In Sheihkupura, a district of the Pakistani province of Punjab, Label STEP finances the wages of teachers in 50 schools. These give numerous children of carpet weavers from the region the chance to go to school.

From 2004 to 2007 Label STEP took part in a school project of the organisation “Child Care Foundation” (CCF) in Sheihkupura. Together with the International Labour Organisation (ILO), CFF had already built 115 schools at the time and thus had created a place in a school for 3'500 children from carpet weaver families. When the ILO withdrew from the project after 3 years as planned, Label STEP accepted to finance the wages of teachers in 50 schools during three years. In the course of the project fertile contacts with the parents the pupils as well as with the whole village communities originated. This network and the trust of the population forms the basis of Label STEP's large-scale project “Participatory Monitoring and Verification”, an ambitious and innovative “help for self-help” initiative in the same region.

Strong involvement of the population

At the moment about 1'600 pupils from 7 to 14 years attend the CCF schools, 75% of them are children from weaver families. Because the schools lack financial means, Label STEP has decided to extend its project support and to take over the wages of the teaching staff up to spring 2009. In this time a plan which protects the lasting existence of 50 schools should be outlined. It is a big concern for Label STEP that the CCF schools continue to exist, also on account of the big involvement of the parents and children as well as the positive effects for the whole villages. This aim could be reached, while new sponsors were found for the project.