Early Learning Centers and Sensory Gardens
Informed by the groundbreaking 2015 study “Babies Behind Bars”, conducted by the Committee for the Welfare of Prisoners (CWP), the pressing challenges faced by children incarcerated with their mothers were brought to light. The research highlighted the emotional, psychological, and developmental risks faced by these children—growing up in confinement and exposed to the criminal justice environment. In line with Article 25-A of the Constitution of Pakistan, which guarantees free and compulsory education for all children up to the age of 16, CWP took the lead in addressing this neglected area.
To provide a safe, stimulating, and nurturing environment, Early Learning Centers (ELCs) were established in the Women’s Prison Karachi (2015) and Women’s Prison Hyderabad (2017). These centers aim to neutralize the prison environment and offer education, play-based learning, and socialization opportunities for children between 2 and 9 years of age. By recreating elements of a normal childhood, ELCs help prepare these children for successful reintegration into society after release.
Up to June 2022, a total of 176 children have benefitted from the ELCs in Karachi and Hyderabad, gaining access to early education tailored to the prison context.
Building upon this initiative, CWP, in collaboration with AMI School, launched Sensory Gardens to complement the ELCs. The first Sensory Garden was inaugurated at the Women’s Prison Karachi on 11th November 2021 by the Advisor to the Chief Minister of Sindh on Law and the Inspector General of Prisons. The garden features a play area, music wall, treehouse, sandpit, bird cage, and pond—all designed to simulate life outside prison and foster holistic development in a child-friendly setting.
Following its success, a second Sensory Garden was inaugurated at the Women’s Prison in Hyderabad on 22nd November 2022, expanding this transformative initiative to benefit more children.
Together, the Early Learning Centers and Sensory Gardens embody CWP’s commitment to ensuring that every child, regardless of circumstance, has the right to learn, play, and grow with dignity and hope.
Babies Behind Bars
