Disability Rights Afghanistan Project #16303

Education for Children with Disabilities in Kabul

by Action for Development (AfD)

Project Report | Feb 2, 2018
Giving hope to disabled children in Afghanistan

By Stephanie Schrempft | Public Health Specialist

More than one billion people have some form of disability, 80% of which live in low-middle income countries (World Health Organization and World Bank). This subpopulation remains substantially underserved, and experiences consistently high rates of poverty, mental distress, and social exclusion (World Health Organization and World Bank).

One of the most stigmatized groups are people disabled at birth or from an unknown cause. The burden of stigma limits access to healthcare, education, and limits opportunities to make friends and start a family.

Research indicates that educated people with disabilities are less at risk of social exclusion and mental distress. Education provides a sense of empowerment, which enables an individual to cope despite adversity caused by stigma.

AfD remains committed to providing an education for children with disabilities, and instilling a sense of value among our students. Our Rahyab School in Kabul is attended by 455 students - 40% of whom are girls. Since our last report, 397 students have progressed to the next grade, and all students in the final grade have graduated. The School Coordinator is now working on a national dictionary of sign language to be developed.

With more than 40% of the Afghan population being unemployed, finding paid work for the disabled students is a challenge. However, attempts are being made to employ some of the recent graduates as teachers in the school.

All members of the population should have the right to an education. Exclusion feeds hate, and prohibits the development of a country. With your support, we can continue to support disabled children in Afghanistan, and give them the opportunity to reach their potential.

Kind regards,

The team at AfD

Links:

http://www.action-for-development.org/index.php/en/school-for-children-with-disabilities/

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Sep 19, 2017
Disabled children in Kabul still need your support

By Stephanie Schrempft | Public Health Specialist

Dear friends and supporters,

Afghan children face hardship on many levels, but disabled children are confronted with additional barriers. Due to a widespread lack of awareness, having a disability, especially one which is congenital, is seen to be shameful. Consequently, many disabled children are ill-treated by others, even by their own family members, and marginalized from society. It is therefore not surprising that the majority of disabled children do not receive an education, with estimates ranging from 75-95%. With limited opportunities for employment, Afghan children face an undignified future. The Afghan government is yet to sign the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

It is within this context that Action for Development (AfD) recognizes the need to support the Rahyab School for disabled children in Kabul. The school is currently attended by 455 students - 40% of whom are girls. Every day, the deaf, mute, and/or blind children benefit from an education, meals, and professional training. Activities include Braille, computer education, music, embroidery, purse making, bicycle repairing, sewing, waiter training and various other crafts.

Provision of meals is a key part of the school program because most students come from very poor families, who struggle to feed their children. Thanks to the donations received via GlobalGiving and from private contributions, AfD has supplied food for the school lunches.

The school’s success is highlighted by the addition of a preschool for children aged 4 and 5 years, and the graduation of 35 students – 8 of whom have joined the school as teachers.

In the near future, AfD would like to add sporting activities to the school's curriculum. This will be an important addition since it will improve the children's well-being, mental development, physical fitness, and self-esteem.

We would like to thank you once again for your invaluable support for the disabled children of Afghanistan. Your support enables them to look forward to a brighter future.

Not only does the school help the children to reach their academic, employment, and personal potential, it helps others to recognize that the children are capable human beings, who should be valued and integrated in society. Education is necessary to ensure sustainable peace to the families of disabled children as well as to the entire country.

Best wishes,

The team at AfD

Links:

http://www.action-for-development.org/index.php/en/school-for-children-with-disabilities/

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Jun 19, 2017
Disabled children in Kabul need your help.

By Ryan Blyth | Education Officer

Children at the Rahyub School in Kabul

It is difficult to put a number on how many disabled children there are in Afghanistan or in Kabul, estimates suggest as many as 400,000, most of whom live in the main cities in Afghanistan such as Kabul. Disabled children in Afghanistan receive no social support from the government so many of these children are not able to attend school.

The Rahyub School in Kabul provides an education for 455 disabled children, providing the disabled children with an education and the skills to become productive members of Afghan society.

The school continues to expand, since this schooling year it begun offering preschool for children aged 4 and 5.

A sign of the success of the project and what a valuable contribution to improving the lives of disabled children in Kabul, in 2016, 35 students graduated from the school, and of those 8 have joined the school as teachers of preschool children and beginners. This is an incredible story, considering the dire economic situation in Afghanistan. Unfortunately, it is not possible to find employment for all graduates but as the school grows with your continued support, the children will be taught new skills which they might use to gain an income.

As of March 2016, the school now offers a new project for grades 9,10 and 11. Girls in this age group learn how to sew, and it is hoped that boys can be found opportunities in the fields of mechanical and IT courses that will help them to find employment in the future.

In 2017, your donations on top of our other funding as enabled the school to provide a warm meal every day during the first quarter of the school year up to the 21st June.

The school is looking for future donations, so they may continue providing this service to the underserved disabled children of Kabul. Any amount of money would be greatly appreciated by the school, $10 is enough to buy language books for students and $25 would make a day meal for 20 students, and for $300 a child’s education needs and basic expenses can be provided for an entire year.

As the media grows tired of reporting of problems being faced by the people in Afghanistan it is important to realise that the problems still persist and they need your support as much as any time before.

Thank you in advance for your kind support.

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