After completing three years of undertaking training programs, the Training unit of SPARC lays claim to significant achievements in building the capacities of stake holders, government and non government institutions, community members, civil society organizations, law enforcement agencies and academic institutions through research, training and advocacy.

Performance Output, 2011 and 2012

Trainings Offered

• More than 2000 community members/ child rights activists in 40 districts were trained on child rights and child protection under the Civil Society Strengthening (CSS) program of SPARC.
• More than 1000 police personnel in Punjab, Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were trained on JJSO.
• 5000 police officials in Islamabad were trained on human and child rights.
• More than 1500 teachers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab were trained on alternatives to corporal punishment.
• 200 teachers were trained on creating child friendly classrooms.
• 300 PTC members were provided training on ‘Participatory approach to school governance through school management committees’. 
• 500 university students were trained on child rights and child protection.
• 200 social workers were trained on dealing with children’s groups and child participations.
• 70 community members were trained on developing child friendly spaces in emergencies.
• 200 child rights activists were trained on dealing with disaster situations through emergency preparedness guidelines.
• 65 members of Coalition Against Child Labor (CACL) were trained on child labor and its related laws.
• 60 Children Parliament members were trained on child rights related issues.
• Ongoing assistance activities through a coaching and mentoring scheme for trained CRC members and teachers to address gaps and challenges that come up with the use of learnt techniques were adopted and implemented.

 
Materials Developed

• Teacher Training Module on Alternatives to Corporal Punishment (Urdu and English version)
• Training Module on Social Mobilization and Advocacy
• Training Module on Creating Child Friendly Spaces in Emergencies.
• Training Module for Education Practitioners on Child Centered Teaching Learning Techniques.
• Police Training Module on Juvenile Justice System.
• Guidelines on Emergency Preparedness.
• Training Module on Team Building and Leadership Skills.
• Training Module on Managing Organizational Change.
• Training Manual for Trainers on Empowering Child Rights Committees to Perform their Role Effectively.
• Training Module on Child Rights and Child Protection.
• Training Module for Police Trainers on Democracy and Human Rights.
• Primary School Teacher Core Competency Framework.
• Training Manual for Strengthening the Competencies of Parent Teachers Committees (PTC).
• Trainers Manual for Training Child Rights Clubs Members.
• Training Kit for Police Master Trainers on Human and Child Rights.
• Working with Street Children Effectively, A training manual for Practitioners.

Apart from holding various training activities for the running programs and projects of SPARC, the Training Unit also manages and supervises complete training projects, following the Quality Training Indicator of SPARC

SOME PROJECTS RUN BY THE TRAINING UNIT

POLICE TRAINING AND CAPACITY BUILDING FOR DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS

The three year project funded by European Union, implemented in collaboration with Plan International, Pakistan intends to build the capacities of 5000 police officials of Islamabad through continuous trainings, coaching, materials development and awareness raising. Training team developed capacities of 100 master trainers, trained and sensitized 500 peer educators and more than 5000 police officials of various ranks on human and child rights. A comprehensive Training Needs Assessment (TNA) was done and an impact evaluation was conducted to gauge the results of the project.

STRENGTHENING THE CAPACITIES OF CHILD RIGHTS COMMITTEES TO PERFORM EFFECTIVELY

It is a continuous professional development training program for the child rights committees working voluntarily for the promotion and protection of child rights in more than 40 districts of Pakistan. The program is funded by the Royal Norwegian Embassy (RNE). The main objective of this program is to build the capacities of community members, lawyers, teachers, and other volunteer members to understand the roles and responsibilities of establishing an effective CRC in district; to improve their skills of social mobilization and advocacy and to enhance their knowledge of legal and non legal aspects of child rights and related issues.

SCHOOL EMPOWERMENT THROUGH CONTINUOUS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR TEACHERS, HEAD TEACHERS, EDUCATION OFFICIALS AND PARENT TEACHER COMMITTEES/SMCs/SCs

Training team build the capacities of teachers, head teachers and education officials in creating a child friendly environment in schools. The objective is to promote positive discipline techniques so that school dropout rates can be decreased. Training plan includes formal training needs assessments, baseline surveys, training of teachers, cascading, monitoring and evaluation and technical assistance in schools. Training team runs this program in coordination with the Violence against Children Program of SPARC and the Project on Improving School Enrolment and Retention Rate in Flood Affected Areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK). Financial support is provided by Kindernothilfe (KNH), BMZ and Royal Norwegian Embassy (RNE).

CAPACITATING POLICE OFFICIALS/JUDICIARY AND PROBATION DEPARTMENT TO ENSURE PROTECTION OF CHILDREN IN CONFLICT WITH THE LAW

Police officials and the judiciary are provided with training on ensuring the protection of children in conflict with the law.
Training team conducted three trainings in collaboration with police training schools, colleges, probation departments and the judicial academies of Pakistan. Trained officials then imparted the learned skills to the other colleagues. Training team provides assistance in the incorporation of child rights related content to the police training syllabus.

EMPOWERING CHILD RIGHTS CLUBS THROUGH CONTINUOUS TRAINING

A series of advocacy training sessions are designed with the objective of apprising children of their rights and developing their skills to raise their voice against the violation of these rights. The main objectives are to:

• Develop children’s understanding of Leadership and Communication  principles and practices
• Acquire/increase familiarity with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and its pillars: Child Survival; Child Development; Child Protection; and Child Participation
• Promote the children’s awareness of how to mobilize available resources for better community participation to support Child Rights Clubs’ activities
• Build team spirit, mutual understanding and support among Child Rights Clubs Members (young volunteers) and their friends.
• Improve the capabilities of Child Rights Clubs Members to lead and participate in planning, implementing, and evaluating school activities/projects having to do with good citizenship practice

WORKING WITH STREET CHILDREN EFFECTIVELY

Training program covers training of all staff members of SPARC’s drop in centers generally and provides assistance to the persons dealing with children’s development and protection specifically by continuous guidance and technical assistance in developing and designing various activities. Keeping in view the roles and responsibilities of DIC staff members, SPARC’s training unit with the help of program staff designed a comprehensive training module. It addresses the roles and responsibilities of DIC staff and deals with the various aspects of street children’s life.

Training covers various topics such as; general orientation, profile of street children, drop in centers, roles and responsibilities of DIC staff members, teaching street children and community mobilization along with child rights and child protection.

In consideration of the positive results of training programs, the team feels motivated to do more and conceptualized a broader approach in dealing with the challenges in the apromotion and implementation of child rights. The plan is to enhance the scope of SPARC Training Unit’s reach by designing and developing a center encompassing all facets of child rights.

The center will then have the following components divided into three broad categories:

• Research - Conducting research/TNA/Situation Analysis and developing a monitoring and evaluation mechanism covering process evaluation and outcome evaluation
• Development of a Trainers Competency Framework
• Development of Competency Assessment Inventory
• Development of Quality Training Indicators
• Organizing training activities that will ensure the requirements of child rights and UNCRC.
• Development of training manuals, modules, toolkits, advocacy and communication materials, e.g. posters/brochures/leaflets, annual reports, training support materials, videos, etc
• Establishment of a trainers network to strengthen their links with one another and other partners in child rights
• Organizing annual conferences, exhibits and fairs, visits and demonstration training sessions.

Mission:

The vision will be achieved by continuously designing and providing training to child rights activists, law enforcing agents, educationalists, children, parents, community members, government and non government officials and stake holders; particularly those who are directly in touch with children. The effort will make them effective promoters and protectors of child rights in Pakistan; devoted to, and proud of being advocates for child protection. We are also committed to creating, and developing training materials, guidelines, and other operating procedures that will inspire and empower them to become better activists.

Team Values:

• The team functions in accordance with the highest standards of professionalism when dealing with partners.
• The team fosters a climate which encourages innovation, creativity, leadership and diligence amongst team members and rewards accordingly.
• The team is deeply committed towards creating grassroots awareness about the issues faced by children.
• The team follows quality training indicators in designing and implementing training programs.