Standard Chartered Bank announced Tuesday the launch of its Goal Programme in Islamabad in collaboration with a non-profit business partner, Right To Play. Together, both the entities will implement sports and life skills training to empower and equip young girls with the confidence, knowledge and skills they need to be integral economic leaders in their families, communities and societies.
Goal was launched in Karachi in 2016 and since its launch the Bank has impacted more than 11,000 adolescent girls' lives in Pakistan. Goal is Standard Chartered Bank's leading education programme that provides financial literacy, life skills and employability training to young girls across its footprints.
Several studies have shown that investment in girls positively affects GDP growth rate. A World Bank study in 1999 demonstrates that increasing the secondary education of girls by one percent results in an annual income increase of 0.3 percent per capita.
Educating girls and giving them the tools to shape their own future have an incredible multiplier effects on economic growth. It leads to increased prosperity not just for individuals but for their communities and their societies. It provides returns for decades.
Commenting on the launch, CEO of Standard Chartered Bank Pakistan Shazad Dada said, "I am proud to announce the expansion of Goal to another city in Pakistan. There is a massive hidden potential waiting to be unlocked for girls across the country. By expanding the reach of our Goal programme to Islamabad, we will be able to cater to even more girls and young women. We hope to provide them with the right tools and knowledge to make informed choices as they move into adulthood, and to empower them to be more active economic participants in their communities."
What makes Goal unique is its play rather than classroom-based methodology to get the curriculum messages across. It is also leveraging sports as a dynamic and healthy platform. The physical activities generate fun and help girls remember what they have learnt while giving them a break from the stresses of home life.
"Play is an essential part of learning and should be a regular part of our schools. It keeps the children connected with the school in a positive way and sports and play have the ability to teach essential life skills such as team work, confidence, critical thinking and decision-making, which are critical for children's holistic development. Goal gives us this incredible platform to take our play based methodology to schools and educate and empower so many adolescent girls," shared Iqbal Jatoi, the Country Director of Right To Play.
Goal's training curriculum is based on five modules including 'Be Money Savvy' focuses on financial education (how to save, invest and open a bank account); 'Be Yourself' imparts effective communication skills; 'Be Healthy' builds knowledge on health and hygiene; 'Be Empowered' teaches girls how to be confident, authentic and stand up for their rights; and 'Be Independent' focuses on providing vocational training to girls to enable them to be financially empowered.
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