Earth Day Celebrated at SOS Children’s Village Through “Naya Safar: A Journey of Hope, Growth and Resilience”

In celebration of “Earth Day”, Shehersaaz organized a vibrant and meaningful event at SOS Children’s Home as part of “Naya Safar: A Journey of Hope, Growth and Resilience”—a year-long program designed for children and caregivers that focuses on emotional development, creative healing arts, green skills, safety, climate adaptation, resilience, inclusivity, and future readiness.



The event brought together over 40 children, SOS staff members, and volunteers from S&P Global, whose active participation and support helped ensure the smooth execution of a joyful and engaging day for everyone involved.

 



The “Earth Day” celebration was carefully designed to nurture environmental awareness while encouraging creativity and connection with nature. Children enthusiastically participated in clay pot painting followed by planting activities, where they decorated pots and planted greenery as a symbol of growth and responsibility toward the planet. Another engaging activity included recycled cloth bag leaf printing, allowing children to creatively repurpose materials while learning the importance of sustainable practices.

One of the most exciting highlights of the day was a new collaborative initiative with SANDLE-Earth, where children learned to create eco-friendly sand candles using soy and beeswax. Crafted directly in sand molds, the activity offered an innovative, zero-waste, sustainable, and child-friendly introduction to conscious making.



The celebration also included environmental awareness and nature appreciation sessions, helping children understand the importance of caring for the planet and adopting environmentally responsible habits in their daily lives.

 

A powerful pledge activity followed, where all children collectively promised to protect Planet Earth and use its natural resources responsibly. This commitment was further reflected in one of the day’s most touching activities: children writing heartfelt love notes to Mother Earth. These notes, filled with promises, gratitude, and affection for nature, were lovingly hung on the trees — transforming the surroundings into a living expression of hope and care for the environment.

The event concluded with healthy beverages and nutritious snacks, allowing children, staff, and volunteers to come together and celebrate a day filled with learning, creativity, and community spirit.



Shehersaaz extends its sincere appreciation to S&P Global for their continued support and for providing the opportunity to implement impactful interventions at SOS Children’s Home through Naya Safar: A Journey of Hope, Growth and Resilience.

At Shehersaaz, we believe meaningful change begins with care, connection, and collective responsibility. Through programs like Naya Safar, we are not just building individuals we are nurturing ecosystems of care, resilience, and sustainability for generations to come.

 

On Sunday, 8 March 2026, Shehersaaz hosted a heartfelt Iftar gathering at SOS Children’s Home, an integral part of SOS Children’s Villages, formally inaugurating the year-long project “Naya Safar: A Journey of Hope, Growth and Resilience.” The event brought together 45 children residing at the SOS Children’s Home along with their five foster mothers, creating an evening defined by warmth, compassion, and collective hope.

Held in the spirit of Ramadan, the gathering served both as a moment of community connection and as an introduction to the vision and objectives of the initiative. Children, foster mothers, staff, partners and members of the Shehersaaz team shared Iftar together, fostering a deeply meaningful and uplifting atmosphere that reflected a shared commitment to the well-being and holistic development of the children.

The event was graced by the presence of Ms. Almas Shakoor, Executive Director of Shehersaaz, and Mr. Abdul Shakoor, Chairperson of Shehersaaz, alongside key team members and partners. Their presence underscored the organization’s strong dedication to ensuring the success of the initiative.

The gathering was also attended by valued partners and supporters from Sunbeams, Adventurers, and S&P Global, the project’s principal sponsor. The Project Director from SOS Children’s Home also participated in the collective meeting held alongside the event.

During the meeting, members of the management and project partners engaged in constructive dialogue regarding the challenges faced by the children and their caregivers while outlining the strategic direction and next steps for the project’s implementation. Ms. Anahita Sajjad, Manager Communications & Networking at Shehersaaz and Project Lead for Naya Safar, presented the vision of the initiative, emphasizing the importance of creating safe, nurturing, and empowering environments where children can grow, heal, and thrive.
 

 
The initiative is closely aligned with PROGRESSIVE, Shehersaaz’s program dedicated to creating safe, resilient, inclusive, and sustainable education places for all. Through this alignment, Naya Safar aims to strengthen both the emotional well-being and the physical learning environments of children. The project will support foster mothers, build resilience among children, and promote greener and safer living and learning spaces within the SOS community.

Beginning in March 2026, Shehersaaz will actively initiate program activities as part of this year-long effort. Implemented in collaboration with partners, the project will focus on resilience building, emotional well-being, and strengthening caregiving environments. It will also contribute to transforming children’s homes into greener, more sustainable, and climate-resilient spaces.

The evening concluded with gratitude and optimism. Shehersaaz extends sincere thanks to all partners, guests, and team members who joined the inaugural gathering and contributed to making the event memorable. With the generous support of S&P Global and the continued commitment of all partners involved, Naya Safar promises to bring strength, resilience, and opportunity into the lives of the children and their foster mothers—paving the way for a brighter and more hopeful future.