SUKKUR: School children, their parents, teachers and community members from Sukkur, Khairpur, and Jacobabad gathered at a School in Sukkur for a day packed with fun-filled activities as part of a community funfair hosted by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
According to a press release, the daylong fair was aimed at promoting education and the role of women in society’s well-being, while also highlighting the United States’ (US) assistance to the people of Sindh. USAID has helped improve access to education through the Sind Basic Education Programme (SBEP) which is constructing up to 106 schools across Northern Sindh, a number of which are already operational.
Meanwhile, USAID’s Municipal Services Programme is helping improve clean water supply and waste management systems besides promoting awareness on sanitation and hygiene for improved health. Additionally, the Maternal and Child Health programme has trained a number of healthcare workers.
The chief guest, Mr Ali Raza Ansari who is Sukkur Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) said that: “We are extremely thankful to the people of the US for supporting the Sindhi’s, especially through education and women’s health, that will ultimately benefit our society as a whole. The Sindh Government is proud to partner with USAID in all these activities.”
“I had a lot of fun today with my family and made new friends,” said Fatima, an 8-year-old student from Khairpur. Gulnaz Baloch, a mother of three children from Jacobabad, said: “People in our community are highly grateful to the US government for its support on education, health and clean water.”
The funfair was part of a series of similar events hosted by USAID across the country. It featured various activities like tableaus, stand-up comedy, cultural performances, and puppet shows with a focus on children’s education, all of which were thoroughly enjoyed by the community.
Children were particularly excited to participate in competitions including singing, drawing and poetry, which aimed to serve as a confidence-building exercise.
