The children from carpet weaver families learn the traditional art craft at home from their parents. Together with the Human Development Center (HDC) Label STEP supports that school education is not missed out on.

Since 2004 Label STEP is active in Kamalia, a sub-district of Toba Tek Singh in the densely populated Pakistani province of Punjab, and supports the Khadi workers. The Khadi is a handmade loom on which carpets are manufactured since centuries. The daughters of the Khadi workers are introduced quite early to the demanding craft and help actively at home. So that they can also receive school education apart from this craft skill, Label STEP together with the project partner HDC has brought schools to life. Until 2007, 200 children have attended the lessons and many have subsequently transferred to state schools.

The lessons take place on six days per week for three hours in the afternoon. All eight teachers who work for the project have over time taken part several times in further training on child-oriented learning.

Health support and terms of employment also in the focus

The project which is closely related to the big “help for self-help” project “Participatory Monitoring and Verification” from Label STEP also takes care of the lack in health care in the region. Thus, four health care centres were installed at the schools during the first project phase. Nurses hand out medication and carry out smaller treatments. The health centres are also attended by a doctor on a regular basis. More than 17'000 people have already been treated.