PESHAWAR, May 30: A non-governmental organisation has started sports-based education for the children of internally displaced persons at Jalozai camp to bring a positive change in their behaviour.  

Briefing journalists at Jalozai on Wednesday, Mansoor Alam, the project coordinator of Right To Play (RTP), said that his organisation was a partner of International Rescue Committee (IRC) that established 18 schools, both for boy and girls, in the camp where children from Khyber, Bajaur and Mohmand agencies were being educated.

He said that RTP was working with volunteers to use sports for child development in the areas of inconvenience. “We impart soft skills to the traumatised children of the militancy-hit areas and prefer to bring behavioural changes among them,” he added.

Mr Alam said that they engaged children in social activities through different kinds of sports during their stay in the camp. He said that RTP had already imparted sufficient training to 20 teachers of the camp and they were working on daily basis in their respective schools.

He said that RTP had planned to hold sport tournaments in the camp to provide the children and community with a positive activity.

He said that RTP would sign a memorandum of understanding with Fata authorities to start activities in different agencies.

Mr Alam said that RTP was also working on the same project in 46 schools while keeping close liaison with the directorate of education and Afghan Consulate.

“We are focusing on more than 25,000 beneficiaries in district Peshawar including students of 23 Afghan schools and as many state-run educational institutions. Along with this, provision of sports equipment and repairing of classrooms are parts of the project,” he said.

Mr Alam said that RTP was providing sports equipment to community sports leagues and also organising different tournaments, focusing on the development aspect.