Islamabad – NGO Shehersaaz, in collaboration with UN-Habitat and the Adaptation Fund, launched the PROGRESSIVE initiative (Program for Safe, Resilient, Inclusive and Sustainable Education Places for All) at a ceremony held at a local hotel on Tuesday.
The programme seeks to transform schools, colleges, and universities into safe, green, and inclusive spaces of learning, with interventions in safety, sanitation, renewable energy, urban farming, and disaster preparedness.
Executive Director of Shehersaaz, Ms. Almas Shakoor, highlighted the need for educational institutions to evolve into centres of resilience and innovation. Mr. Jawed Ali Khan, Country Programme Manager UN-Habitat, stressed the role of resilient education systems in addressing climate challenges.
Representatives from UNESCO, JICA, the Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Allama Iqbal Open University, and the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training participated in a panel discussion, underscoring the importance of mental well-being, disaster preparedness, and policy implementation.
The event also featured a student-led first aid demonstration in collaboration with Rescue 1122, while engineers, community champions and vendors received certificates for their contributions to safer learning spaces. A water conservation mascot, “Droppy,” was also introduced to engage children in sustainability practices.
Shehersaaz aims for the initiative to help build a generation that is socially responsible, psychologically strong, and environmentally conscious.
