Pakistan is highly exposed to climate-induced disasters, especially floods and it is evidenced that educational establishments have been disproportionately hard-hit by raging waters during such calamities. In Pakistan, school safety and preparedness is still a choice, rather than a mandatory requirement. There is a dire need to maintain the environment in and around school property so as to minimize the impacts of floods and to have the mechanisms in place to maximize a school’s resilience.
The 2010 floods ravaged agriculture, industries, buildings and properties in cities and districts across Pakistan and schools too were no exception. Government Primary School No 2, in Union Council MC-III, District Charsadda, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, was almost destroyed by the furious flood waters. The school building was reduced to shambles and the children could not continue the educational activities.
As the national duty, The CHEF International teams identified the school and launched efforts for the rehabilitation of the educational facility in the wake of necessary survey. The school was rehabilitated and renovated in a record time.
“It has been a great blessing for us as now we study and play in a safe environment. The classrooms have been reconstructed while the play areas too are very neat and clean,” says Grade III student Talha, adding that all the credit must go to CHEF International for constructing the school almost anew.
