HOPE Students explore Space Science on a visit to PIA Planetarium

It is mandated in the Constitution of Pakistan (Article 25-A) to provide free and compulsory education to all children between the ages of 5-16 years and enhance adult literacy. The country, however, finds itself in a very unfortunate state of affairs as more than 24 million boys and girls stay deprived of any formal or informal educational opportunities.

HOPE - an educational NGO in Pakistan diligently tries to provide education to all, especially the unprivileged masses. Hence most of its activities are focused primarily on the rural and urban slums of Pakistan. HOPE, under the guidance of President and Chairperson Dr. Mubina Agboatwalla - Child Specialist in Karachi, uses a community- based approach to implement interventions to help mold out a better society.

HOPE has set up semi formal schools in the areas of Sachal Goth and Bhittaiabad where 200 children are being educated, free of cost. The children of these areas belong to poor families that cannot afford education. HOPE provides these children opportunities they can avail to elevate their living standards.

On 10th November 2016, 60 students from the semi formal schools were taken to visit the PIA Planetarium, Karachi as part of an activity by TARGET. The students were accompanied by four teachers along with two representatives. The aim of the visit was to spark an interest for space sciences in the students.

The students began their tour by watching a presentation inside the large airplane model stationed in the open space. The visual presentation explained to the students the solar system,the planets orbiting it and the various elements that encompass the cosmos. This was followed by moving to the Sky Dome, where TARGET representatives addressed the growing curiosity of the students with visual and audio explanations about constellations and stars. The tour culminated with lunch provided by the TARGET team to the students.

The students greatly enjoyed the session and found it extremely informative and exciting. They expressed greater curiosity towards learning more about the cosmos, planets and extraterrestrial life. Many students even expressed an ardent desire to work in the domain of Space Sciences when they grow up. HOPE - an NGO in Pakistan gets further drive and inspiration from such students in continuing its work towards improving the educational situation of Pakistan.