Agency, aspirations and citizenship: Non-formal education from the perspective of children in street situations in Pakistan

Abstract

This paper explores an NGO-based non-formal education (NFE) intervention in Pakistan from the perspective of its recipients, children in street situations. Recognizing children as agential beings, we draw on participant observation and in-depth semi-structured interviews with 20 children, aged 10–19 years. Young people discussed the impact of the intervention on their self-worth and future aspirations. They also reflected on their growing awareness of civic issues and citizenship rights. The study emphasizes the importance of NFE in providing opportunities to the most marginalized and those without adequate documentation, particularly in a context when state support can be lacking.