SPIRE-CHILD
Abstract
SPIRE-CHILD is an independent initiative under the social work umbrella of NEAD Foundation. The need for community based, social initiatives to support our children cannot be overemphasized. Child servant Rizwana Abuse case is the main fulcrum that shifted the weight of our project towards urgency, rather, emergency planning and organization.
Pakistan is a country with one of the highest fertility and population growth rates. Unfortunately, Pakistan is also among the list of countries with poorest indicators for infant and child mortality, child labor, child physical and sexual abuse and human smuggling. Facts and figures are easily available on Google. There is no need for further elaboration on the deplorable and pitiful situation of our children beyond the fact that Pakistan has failed to achieve any of the Millenium Development Goals for maternal and child health that were set more than twenty years ago, and continues to fail, till date.
Several offices and organizations in public as well as private and non-profit sectors are working and providing significant services for women and children of Pakistan. In July 2023, the earliest reports of Rizwana Abuse case came out. SPIRE-CHILD collaborated with Pakistan Pediatric Association, PPA, Senate of Pakistan, Bar Association of Pakistan, National Commission for Rights of Children, NCRC and Association of Pakistani Physicians of North America, APPNA.
The details of Rizwana Abuse case shook every thinking individual with an intact conscience to their very core. To witness such brutally senseless and painful abuse of a minor child in our midst led many of us to ask, what are the available resources for prevention and proper handling of child abuse and exploitation in Pakistan? The Child Protection Bill, laws dictating the minimum age of laborers as 15-16 years, (only in Punjab) and a few more acts and documents are all that can be quoted in lieu of what is available in our legal system for children. That an FIR can be launched under 324 for child abuse came to light after Rizwana Abuse case; a case that merits 301, (attempted murder).
Careful contemplation over the stark reality of our failure to protect our most precious asset, our children, and the need for extensive research, networking and advocacy led to a rather hurried meeting and organization of pioneer members of SPIRE-CHILD initiative. We are a group of psychologists, social workers, doctors, legal specialists, teachers, nutritionists and political workers; but above all, we are all concerned individuals, who are fully cognizant of the value of our children in the future of humanity. Most of us belong to Pakistan but we have an international member base.
Today, August 7th 2023 marks the date of a legal precedent that is going to be a landmark in history of the Judicial system, child legislation and the power of well meaning individuals when they are committed to a cause. That the wife of a serving judge is arrested, imprisoned and remanded under 324, Child Abuse & Cruelty is some solace for all of us at SPIRE-CHILD.
We aim to work on-ground with mothers, children, families, and institutions in need. We hope to show results that will provide future directions towards progressive innovation and growth to raise a self-reliant and self-sustaining youth, capable of leading their generation.
Vision Of SPIRE-CHILD
Each child is aware of his/her self-worth as a perfect creation of the Divine Creator. He/she is confident of the abilities and capacities gifted to them by their Divine Creator. He/she can develop and use their divine gifts for doing good and relying on themselves under all conditions thus leading a self-sustaining life that is beneficial and fulfilling, individually as well as collectively.
Aim
Raise a generation of self-confident individuals who are aware of their worth and able to play their part as self-reliant leaders in a self-sustaining existence.
Objectives
| Phase of Project | WORTH | CONFIDENCE | RELIANCE | SUSTAINIBILITY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
First Year:
The 1000 Children Drive
6-8 years age |
Identifies self as a responsible Global citizen. |
Describes the basic tenets of self, family, community and nation. |
Navigates and orients visitors with local community center. |
Teaches juniors about mental and physical cleanliness on weekly basis. |
|
Second Year:
The 1000 Children Drive
8-10 years age |
Values self as a role model for his younger peers. |
Leads in selected academic and social activities for juniors. |
Organizes the weekly “Flea Market” in own residence area. |
Participates in the weekly cleanliness and maintenance drive in own residence area. |
|
Third Year
The 1000 Children Drive
10-14 years age |
Fulfils own role in working groups and teams. |
Organizes selected academic and social activities for junior peers. |
Designs the local “Community Model project” for own residence area with junior peers. |
Leads the local “Clean Energy Drive” in own residence area with junior peers. |
|
Fourth Year:
The 1000 Children Drive
14-18 years age |
Develops own “Vision for Life” and shares it with peers. |
Mentors junior peers on one to one basis and shares findings |
Runs the local “Community Reading Room” and Library for residents. |
Supervises the local “Waste Management Drive” with junior peers. |
Resource Utilization & Methods
SPIRE-CHILD plans to use the following broad-based approaches:
- Formulation of “Community Task Force” through involvement of community elders, teachers, medical practitioners, and civil servants. This task force will serve as the executive body responsible for decision making and overseeing the planned activities.
- Social Media presence through What’s App, Facebook, X or Twitter, YouTube and Zoom sessions.
- Close collaboration with noted national and international activists for human and child rights for advice, guidance, and support in day to day working as well as individual cases according to the hierarchal diagram shared below:
| Tiers of Workflow | Social Action | Progressive Innovation | Research | Education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
SPIRE-CHILD Team |
Identifies action points in areas of concern about children. |
Devises multipronged approaches and implements action protocols. |
Publishes authentic data regularly in national and international literature. |
Active involvement in and advocacy of initiatives based on the vision of SPIRE-CHILD. |
|
Community Resources
Educational and Health institutions |
Invited institutions participate in awareness and action campaigns by SPIRE-CHILD |
Meet with SPIRE-CHILD teams to discuss and implement initiatives. |
Provide authentic data for regular publication/s in national and international literature. |
Actively implement educational initiatives of SPIRE-CHILD and promote vision. |
|
Social Resources
Media sources |
All output from SPIRE teams to go out to official media outlets with monitoring and follow up by SPIRE media team. |
Developing healthy and active social media presence aimed at younger generations with focus on linguistics and current affairs. |
Carrying out and publishing Social Sciences research among women and children with focus on social uplift and sustainability. |
Develop educational platforms for at-home and small group learning for women and children aimed at intellectual and professional grooming. |
|
Local Bodies
EDO, DHO, DPO, DC, AC, Police |
Involving willing and active government representatives with educational and advocacy activities. |
Confidence Building Measures on SPIRE-CHILD platform between communities and selected government representatives. |
Involve the local bodies in seeking approval and permission for reporting data to national and international sources. |
Establish a strong presence for local government representatives in educational institutions without protocol based on action points and vision of SPIRE-CHILD. |
|
Provincial Authorities
Health & Education departments |
Accept and support awareness among local communities regarding their social issues through campaigns and communication with responsible officials in health and education sector through news and through litigation, if needed. |
Approve and permit collection and reviewing of annual reports of health and education departments in local communities and share with willing community leaders as well as media sources, aimed at developing FAST goals for progress beyond bare minimum. |
Review published data and allow publications in relevant outlets reporting current situation and results of initiatives by SPIRE-CHILD aimed at raising awareness among the higher academics and intellectuals. |
Support educational initiatives of SPIRE-CHILD to benefit children and needy population factions. Officials will be made aware through advocacy about their roles and responsibilities and the needs of their communities through media and litigation, if needed. |
|
Provincial Assembly, MPAs |
Support initiatives and action plans by SPIRE-CHILD team members that are shared with selected political leaders. |
Receive and implement selected protocols and strategic agendas by SPIRE-CHILD team for progressive improvement in local indices. |
Support and approve permissions to SPIRE-CHILD team for data collection and data sharing in social media and academic outlets aimed at advocacy and awareness. |
Involvement in SPIRE-CHILD activities based on vision of SPIRE-CHILD. The political representative may use this platform for self-projection but only after performing required tasks. |
|
Federal Authorities
Health & Education ministries, boards and commissions |
Approve and support awareness among public regarding their social issues through campaigns and communication with responsible officials, through news and through litigation, if needed. |
Permit collection and reviewing of annual reports of health and education departments and sharing of such facts and figures with willing community leaders as well as media sources. |
Review published data and allow publications in relevant outlets reporting current situation and results of initiatives by SPIRE-CHILD aimed at raising awareness among the higher academics and intellectuals. |
Support educational initiatives of SPIRE-CHILD to benefit children and needy population factions. Officials will be made aware through advocacy about their roles and responsibilities and the needs of their communities through media and litigation, if needed. |
|
National Assembly, MNAs |
Approve and support awareness among public regarding their social issues through campaigns and communication with responsible officials, through news and through litigation, if needed. |
Permit collection and reviewing of annual reports of health and education departments and sharing of such facts and figures with willing community leaders as well as media sources. |
Review published data and allow publications in relevant outlets reporting current situation and results of initiatives by SPIRE-CHILD aimed at raising awareness among the higher academics and intellectuals. |
Support educational initiatives of SPIRE-CHILD to benefit children and needy population factions. Officials will be made aware through advocacy about their roles and responsibilities and the needs of their communities through media and litigation, if needed. |
|
Senate, Senators |
Selected Senators with impeccable work ethic and clean records will be involved in advocacy campaigns aimed at issues requiring legislation and constitutional support. |
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International Experts |
Selected individuals who are respected as experts in their fields may be invited and involved in issues requiring specialized opinions and advocacy. |
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International Authorities |
International Human Rights Commissions, UN offices and projects, International Court of Law at Hague and similar offices of international repute and influence may be invited and involved in issues requiring their presence and/or facing failure and collapse from local authorities. |
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