LSBE Convocation - Quetta July 2007

World Population Foundation – Pakistan (WPF) celebrated a fruitful decade (1997-2007) of safeguarding the sexual and reproductive health and rights of youth and women in Pakistan and 20 years of dedicated service internationally. The event was also an acknowledgement to all the students, schools and teachers who made the Life Skills Based Education Program successful. The first Provincial LSBE Convocation was held in Quetta Officer Mess on 4th July 2007. In this event more than 300 people from different walks of life – parliamentarians, government officials, media personnel, principals, teachers and students participated.

Mr. Babar Khan Shah Director PIDS – implementing partner of WPF in Quetta welcomed all the participants. He stressed that distribution of certificates is not the end of the LSBE Programme rather it is the beginning of the advocacy phase where we all, as an organization need the support of all schools, teachers and students. He thanked PIDS and WPF staff for supporting them to make the LSBE Programme successful.

After the welcome address Country Representative of World Population Foundation Mr. Qadeer Baig briefed the participants about WPF and its Focus of Work. He described the purpose of celebrating the event. Also mentioned celebrating the 20th anniversary of WPF – Head office and 10th Anniversary of WPF-P along with that ceremony. He also shared LSBE advocacy campaign in which WPF needs all stakeholders’ continuous support and also up scaling strategies in future.

Later few selective students, teachers and principals also shared their experiences after implementing LSBE Programme in their schools. The principals shared the positive changes they observed in terms of confidence level, adopting positive health seeking behavior etc in teachers and students after implementation of LSBE Programme. Students also shared their personal experiences and learning specially with reference to the activities in the LSBE Curriculum “Saying no to drugs”, “resisting peer pressure”, “critical thinking”, “decision making” and “anger management”.

Certificates of participation in the WPF’s Life Skills Based Education Program were awarded by the Chief Guest, Mr. Munir Badeni, Secretary of Education, Balochistan and Qadeer Baig, Country Representative, World Population Foundation. a show reel depicting the various scenarios of father and children relationship, the evening concluded with Dinner and Musical evening.