Child Protection Services
Every child has the right to be
protected from exploitation
Every Street-connected child is protected from violence, exploitation, abuse, neglect, and harmful practices.
Challenges
In Pakistan, 38.4% of the total population lives in urban areas. Slums and shanty towns are growing due to an increase in urbanization and poverty. Sindh is the most urbanized province of Pakistan, with around 52% of the population residing in urban areas. Karachi and Hyderabad are key focus areas when it comes to unplanned urbanization and are home to around 1,300 slums. About 70% of these slums are situated in 18 towns of Karachi, whereas the remaining 25-30% of slums are located in four towns of Hyderabad. Karachi is also home to the largest slum in Asia, i.e., Orangi Town, with an estimated population of 2.4 million. In the year 2016, the UN ranked Karachi as the 12th top megacity by size in the world, a number which is expected to rise to 7th by 2030. These estimates overall suggested that approximately 96 million people live in Urban areas of Pakistan. Including 42 million children living in urban areas and around 10 million children living in informal settlements of these urban cities, they are deprived of their basic rights and without access to services like education, health care, sports, water, and sanitation, etc.
There are several push factors: violence (17.3%), family problems/negligence (12.7%), and poverty (26.4%). There are also several pull factors: peer pressure (19.7%) and addiction (9.7%), forcing children to live and work on the streets. The most common pull factor for this population is freedom, the power to make and take decisions. Azad Foundation estimates that there are approximately 1 million children in these marginalized communities who are at risk of living and/or working on the streets due to the high prevalence of aforementioned push and pull factors.
Child Protection Response
The Azad Foundation Pakistan has a dedicated Child Protection Services mechanism that ensures that every Street-connected child receives emergency response, information, medical, educational, and psychological support, learning, and reintegration services within Azad services coverage areas.
Azad’s Child Protection Service not only established standardized procedures and protocols and case management systems for street children but also built the capacity for NGOs and government organizations and others professionals and trainees to use these SOPs and case management systems to efficiently report for reintegration process.
Education
Education is a powerful tool for transformation. Our educational programs are thoughtfully designed around the unique needs, circumstances, and participation of street-connected children. In the early stages, children are introduced to non-formal learning through engaging activities that build foundational skills in mathematics, reading, writing, and life skills.
Our work extends beyond the streets into our Protection and Learning Centers, where children receive ongoing education based on a structured and inclusive curriculum. For those who show interest in continuing their studies, we facilitate access to formal schools, covering tuition fees, uniform and related expenses, ensuring that no child is held back due to financial or social barriers. With your support, we can continue to open doors to brighter futures through education.
Health and Medical Support
Access to healthcare is a basic right and a critical need for street-connected children. Azad Foundation delivers essential health and medical services through a two-tiered approach that meets children where they are. Our Mobile Medical Unit travels through urban areas, offering emergency medical care, basic first aid, and psychological support directly on the streets. Staffed by trained professionals, the unit plays a vital role in addressing immediate health concerns and building trust with children in crisis.
Within our Protection and Learning Centers, we provide more comprehensive care. A qualified medical doctor and dispenser are on hand to conduct regular checkups, treatments, and follow-up care. Mental health is a key focus, with dedicated psychological support staff offering counseling to help children and their families process trauma, build emotional resilience, and work toward long-term recovery. Your donation can help us expand these life-saving services and ensure that every child receives the care and dignity they deserve.
Meals and Nutritional supplements
No child can truly thrive or learn on an empty stomach. That’s why we provide daily meals and nutritional supplements to every registered child—both at our outreach points and within our protection and learning centers. These meals not only support recovery from malnutrition but also serve as a gesture of encouragement for children to participate in educational and developmental activities. Our Sport for Development program also requires specialized nutrition to meet the dietary needs of children actively engaged in physical training. We rely on the generous support of donors to sustain and expand this essential service. Your contribution can help ensure that every child we serve receives the nourishment they need to grow, learn, and build a healthier future.
Skill Training
At the Azad Foundation’s Information, Protection, and Learning Centers, we offer a nurturing and creative environment where street-connected children can build meaningful, life-changing skills. Our skill training services are thoughtfully designed to support both immediate personal development and long-term self-reliance. Children are introduced to a wide range of learning opportunities, including arts, crafts, digital arts, music, and performing arts, encouraging them to explore their creativity and express themselves freely. Alongside this, they receive essential life skills training, literacy support, and psychosocial counseling to help them navigate challenges, build confidence, and safeguard their well-being both during and beyond their time with us.
As children progress, they move into the second phase of our skills training program, where they engage in more focused and proficient learning tracks. This phase includes structured Life Skills Education using a tailored manual, specialized training in arts and crafts, digital arts, and practical vocational skills such as baking and stitching. To ensure holistic development and successful reintegration, we also provide referral services for children in need of drug rehabilitation, advanced vocational training, sports development, and formal education pathways.
With your support, we can continue to expand these services and offer every child a real chance at a brighter, self-sustained future. Join us in equipping them not just with skills but with hope.
Recreational & Sport
We believe that every child deserves the joy of play and the power of belonging. Through our sports and recreational services, we create safe and inclusive spaces across our centers, communities, and street outreach where children of all genders are valued, respected, and encouraged to express their unique identities and potential through movement and teamwork.
Our Sport for Development program offers street-connected children access to both indoor and outdoor games, with football at the heart of our impact. Through this program, hundreds of children have found purpose, discipline, and a renewed sense of hope. Beyond individual transformation, Azad Foundation has proudly influenced policy change through football diplomacy in Pakistan and contributed to the development of global guidelines on sport for social change.
Your support can help us reach more children, allowing them to dream big, play freely, and grow with confidence. Join us in unlocking their potential one game, one goal, and one child at a time.
Personal Hygiene Kits
For children living and working on the streets, basic hygiene is not just about cleanliness, it’s about dignity, safety, and health. We recognize that practicing healthy hygiene habits can dramatically improve a child’s physical well-being, self-esteem, and resilience against common illnesses and infections. That’s why we are appealing for your support to provide personal hygiene kits to every street-connected child we serve.
These hygiene kits contain essential items such as soap, shampoo, a toothbrush, toothpaste, hand sanitizer, sanitary items, and other necessities. More than just products, these kits empower children to care for their bodies, reduce their risk of disease, and build habits that promote long-term physical and mental health. Cleanliness also plays a crucial role in supporting children’s reintegration into education and training programs by boosting their confidence and sense of self-worth.
Your contribution can help restore a sense of normalcy and self-respect in a child’s life. With your support, we can ensure that every child we reach not only feels cared for but is equipped to care for themselves.