Family Educational Services Foundation

Family Educational Services Foundation

Founded	1984
Type	Non-profit educational foundation
Focus	Educational development, Deaf education, Training programs, Volunteer empowerment
Location	Karachi, Pakistan
Area served	Pakistan
Slogan	Connecting... Investing... Empowering...
Website	fesf.org.pk

Family Educational Services Foundation (FESF) is a non-profit, educational organization based Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. It is working in Pakistan since 1984, committed to enhancing the quality of life and education of those who are disadvantaged. FESF provides educational services to some of the most neglected sectors of Pakistan’s society, with particular focus on Deaf children and youth. FESF is registered as a non-profit organization with the SECP and is tax exempt.

The organization’s main projects are:

• Deaf Reach Program
• Move Program
• Eduserve Training Program
• Community Services Program

Projects

Deaf Reach Program

Upwards of nine million people in Pakistan (5% of pop.) have some form of hearing loss. Of this group, there are approximately 1.5 million profoundly deaf children of school age – the majority of whom suffer from no educational opportunities. The Deaf Reach Program was established in Pakistan in 1998, initially working informally with deaf youth and young adults. The first Deaf Reach School was established by FESF in Karachi in 2005, and the program has grown rapidly to where there are now seven Deaf Reach Schools and Training Centers located in Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Nawabshah, and Lahore, with a new large campus in Rashidabad, Tando Allahyar.^[1]

These schools are providing free education and training to over 1,200 deaf children and young adults from low-income families in both urban and rural areas. There is an important focus on girls attending school, with a female enrollment of 48%.

Deaf Reach is the only school for the Deaf in Pakistan that has a branch network, providing educational opportunities in rural areas. Training is also provided for all parents and families in learning how to communicate and care for their children. There is also an active Financial Inclusion program for deaf young adults with training in marketable skills leading to employment and financial independence.^[2]

In 2014, FESF launched a Pakistan Sign Language (PSL)^[3] lexicon referencing 5,000 words. The PSL Lexicon received the 2014 P@SHA Award in e-Inclusion & e-Community category.^[4]

Motivated Volunteer Empowerment Program

The Motivated Volunteer Empowerment (MOVE) Program is aimed at high school and university students but is also effective as a training program. The training courses are organized and implemented by Family Educational Services Foundation (FESF). The international trainers from FESF have many years of experience in the field of volunteerism, educational development and humanitarian projects, thus lending a high degree of professionalism and skill to the comprehensive training program, which usually includes indoor training courses of 30 hours and are accompanied by outdoor field work by the trainees.^[5] The MOVE program is an educational development resource, which focuses on leadership, soft skills and volunteerism. The program meets the need for developing committed volunteers and engaging youth voice in solving social problems.

The Motivated Volunteer Empowerment Program (MOVE) develops committed volunteers and engages youth voice in solving social problems. It is designed to instill in the participants a sense of social responsibility and provides the requisite knowledge and leadership skills for the attendees to become actively involved in community work. With 65% of Pakistan's population below the age of 25,^[6] there is great potential to make a long-lasting impact in the social development sector. Young people can and want to make a difference in society through their involvement in community projects. FESF has been working with Pakistani youth for over 12 years^[2] and has built a strong network of capable and motivated young volunteers. Several years ago it became evident that training was needed to empower the participants to make a greater impact. Thus the MOVE program was created as an educational development course, focusing on soft skill training, leadership and volunteerism. Using creative media presentations, discussion forums, and interactive activities, the program seeks to instill in young people a sense of civic responsibility and concern for those who are less privileged. The course provides them with the requisite knowledge and skills to become actively involved in community work, covering such topics as: how to make a difference; team building, communication and interpersonal skills, working with children, understanding people with disabilities, how to establish and achieve goals, planning a community project, overcoming obstacles, leadership skills, etc. – and culminates with the hands-on experience of planning and carrying out a project. MOVE is a six-session structured program, covering a wide variety of relevant topics. Workshop topics include:^[5]

1. Realizing the benefits and obstacles of service and volunteering.
2. Selecting and implementing a community project.
3. Working with children with special needs, troubled youth, and the physically and mentally challenged.
4. Developing communication skills to enhance effectiveness with co-workers and the community.
5. Planning and achieving goals.
6. Cultivating leadership abilities.
7. Fundraising activities.

The six training sessions are followed by two project planning workshops. At least one community development project is carried out by participants from each MOVE program. Theoretical training along with practical experience is a vital ingredient of MOVE. To this effect, FESF coordinates field implementation projects for the students in partnership with local institutions around the country. Many of the MOVE graduates have gone on to be actively involved in their community with some initiating and sustaining highly effective volunteer projects on a regular basis.^[5]

Community Services

FESF provides social uplift and assistance to improve the quality of life for those less fortunate due to disability or other personal hardship. A few programs that are regularly organized are:

1. A yearly Summer Camp for deaf and orphan children
2. An annual Children's Benefit Concert for approx. 5,000 handicapped and underprivileged children.
3. Uplift programs in hospitals
4. Extra-curricular classes and events for less privileged children
5. Regular book drives and creation of libraries in needy schools and institutes

All of these programs are achieved with the help of a dedicated team of volunteers, which is open for participation by interested persons.

Eduserve Training Program

The Eduserve Training Program offers a wide range of training courses and seminars in the field of education and child development, focusing on the needs of teachers and parents of both mainstream and special needs children. These training courses outline innovative teaching techniques, as well as help to improve teaching methodology. Participants learn leadership and interpersonal skills, as well as classroom management- all of which will greatly benefit the students in their care.

Master Trainer Program

FESF, in collaboration with NOWPDP^[7] launched a master trainer program in Jan. 2010, "Instructing and Guiding Children with Special Education Needs." The program objective is capacity building for teachers who impart special education in government and private schools countrywide. 10 master trainers were developed who went on to conduct courses for 226 teachers from 25 different institutes in Karachi and Islamabad.

Funding and support

Family Educational Services Foundation is exempt from taxation under the Pakistan law. FESF receives the majority of its funding via donations and sponsorship from individuals, businessmen, corporate sponsorship and foundations.

References