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ise (Rural initiatives in Sustainability and Empowerment) is a multi-spectral NGO, working for “Child Rights” in district. Swabi. RISE, in collaboration with Rada Barnen, Save the Children, started a project on the “Integration of Disabled Children” in 1997. The project duration was initially one year but looking at the importance of the project and its achievements, the project was extended for another term of one year.
While working with the project, the local community and CBOs extended their whole-hearted cooperation. A training workshop on “Convention on the Rights of Child” (CRC) and “Integration of Disabled Children” was organized, which was participated by two members from each CBO. At present about 200 cases of the disabled children are underway. We are presenting only two case studies out of the several cases that reported extra ordinary success.
This is the story of a girl child named “Buzargai”. She is fourteen years old. She carries the disability of a redundant growth (height) and is mentally retarded. This case was reported by the local CBO, Gar Rural Organization for Welfare (GROW), of village “GAR MINARA”, District Swabi.
Four workers of this CBO participated in the above-mentioned training workshop that was organized and facilitated mutually by “Rada Barnen” and RISE. After their orientation. They shared the theme of the workshop with their colleagues and finally they agreed and decided to place “Integration of disabled children” on the agenda of the organization. Out of the several cases of the disabled children, the case of Buzargai taken up on priority bases.
The disability of Buzargai was accepted by the family as her fate and was paid no attention. She would always lie by the drains and garbage dumps. She used to wear cloths occasionally. Her parents and other family members never bothered to care for her food or providing her with medical treatment.
A delegation comprising the CBO members, elders of the village and an elderly doctor, M. Rahim Ghauri held a detailed meeting with the parents and other family members of Buzargai to collect detailed history of the child’s disability. They were warned of the highly negative impacts, if their behavior of the carelessness and negligence towards their child continued. These meetings continued on regular bases till a visible change was noticed in the behavior of the child’s family.
During the meetings, the family members were asked to provide Buzargai with all possible and available facilities because she needed and deserved special attention and extra care as compared to other children. The parents of Buzargai, after realizing the importance of this fact, cooperated completely with the team members. They started providing their daughter with good food and clothes and medicine. They used to teach the child, basic life skills like how to walk, drink, eat and speak. In this learning and training process, even children played a productive an effective role.
Through conscious efforts and a continues struggle of few months, a visible change was noticed in Buzargai’s life. Now she can change her clothes with out any body’s help, can walk and speaks and behaves more like normal children. She has recovered a lot and improving by the day with an unbelievable speed.
Riaz Gul is 13 years. He lives in village Shah Mansoor of District Swabi. He is in class 7th. On a hot day of 13th August 1998, he went to nearby fields. On his way back he started swimming in the river. At the very moment both his legs got paralyzed. He could not move his legs and lost his ability to walk He had to discontinue schooling and used to stay at home.
When members of the local CBO “Baidar Zalmay, Shah Mansoor” of the same village came to know of the incident they went to meet Riaz’s father, Mr. Inzar Gul. Members of the CBO provided him basic necessary information regarding his child’s treatment and the early recovery of his disability. On the advice of the organization, Inzar Gul arranged crutches for Riaz taught him how to use them.
Mr. Zar Muhammad, a teacher by profession is the member of the CBO. He himself took care of Riaz and after some time he succeeded in making Riaz rejoin the school and continue with his studies. The child was advised to use special boots and woolen socks. The parents were advised to message their child’s limbs with olive oil. He was provided front seat in the class and rest of his schoolmate were advised to help him on his way to school or whenever he needed any help.
After a special care of four to five months the child recovered unbelievably. He has been noticed walking even without crutches. He takes active part in all the activities and games arranged at school and can perform all his tasks with out any body’s help.
Due to proper and timely interventions, special care and joint efforts of the parents and the CBO, not only was the child’s disabilities overcome, but his confidence restored.