Evaluating Experiential Environmental Education for Underserved Youth in Lahore: A Field-Based Assessment

Abstract

This research report evaluates the effectiveness of a five-session environmental education workshop designed to enhance knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours toward sustainability among underserved youth in Lahore. Conducted at Alkhidmat Foundation’s Child Protection Centre and a local government school in Wahdat Colony, the program employed a quasi-experimental pre/post-test design informed by the Knowledge-Attitude-Behaviour (KAB) framework and the Theory of Planned behaviour (TPB). Findings revealed modest improvements in environmental knowledge and stable, positive attitudes throughout the program, alongside clear behavioural gains, with 100% of participants reporting adoption of at least one sustainable practice. Qualitative reflections indicated an emerging sense of personal responsibility and community engagement among students who initially viewed environmental protection as beyond their influence. Despite logistical and temporal limitations, the project demonstrates the potential of participatory, action-based learning to cultivate environmental agency in marginalized communities. It offers a replicable model for integrating environmental education within Pakistan’s broader educational framework.