Education for Children with Disabilities in Kabul

Education is a constitutional right in Afghanistan. But more than 40% of children (3.7 million) do not go to school; 60% of whom are girls. The security situation is dire, poverty is extreme, and discrimination is deeply entrenched. All these factors make it incredibly difficult for children to receive the education they deserve. When children do not attend school, they are at increased risk of being abused, exploited, and recruited into militant groups.

For children living with disabilities, receiving an education is almost unheard of. Services to support disabled people in Afghanistan are extremely limited, and the social stigma of having a disability is severe. If Afghanistan is to progress, in terms of economy and society, education needs to be accessible to all. Our Rahyab School for Disabled Children hopes to make a difference by providing a safe space where children with disabilities can learn, and eventually reach their potential.

The school was established in 2003 by Parween Azimi, who also founded the Afghan National Association of the Deaf to fight for the rights of deaf people. Today, there are almost 600 disabled students receiving an education at the school. The children are taught sign language, and they engage in various activities to encourage their development, including drama and crafts. They also receive a daily meal. There are 60 staff, some of whom were previously educated at the same school.

Referring to how the children feel about attending the school, Parween says ‘they are so happy because there are other children, all of them they know sign language. At home and in the community, people around them they don’t know their language.’

After graduating last year, some students went on to university, some got a job inside the school, and others started work for their family’s business. However, the current situation in Afghanistan makes it very difficult for people with disabilities to find work, and sadly most students who have graduated do not get a job, despite their capabilities. To address this, we plan to provide our students with some vocational training following graduation, such as carpentry and mechanics, so that they can support themselves in the future.

Please continue to help us in our mission to provide an education for all. Your donations will enable these children to live the fulfilling life that they deserve to live. No child deserves to live a life where they are stigmatised and isolated from others.

Warm wishes,

The team at AfD

Links:

• http://www.actfordev.org/rahyab-school-for-disabled-children/