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
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