Status
ImplementationAid type
Project-type interventionsPakistan
Location
-
€ 1,234,202
Committed
Committed
€ 740,521
Used
Used
Description
With the specific objective of "Enhancing the socio-economic inclusion of Christian-majority communities in the Punjab Province in an environment conducive to interreligious dialogue," the project aims to address the main challenges faced by Christian communities in Pakistan: a) Lack of adequate education offering better job and social opportunities. b) Limited knowledge of their labor and social rights, coupled with acceptance of the stigma relegating them to marginalized positions. c) Experiencing violence and social and workplace discrimination. The action will focus on the educational sector to improve the quality and increase education opportunities, both in formal education and vocational training, for young individuals, predominantly but not exclusively of Christian faith, residing in some of the main Christian communities in Punjab - Lahore city, Faisalabad city, and Sargodha city. These regions have significant concentrations of Christians, and there are existing Catholic organizations supported by religious orders based in Italy. The project will involve conservation restoration, procurement of furniture, teaching materials, and equipment for 2 schools in Faisalabad (La Salle schools) and 1 school in Sargodha (Marist school). It will also support the provision of vocational training courses for young people at the Don Bosco Training Center in Lahore. Considering the communities where these schools are located, which are particularly impoverished and lacking essential services, the project will provide training and services to the targeted communities. The social marginalization and stigma imposed on Christians, who largely belong to the "untouchable" caste, relegate them to low-wage, unprotected jobs. The majority of Christian women are engaged in informal domestic work, while men work in sanitation services (waste collection, cleaning in companies and hospitals, maintenance of sewage channels). In addition to low wages that do not allow for a dignified life for themselves and their families, there is a lack of access to essential social services and basic necessities like clean drinking water. To address these issues, in collaboration with the Pakistan Workers Federation, a long-standing partner of Iscos, the project will organize training sessions for adults selected from the most vulnerable families. These training sessions will focus on fundamental labor rights, especially in the sectors where they are predominantly employed, social rights, and maternal and child health and hygiene, especially for women. Upon completion of the courses, hygiene kits will be distributed to families, and the community will benefit from the installation of systems for the supply, filtration, and distribution of clean drinking water. Additionally, alongside training on social rights, support will be provided to help individuals enroll in social security, enabling them to access healthcare and pension benefits. The project will combat discrimination and social violence through support for interreligious dialogue at the community, provincial (Punjab), and national levels. In collaboration with religious organizations already involved in other project actions and other organizations actively addressing these issues in the region (such as the Capuchin and Dominican friars) and in line with the Pakistani Ministry for Interfaith Harmony, educational activities will be conducted in schools, cultural events open to the communities, and a series of seminars where prominent representatives of other religions, political decision-makers, and experts will be invited.
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| Year | Committed | Used |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | € 1,234,202 | € 740,521 |
Agency
| Type | Name | Channel code |
|---|---|---|
| Government | AICS - Italian Agency for Cooperation and Development | 11000 |
Channel reported
| Type | Name | Channel code |
|---|---|---|
| National NGO | ISTITUTO SINDACALE PER LA COOPERAZIONE ALLO SVILUPPO ONG/ON | 22000 |
Project data
Sectors
Policy markers
SDGs
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