About us

Sudhaar was founded in 1994 in Lahore by a group of nine social and human rights activists, and registered in 1995 under the Societies Registration Act 1860. Sudhaar initially focused on child protection and the improvement of quality education in formal and non-formal sectors. It established non-formal education centers (NFE) followed by mainstreaming to formal schools. Sudhaar developed educational models that included working with the rural and urban schools in government and municipal sectors, private schools and non-formal education system. In its work with government and municipal schools, Sudhaar revived the School Councils and activated them to help prepare, implement and monitor School Development Plans. In 2002, Sudhaar provided technical support to the Kasur District Government in developing the Kasur District Education Plan, the first of its kind in Pakistan. Since then Sudhaar has developed 27 District Education Plans in Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

Sudhaar started its activities from Kasur working with child labor in leather tanneries, carpet weaving, power looms and street workers. By the year 2003, the work had been expanded to Sialkot, Gujranwala, Toba Tek Singh, Shaikhupura and Nankana Sahib. The new child labor sectors covered included surgical instruments, football stitching, and domestic and factory workers. Starting from NFE, mainstreaming, quality of education in formal schools, school councils activation, and education planning from school to markaz to district level; Sudhaar added literacy and linkages with vocational training in its scope of interventions. Sudhaar also worked briefly in the provision of health services, micro credit and a unique child-focused EMIS program.

From 2005 onwards, Sudhaar began to diversify its range of intervening sectors. The scope of work began to expand in sectors like labor, women and human rights; gender issues and later civic and civil rights of citizens. Sudhaar began to offer relief and post emergency relief support in various districts of Punjab. The organization undertook a unique 4-year program on providing primary education in madrassahs in Kasur. Currently, Sudhaar is working in six districts on Punjab. The interventions include child protection, education, post emergency rehabilitation, civil and voter rights, elections monitoring and bridging the gaps between legislators and their electorates for equitable social and economic development.

 Sudhaar has been implemented approximately 69 projects and programs in 22 districts of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Sudhaar key achievements include; development of the district education plans for 27 districts of Pakistan, educating 23800 working children via 780 non-formal schools, and improvement of education quality and enrollments in 2000 government schools which affected 320,000 children and enhanced performance of over 5000 teachers. Also, Sudhaar has produced a number of leaders in nonprofit sector of Pakistan who are our human capital. Sudhaar’s funding partners include; UN, British Council, Paul Hartmann Groups Germany, Adidas Group, Trust for Democratic and Democratic Education (TDEA), The Asia Foundation (TAF), Kick For Tolerance Germany, KICKFAIR Germany, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Save the Children, U.S. Department of Labor, World Vision. 

The main areas of Sudhaar’s work are: Formal and Non-formal Education, Education Planning, Child Protection (Child labor and health), Youth and Active Citizenship, Governance, Human Rights, and, Emergency Preparedness & Response. Cross cutting themes are peace and harmony, gender equity and environment. Sudhaar is committed to bring positive change in vulnerable communities. Sudhaar has worked in close collaboration with district Government key departments. In most of its work, Sudhaar has sought collaboration with Education, Community Development, Social Welfare, Emergency Response, Sports, Local Government, NADRA, ECP and Literacy Departments. The organization has also worked with provincial and federal Governments, but on a project or assignment basis rather than on-going basis as in the case of District Governments.