From Struggles to Strength

Across Pakistan, millions of children are at risk of poor growth and delayed development because of poverty, malnutrition, and lack of support services during their early years. To change this, UNICEF-with support from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has set up and supported six Early Childhood Development (ECD) Centres in Punjab and Sindh. These centres give young children the care they need through health, nutrition, protection, and early learning services. Parents are also part of the journey: nearly 18,000 mothers and fathers have joined parenting sessions that help them better support their children at home. At the same time, more than 500 service providers have been trained in Punjab and Sindh to spot developmental risks early

and guide families with care. Thanks to these combined efforts, children like Moosa are getting the nurturing start they deserve- so they can grow, learn, and thrive.

When Anam’s first son, Moosa was born, she imagined the joy of watching him grow, play and speak his first words. Instead, she soon found herself overwhelmed. A working mother, Anam soon had two more children to care for – Moosa's younger sister Sara now two years old and his little baby brother Riyan just six months old. Her husband’s job in Islamabad meant that the daily responsibility of bringing up her children, the home and in-laws fell on her shoulders.

Over time, Anam started noticing that Moosa was not speaking and developing at a normal pace. Patterns in his behaviour also started showing and repeating themselves, she became increasingly worried. He became aggressive, often banging his head against different things, and his speech was not developing.

Moosa’s behavior worried her deeply. Like many parents juggling multiple responsibilities, Anam also frequently gave Moosa a mobile phone to keep him engaged while she cared for her younger children and other responsibilities. At first, it seemed like an easy solution, but it became apparent that excessive use of screen was further worsening his behaviour and hindering his development and speech. That is when she decided to look for help.

“I noticed my child’s slow development and consulted a doctor.” Anam recalls. The pediatrician diagnosed Moosa with delayed speech and behavioural issues. He referred the family to the Centre of Excellence for Early Childhood Development in Faisalabad. For Anam, this Centre became a turning point.

“The ECD room is colorful, child friendly and welcoming.”, she says. “Moosa started receiving appropriate care and support from the trained caregivers and clinical psychologists. Slowly, I saw him improve. He became calmer, more engaged, and his speech began to develop.”

Anam shared her reflections: “The first two years in a child’s life are very important. Children need love, care and attention from family-especially their parents. Parents should also keep mobiles away from young children.”

The staff at ECD center is trained by UNICEF and provide caregivers with the tools and support they need to help children not only survive but flourish as well.

Thanks to the support received at ECD Centre, Moosa’s future is brighter today. He now communicates, plays with friends, and speaks with joy and confidence. His progress gives hope to other parents who face similar challenges.

Anam’s shares her heartfelt message: “Because of this ECD Centre my son has the chance to socially interact, grow and thrive. I am grateful and I hope many more children can receive the same care.”

With generous funding from the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, UNICEF’s integrated Early Childhood Development programme is transforming individual lives and building stronger families and communities by giving children the foundations they need for a brighter future. Yet, many more children in Punjab and across Pakistan still lack access to such opportunities. With continued support, these services can reach the most vulnerable, ensuring no children are left behind in their earliest and most critical years of life for a brighter future.