Mississauga—One year after the earthquake that devastated northern Pakistan, 140 teenage quake survivors are returning to school after World Vision helped prevent them from being permanently expelled from the education system.

The children were to be expelled because they displayed aggressive behaviour and performed poorly in class- often typical behaviour of children who have suffered trauma.

"Many of these young people participated in the initial rescue operations. They helped dig out dead relatives, neighbours and classmates, and they cleared the rubble of what had been their homes and schools. Their bad behaviour was a direct result of what they suffered after the quake," said Richard Mukhwana, a World Vision project manager in Mansehra, Pakistan. The October 8, 2005 earthquake killed 73,000 people, including 19,000 children.

World Vision staff members in Pakistan became aware of the intended expulsions last June. They arranged with school officials to offer special classes to bring the students up to academic standards and work with them on their disruptive behaviour.

The students studied two hours a day and participated in group recreational activities designed to promote psychosocial recovery, as well as individual sessions with trained World Vision staff members.

Sixty girls and 80 boys attended the classes. "The most remarkable changes in behaviour were evident in the team work among the boys and an opening up among the girls in which they felt freedom to express themselves," said Mukhwana.

"Our generation is not hopeless," said 16-year-old Amina, quoting the Pakistani poet, Allama Iqbal, to express her enthusiasm about returning to school. She said she wants to become a pilot. "We can do as much as boys, or even more."

Fellow student Sumera, 17, said she wants to become a doctor. She said her village is poor and has no medical care.

"All I want to be is a good human being," added Nazima, 15, "and if this is all that comes out of these classes, that is fine by me."

Education is critical to children's post-disaster recovery, says John Schenk, a Canadian photojournalist with World Vision. He covered the earthquake last year and has returned this month to report on World Vision's continued rehabilitation work.

"Children here have come a long way since the earthquake," says Schenk. "Last year, I remember meeting a 5-year-old girl who told me she liked living in a refugee camp because, 'Tents don't fall down and kill people.'"

Schenk says, "It is encouraging now to see children beginning to recover from the terrible things they witnessed and to get on with their education."

School support is just one of many successful projects that World Vision has launched with local community members and the Pakistani government this year. Programs funded by World Vision include:

Emergency Assistance

• Distribution of tents, quilts, tarps, cooking sets, blankets, stoves, hygiene and medical kits, shelter materials, clothes, and water containers

Child Protection/Education

• Seventeen child-friendly spaces provide places where 2,700 children each week can play in a safe, protected environment
• Training children, communities, government officials, and the army on child rights and protection
• Awareness raising with families on importance of psychosocial support following trauma
• Monitoring and reporting incidents of violence and abuse of vulnerable children
• Educational activities/mainstreaming children into schools

Livelihood

• Rebuilding infrastructure including irrigation channels, water and sanitation, access roads, land terracing and barn reconstruction
• Distribution of seeds and tools
• Livestock replenishment, veterinary assistance and animal husbandry training
• Income-generating activities

Thanks to the generosity of the Canadian public, World Vision Canada committed more than $6.5 million in privately raised funds to the Pakistan earthquake recovery, along with $2.8 million in grants from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). An additional $2 million CIDA grant was approved today and will support the sustainable return of displaced people, resettlement and recovery of livelihoods.

World Vision is a Christian relief, development, and advocacy organization whose purpose is to create lasting change in the lives of children, families, and communities by overcoming poverty and injustice. World Vision serves all people regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or gender.