The Frontrunner of Chaon: Improving the lives of children in cotton growing districts of Pakistan

Save the Children implemented a child rights program, titled as CHAON “Children’s Action against Oppression and Neglect” in 200 villages of Muzaffargarh (Punjab) and 150 villages of Sanghar (Sindh) from 2009 to 2014. This Program was implemented with the financial assistance of IKEA Foundation. The lives of 199,000 children were improved by implementing an integrated program on Child Protection, Health, Education and Economic Empowerment.

Keeping in view the success and the impact of phase one, a second phase (2014-2018) of the program has started in 200 villages of Lodhran (Punjab) and 150 villages of Shaheed Benazirabad (Sindh) targeting 153,000 children in 350 communities of both districts.

The programme’s goals are:

1. 153,000 girls and boys in 350 communities of two cotton-growing districts of Pakistan exercise their rights to survival, development, protection and participation.
2. To demonstrate a model of a holistic child protection system suitable to the rural context of Sindh and Punjab.

This publication presents statements and feedback from some of the beneficiaries and enactors of CHAON.