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Faridkot Area Program

Sponsor a child

Program Type

Community Development

Planned Life Cycle

2010 - 2025

Location

India

Areas of Focus

Education | Health

Program Timeline

Status: Active

Progress

4,124community members have access to formal or informal financial and business development services

Progress

3,439children and youth participated in groups and clubs, gathering with peers to develop new skills and positive values

Progress

2,113people had access to handwashing facilities at home or school

A white jeep driving through a muddy path, featuring a rainbow and trees in the background.

Program Details

Context

The Faridkot community is located in a dry area of the state of Punjab, in the northwest corner of India. The area is flat and there are no rivers or natural drains flowing through the district, although there is a network of canals. Less than 40% of people use piped drinking water, getting water from wells and canals instead. In addition, only 56% of families have access to a toilet.

The climate is extremely hot and dry in the summer, with temperatures exceeding 45℃ and frequent dust storms. Winter is very cold, with temperaturs sometimes falling to freezing. The monsoon season is very short, but the rains constitute about 80% of the annual rainfall. January is the coldest month when temperatures may fall to 0℃. Sometimes hailstorms may occur during February and March. Agriculture and general labour are the primary sources of income for residents of Faridkot. Major agricultural products are wheat, rice, sugarcane, and cotton. Livestock plays an important role in the area's economy as well. Both the milk-yielding Nili Ravi buffaloes and Sahiwal cows make their home in the area.

...
Challenges
Education
There is a primary school in every neighbourhood in Faridkot, but they do not offer a quality education. Students often drop out of school because they do not have a solid educational foundation and cannot pursue higher studies. Many children between the ages of eight and 11 have never even enrolled.

The education of women and girls is particularly poor. The literacy rate for some women is as low as 34%. Most girls between the ages of 11 and 14 do not continue their studies because of their low levels of literacy and because schools are located so far from home. Some girls also leave school to concentrate on household work.

Health Care
As health centres are located far away from the community, people often resort to local medical practitioners, some of whom are not recognized or registered. Many parents cannot afford to pay for health care for their children or themselves. In addition, most children in Faridkot are anemic due to poor diets. Cancer is also a major health issue due to the indiscriminate use of pesticides in agricultural fields.

Child Protection
The majority of women and girls in Farikot experience many challenges that put them at a disadvantage. People in the state of Punjab demand high dowries for girls when they get married and many families find this to be a major financial burden. This often leads to a high rate of female abortion.

When mothers give birth to a girl child, she grow up lacking the opportunities available to boys her age. Female residents of the community are not aware of their rights and privileges in society, have no voice within their families, and cannot make decisions independently.

Most people in Faridkot believe that girls have to marry and will leave their family home, so there is no need to pay special attention to their education and health. There are also high incidences of domestic violence.

Economic Development
The majority of people in Faridkot depend on agriculture to earn a living, and many do not have any other training or work skills. Farmers require new technology to sustain their production in the long run and improve their yields. They currently face a decrease in the selling price of produce, as well as rising costs of agricultural supplies such as seeds, diesel, and fertilizers.

The issue of storage is also problematic. There are only three cold storage units available in the community, and these only stores potatoes. Despite the fact that Punjab is an agro-based state, there are no agro-based industries to assist farmers or facilitate employment, especially for youth.

Other factors also contribute to the disadvantaged state of many families, including the illiteracy of most women, who were not allowed to attend school. There are also no self-help groups in Faridkot that could equip community members to start small businesses. ...
Plans
Education
To ensure children can access and benefit from quality education, World Vision will assist the community to:
  • Ensure children are able to attend and complete formal education, with a particular focus on girls.
  • Educate community members of all ages about the importance of education for girls, especially to continue their studies beyond primary school.

Health Care
With the partnership of Canadian sponsors and the community, World Vision will work to:
  • Improve the access of parents and children to essential health care services.
  • Providing counseling for maternal and child health, including promoting immunization, safe childbirth, and exclusive breastfeeding for babies under six months old.

Child Protection
To ensure children and youth enjoy a safe and protected environment, World Vision will work to:
  • Provide children, especially girls, with a loving, safe environment, at home and in the community at large.
  • Educate community members of all ages about violence against women and the issues associated with dowries.
  • Form and strengthen Child Protection Units to protect children and teach them about their rights.
  • Partner with the government and media to sensitize communities against female abortion, dowries, and child trafficking.
  • Establish women leadership, gender resource centres, and self-help groups to foster the development of decision-making skills and the implementation of solutions to issues affecting women.

Economic Development
To ensure parents in Faridkot can provide for their families, World Vision will partner with the community to:
  • Prepare youth with vocational and skills training to help them obtain employment.
  • Establish a resource centre to provide income-related services to the community.
  • Provide means to assess market dynamics, train parents and youth, facilitate job placement, and ensure labour protection.
...
An image of children sitting on the ground in a classroom, writing in workbooks.

Results

Unless otherwise stated, data presented on this page reflects the most up-to-date results of World Vision Canada programs reported between October 2022 and September 2023, and any previous fiscal years available. Previously reported data may not match the current presentation as we continuously receive and refine data from our programs. If you have any questions, kindly reach out to us.