- UK Registered Charity Number 1160070
- Child Protection and Rehabilitation Trust
- Child Protection and Rehabilitation Trust
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UK Charity Commission Registration Number: 1160070
In the heart of Peshawar, a city nestled in the northwest of Pakistan, the seeds of transformation were sown by Dr Altaf Qadir Khattak. Witnessing young children toiling in deplorable conditions on garbage dumps, he uncovered a distressing reality—children as young as 4 years old forced into abusive labour, compelled to abandon homes and schools due to severe poverty, greed, and ignorance.
Driven by a steadfast determination to restore the stolen innocence of these children, Dr Khattak launched a Child Protection Program, utilizing personal funds and leveraging personal connections. In 2012, the inaugural centre, the Child Protection Project (CPP), was established in Peshawar with the support of Al-Khidmat, a national non-government charity organization, and their KPK branch.
The overarching goal was to liberate these children from the shackles of their abusive environment and reintroduce them to the joys of childhood. The program’s meticulous approach involved identifying children, engaging with parents or guardians, elucidating program benefits, obtaining consent, and orchestrating activities designed not only for enjoyment but also for showcasing the transformative power of education. From museum visits to picnics in historic sites and even dining experiences in 5-star hotels, these activities incentivized children to abandon desolate dumps and embrace education.
The impact was resounding. Over the years, these children and their families underwent a profound transformation. Liberated from the clutches of garbage dumps, some pursued full-time education with clear career objectives, while others with entrepreneurial inclinations established their own businesses through micro-financing provided by the program, exhibiting early signs of success.
The success of the program, evident through progress report movies, prompted the realization that its reach needed to extend beyond Peshawar to other cities grappling with similar challenges across Pakistan. The pervasive issue of child abuse and criminality, fuelled by poverty, demanded intervention.
In collaboration with Dr Aftab Ahmad and a dedicated group of doctors collecting donations through direct debit for educational grants in Pakistan, the expansion of this noble cause took shape. The elements aligned seamlessly—funds were available, a proven program template existed, experienced organizations were already involved, and the Islamic Society of Statistical Sciences (ISOSS), a prominent organization, offered to contribute infrastructure without cost. ISOSS, comprised of educationists, scientists, and esteemed teachers with international reputations, was the perfect partner to inspire and guide these children.
As CPRT expands its reach, it has established 62 centres throughout Pakistan, spanning all four provinces. The collective impact of these centres encompasses a total of 2,812 children under the protective umbrella of CPRT. The support base burgeoned, with more than triple the initial supporters, inspiring colleagues to contemplate replicating the program in their own cities. The number of centres burgeoned, signalling a growing network. The journey is unwavering, and an invitation is extended to all who wish to join—inspire and be inspired. Support, whether through funds or encouragement, holds the power to make a difference. Together, let’s script stories of hope and resilience for these deserving children.
The journey started when my very dear friend Dr Altaf Khattak while visiting Peshawar, a beautiful city in the north west of Pakistan noticed young children running around and working on garbage dumps in a horrible state. He investigated this further and found, to his horror, that this was not an isolated incident and children as young as 4 years old were forced out of their homes and schools to work under such abusive and dangerous conditions by parents and relatives suffering from severe poverty but also driven by greed and sometimes ignorance. Altaf decided something had to be done to allow these children to have their childhood back and get a chance to be successful in life away from this life that in most cases would have led to crime and destruction. Using his personal funds, personal contacts he then started a child protection program.
A Child Protection Project (CPP) centre was opened in Peshawar in 2012, supported by a national non-government charity organisation called Al-khidmat (http://www.alkhidmatpunjab.org/) and their KPK branch. The aim was to get these children exposed to fun and games and enjoy their childhood just like any other child away from the abusive environment that they were growing in. The program workers went through a structured process of identifying these children, finding their parent or guardian’s, explaining to them the program and its advantages, getting the consent of the children and their families to join this program and then setting up activities that will not only allow them to enjoy but to see what can be achieved by educating themselves. Trips to museums, picnics in historic sites and even dining in 5 star hotels were just a few ways to incentivise these children to leave the garbage dumps and educate themselves to enjoy this life style.
It worked! Over the years these children have been transformed. They and their families have removed them from the garbage dumps and some of them are studying full time with clear career objectives while others with more entrepreneur minds have started their own business using micro-financing also provided by this program and have already shown signs of success.
When I watched a progress report movie made by the program co-ordinators and saw these children transform, I was moved. I knew then, this program has to be taken to other cities as the same story is being reported everywhere in Pakistan. Child abuse and criminality is exploited and encouraged due to poverty among people. This has to be stopped.
A group of doctors had been collecting donations through direct debit for years while planning educational grants for the poor in Pakistan but never found the right cause. Here it was, right in front of me. As they say, rest is history. We had the funds, a template of successful program, clear objectives, experienced organisations already working on this project and an added advantage of having another big organisation Islamic Society of Statistical Sciences (ISOSS) http://www.isoss.net/ ready to work with us and provide the infrastructure free of cost. ISOSS are educationists, scientists and teachers with international reputations and who better to be around these children and to inspire them.
In short, we discussed, we agreed, we planned and we started the program as Child Protection and Rehabilitation Trust (CPRT) in Lahore, another major city in Pakistan. CPP and CPRT are essentially the same programs with CPP based in Pakistan and CPRT are the UK based charity. Within the first week 30 children were identified and following the same meticulous model that has been successful in Peshawar, these children and their families agreed to use these facilities. The photographs tell you the story. They are enjoying being kids again. They have fun, they play, more importantly they are clean and realise the importance of personal and societal hygiene now and they have started to enjoy a bit of studying and asking for more.
Our supporters have more than trebled now and we have other colleagues inspired and planning to take the program to their own cities. The number of centres has been increasing. We are on a journey and we hope you will join us to inspire us and to be inspired.
Please contact us and support us with funds or just encouragement will do.