KaravanPakistan - Programmes

Karavan Online-Classroom

Introduction
A ship container transformed into a cyberstation, equipped with 4 computers is what The Karavan Online-Classroom developed by KaravanPakistan is all about. It is within this microcosm that a window to the 21st century is opened for children from government schools in low income areas. The Karavan Online-Classroom has successfully toured two government schools in Karachi and implemented its course which includes a one month English Language Refresher course, through which children are taught about heritage and followed by 2 months of a computer course. The first school was Rashid Minhas School and the second was KPT (Karachi Port Trust) School. To maintain the computer skills acquired by the children in this course, Karavan Pakistan has established an Online Club, initially at Rashid Minhas; the second will be setup at KPT School. It is via these efforts of KaravanPakistan that we hope to develop productive members at all levels in society who are in sync with the rest of the world.

Good Citizenship Programme - RoadSense

KK-PSO RoadSense Programme
Introduction

According to available statistics, 26% of fatal accidents on Karachi roads involve young people. Where all drivers need to be mindful on the roads, we need also to make our future generation aware of traffic rules and procedures for the sake of their own safety and for them to grow up as responsible citizens. It was for this purpose that the KaravanKarachi–PSO Road Sense Programme was devised. This programme was a collaborative effort of KK, Traffic Police and City Government (Transport department) and was sponsored by Pakistan State Oil Company Ltd. It was developed by experts in the field to achieve the best results.

It was our intention to reach out to as many schools as possible and help the registered schools conduct programmes according to guidelines and manuals prepared for this purpose. The participant schools included an array of private and public schools. Winners and participants were awarded prizes and certificates respectively.

Components of the Programme
The KK – PSO Road Sense Programme had the following components:

• Function at PSO House Podium, Clifton Road (Last Wednesday of every month throughout the year 2002 starting from 30th January, 2002)
• Outreach Programme: Road Sense Week (5 day programme alongwith Road Sense Manual for schools to conduct in-house Road sense Workshops)
• Monthly Road Sense Poster Competition (Exhibition of Posters made by schools participating in the programme during the month)

A large number of private, public schools disabilities participated in this programme. The schools, children and parents all participated enthusiastically in these programmes. This helped us to address this very serious issue and to raise awareness amongst all these groups regarding Traffic Safety. The Poster Competition was an added attraction as children came forth with bright ideas on various aspects of Traffic Safety and presented them through a kaleidoscope of colour. The monthly Poster exhibitions held at PSO House served to further encourage the children.

The PSO House Assembly held on the last Wednesday of each month included an address by the Chief Guest, a briefing regarding traffic rules and road safety procedures and a demonstration by the Traffic Police. The children would then participate in a Question Answer Session and a Road Sense Quiz. The programme would end with prizes for the winners followed by Street Theatre and Refreshments. The children thoroughly enjoyed every segment of these Assemblies which introduced them to Road Safety measures in a fun way.

Various Workshops were conducted by schools under the Outreach Programme. The first three were held at Shahwilayat School, Hampton School and Government schools respectively.

The first road Sense Week was inaugurated on the 14th of January, 2002 at Shahwilayat School which was the first school, to participate in the KK-PSO Road Sense Programme. On the 15th, Shahwilayat students will work on their entries for the PSO Road Sense poster competition and Traffic Police Officers deputed by DIG Traffic gave a live demonstration on traffic rules and answered questions. On the 16th there was a poster making competition and a quiz competition on Road Sense. A Grand Quiz was held on the 17th and on the 18th parents were invited to the poster display and were asked to sign pledges. The 20 best poster out of these were selected for the Monthly Road sense Posters Competition at the PSO House Atrium.

KK-PSO RoadSense 1st Workshop
Venue: Shahwilayat Public School
Date:15 Jan, 2002

KaravanKarachi’s First Road Sense Workshop took place at Shahwilayat Public School in Federal “B” Area. This initiative is part of an ongoing KaravanKarachi Road Sense Programme.

SubInspector (Traffic) Atiq and DSP Mariam Kazi gave a demonstration of traffic rules and safety to two hundred students and answered their questions. They focused on spreading awareness amongst the youngsters about safely walking on footpaths, negotiating traffic when crossing roads and how to behave in moving vehicles.

The students asked SubInspector Atiq a range of questions from “Why do traffic policemen accept bribes?” to “Which side of the road should one walk on when there is no footpath?”

Poster Competition: Shahawilayat students are taking part in an ongoing Poster Competition on Road Sense. They held their workshop around a model road they had constructed in their school, which included toy cars, zebra crossings, footpaths and stop lines. Many of the students had also made themselves traffic signal caps and sashes which they wore through out the demonstration.

KK-PSO RoadSense 2nd Workshop
Venue: Hampton School
Date: March, 2002

KaravanKarachi’s Second Road Sense Workshop took place at Hampton School. This initiative is part of an ongoing KaravanKarachi Road Sense Programme.

SubInspector (Traffic) Atiq gave a demonstration of traffic rules and safety to two hundred students and answered their questions. They focused on spreading awareness amongst the youngsters about safely walking on footpaths, negotiating traffic when crossing roads and how to behave in moving vehicles.

The students asked SubInspector Atiq a range of questions.

Poster Competition: Hampton School students are taking part in an ongoing Poster Competition on Road Sense.

KK-PSO RoadSense 3rd Workshop
Venue: Government Schools
Date: April, 2002

KaravanKarachi’s Third Road Sense Workshop took place at Government School. This initiative is part of an ongoing KaravanKarachi Road Sense Programme.

SubInspector (Traffic) Atiq gave a demonstration of traffic rules and safety to two hundred students and answered their questions. They focused on spreading awareness amongst the youngsters about safely walking on footpaths, negotiating traffic when crossing roads and how to behave in moving vehicles.

The students asked SubInspector Atiq a range of questions.

Poster Competition: Government School students took part in an ongoing Poster Competition on Road Sense.

KK Poster Competition
Shahwilayat Public School, February 2002
Hampton School, March 2002
Government School, March and April 2002

The students from all schools made interesting and thought-provoking posters on the theme of Road Safety. As part of their KK PSO Road Sense Workshop students were asked to make posters on the theme of Road Safety and Traffic Rules as they understood them. This poster competition was held to give the students an interactive way to demonstrate their understanding of traffic rules. Their posters depicted scenes on roads, how accidents are caused through carelessness and people breaking traffic rules. The posters, which were displayed at the PSO House atrium, really showed that even though children don’t drive, they are aware of the mistakes grown ups make. Posters marked with the PSO logo represent the winning entries.


Road Sense Walk
A Road Sense Walk was also conducted by KaravanKarachi on April, 21st , 2002 to reinforce the need and importance of programmes such as the Karavan Karachi Road Sense Programme. This event also provided the opportunity to not only involve the general public but also to place before the general public the enormous work done by school children under the KKPSO Road Sense Programme. The walk was conducted from Polo Ground (Dr. Ziauddin Ahmed Road), going past the Gymkhana Club, past Hotel Metropole and end at Fatima Jinnah Road (rear of Frere Hall) At Fatima Jinnah Road arrangements were made for theatre performances especially by Street Theatre Groups as well as schools. The whole route was gaily decorated with banners and buntings. The mounted police alongwith police bands and numerous school bands performed at the Road sense function and added a festive air to the whole event.

Good Citizenship Programme - Environmental Improvement

PSO-Karavan Mera Pakistan

The sad neglect of our heritage treasure and human resources is causing irreparable loss. Whether it is the renovation and care of our historic buildings to save our environment or the enforcement of road safety rules to inculcate road sense, we need to educate our future generations to make them aware of their social responsibilities, enabling them to grow up better citizens.

The Good Citizenship Programme was a collaborative effort of Karavan Karachi, Traffic Police and City Government Transport Department and Human Rights Education Programme and was sponsored by Pakistan State Oil Co. Ltd. (PSO). It was devised by experts in the field to achieve best results.

PSO-Karavan Environmental Improvement Program
Karavan Compact Partner School children to paint classroom on self-help basis
Rashid Minhas Educational Complex, Liaquatabad Town, 25 April, 2005

This event was a PSO-Karavan Environmental Improvement Program under the KaravanPakistan Compact. The objective of the activity was self-help by community involvement and empowerment initiatives. A total of 50 Rashid Minhas Shaheed schoolchildren who are part of the Karavan Online Classroom volunteered towards the effort, while 20 students of another Karavan Compact Partner school namely Woodland Secondary School joined hands with them to paint a classroom at Rashid Minhas Shaheed school.

Under this programme students of the government and private schools ? to paint the classrooms in Rashid Minhas School so that the children of the school would realize the importance of a clean environment and to feel proud about keeping your school clean.

After the successful launching and completion of the Karavan Online Classroom which included an English Language course followed by a computer course, KaravanPakistan has made another first by launching the Karavan Online Club at Rashid Minhas School which will provide the students with access to a vast body of knowledge and it is hoped orientate them towards research. The Karavan Online Club was made possible due to the keen interest of PSO personnel and computers donated by HUBCO.

By means of this and other programs that are in the offing, KaravanPakistan intends to open a window to the 21st century for these students and enable them to face and stand up to the challenges of the times. Simultaneously through the Environmental Improvement Programs we can demonstrate how a little effort by the community can go a long way in improving and changing the environment.

All those participating in this PSO-Karavan Environmental Improvement Program were awarded certificates in a special ceremony to be held at PSO House, Clifton Road on the 26th of April, 2005.

PSO-Karavan Environmental Improvement Program
Karavan Compact Partner School children to paint classroom on self-help basis at
KPT School, Keamari, 13 May, 2005

This event is a PSO-Karavan Environmental Improvement Program under the KaravanPakistan Compact. The objective of the activity is self-help by community involvement and empowerment initiatives. A total of 40 KPT school children who are part of the Karavan Online Classroom have volunteered towards the effort, while 40 students of two other Karavan Compact Partner schools namely Woodland Secondary School and Generation’s school have joined hands with them to paint a classroom at KPT school.

In this programme the students of all the schools took turns in painting the classrooms in the KPT school. This programme has as its objective self-help by community involvement and empowerment initiatives. The students of KPT not only participated in painting their classrooms but also talked animatedly with the guests.

The KPT school too is a beneficiary of the Karavan Online Classroom where students are given a month long English Language Course followed by a Computer Course.

By means of this and other programs that are in the offing, KaravanPakistan intends to open a window to the 21st century for these students and enable them to face and stand up to the challenges of the times. Simultaneously through the Environmental Improvement Programs we can demonstrate how a little effort by the community can go a long way in improving and changing the environment.

All those participating in this PSO-Karavan Environmental Improvement Program were awarded certificates.