally.
‘Every single brand is going to marketize their items through social media, in this pandemic, when we are not allowed to go outside and markets were closed, we were doing shopping online, so this is how we can use our entrepreneur skills through computer and technology.’
STEM trainer, and IBA Sukkur Faculty Rabel Sheikh, conducted the session on ‘Inquiry-Based Science Education’ was an interactive session in which participants did some science-based experiments.
STEM-based education is not conventional education; it is particularly designed with the mixture of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics to whip up the enthusiasm of children to pursue a career in these fields.
