Disable Kid having fun at Marghzar Welfare Society for special Children

Battling POVERTY with STRENGTH !!

Everyone has to face hardships in life. Some are depressed, demotivated by it while other try to find a way to overcome the hardships. They use the hurdles in their life to climb the ladder of success. This 12 year old boy “ Saif Ali ”

belongs to a poor family. He’s passionate and keen to gain knowledge. He lives along with his parents in Bagrian, Lahore. He has been part of Marghzar Welfare Society since 2011, when the foundation of this campus was laid. Till now he has gain a great reputation in our organization.

Saif is now in 4^th standard. Can a child of 4^th standard actually earn a living? We have an on campus heroic example of this kid. Saif has been working as an electrician from 2011. He comes to school daily till 2’o clock, then leaves for his work. His master at the shop is also very kind person. He provides Saif with food, tuition and all other kind of facilities he can provide on his end. The master teaches him the skills required to survive in this competitive world.

His computer skills are excellent and he tries his level best to remain on the top list in his class. Though belonging to a poor family, he keeps on focusing on his study. Along with his studies he also likes to play cricket. Again a perfect player in that too. What a gifted boy he his. Never seen a bit of sorrow or pity on his face. Just the motivation, the passion, the will to reach his ambition.

Marghzar Welfare Society feels proud in having such kind of children at campus.

Cognitive Barrier: Wall to Push Through

Cognitive Barrier and Cognition

Cognition is referred; the use of senses to understand the situation. Persons with disabilities have to face Cognitive barriers throughout their life. The hurdles formulating the cognitive barriers are known as cognitive load. To understand what cognition and its barrier are, lets relate it with an example.

Relating Cognition with an Example

Suppose you have a basket on a specific height along with a ball. What you think you’re going to do. You know you have to throw a ball in the basket. What will be the first point to ponder about? One will think if the ball is present on the ground and a basket is lifted a bit high, has to throw the ball in the basket. It looks very much simple when thinking from ones eye but is a hard nut to crack for the disabled/ special one.

The  trouble really starts from the beginning when they see the ball and the basket. When at first they see the ball, the just try to pick it up. They don’t know why the basket is placed? What is the purpose of the basket and the ball? When anyone dictates them to throw the ball in basket, they get confused. Everything around them starts to mess up. How much power is needed to throw the ball in the basket, how much distance is from their position to the basket? They cannot understand what they are told to do, the Cognitive Barriers act as a wall in front of them. They cannot calculate their movement of hand in a specific direction, the force with which they have to throw the ball, the distance between the ball and the basket. What they do is throw the ball in any direction their hand forces them to.

Societies’ attitude

The societies attitude with PWD's is well known, that results in a big laughter from the normal people around them. This dwindles the confidence level in them. Cognitive barriers result in lowering of morale and confidence. The importance of confidence in Persons with disabilities can be known well by this saying;

“Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence” Helen Keller

This is the one kind of cognitive barrier which they have to undergo during their life. We have many options for one choice, but they have none. What can we do at our end? We can guide them for an act but what can we do as a society? We have to think a little. Rather than enjoying for a while, we have to think about them as a part of our society.

#Specialtheyare #Specialtheyshouldbe

Poverty Couldn’t Stop Her From Getting Ahead

Poverty is one of the biggest enemy of education. In Pakistan 50% of children lack education due to poverty, as a result they indulge in child labor. When Marghzar was established, the relevant team visited the Bagrian, Lahore area and found some heart breaking facts. People living in a very pathetic condition. Similar is the case with this girl. She belongs to a poor family, having two siblings. They live in a single room far away from the city Lahore in a swamp type area. Poverty is one of the biggest constraint in their life. When we first questioned them regarding the education of their child, rather than answering on education they started a talk on food and shelter, a never ending talk. During the talk we came across this beautiful girl. When we first called her, it trickled many questions in our mind. Scared from us, confused from the life. She was a hearing impaired child.

Smile after struggling of months

She was normal as every one of us but after her birth, a high temperature and typhoid ruined her life ahead. Poverty stopped her parents to diagnose her and medicate in time. Sound was silenced, laughter was dimmed and the pity on her face reflected the hardship in her life. Marghzar welcomed her in such circumstances. She was admitted in special class, where teachers provided her with love and care. Special attention was provided to her. Because she was normal by birth, her mind was as sharp as the normal children.  Time was required just to boost her morale and develop self confidence in her. The aura at Marghzar Welfare Society for Special Children took around 26 months to generate the charisma for education in her.

After struggling of months and support from some generous people, a hearing aid has been provided to her. She is now shifted to normal class and is enjoying the same pleasure of life as normal children do. Poverty and disability couldn't stop her from getting ahead. It’s just due support of people like you. Help us in thriving our vision worldwide, share our words. They may not matter to you but matter to those who are a neglected part of a society. Fight poverty and support our cause. 

#Specialtheyare #Specialtheyshouldbe

A Delighted Face with an Aching Past

Look at her childish innocent face. Her name is Aleeza, belonging to a poor family. She is a profound deaf. But was not always like this. 

When she was born, she was just like us, could hear the singing of birds, the laughter of her mother, scolding of her father, noise of her siblings but everything changed as the time passed. As she grew up, she got indulged in a bad habit of inserting sticks in her ear. That habit, once damaged her ear, but her family ignored her. As the time passed, the wound got even worse. When her family realized to medicate her, poverty stood in their way. They went to a normal doctor in their colony, but couldn’t cure the wound properly. A time came her ear became unresponsive.

Now she is just 7 years old. We have tested the level of hear by audiometer and tympanogram. She is categorized as a profound dumb, hearing at 90 dB+ at one ear and no response at the other one. At this stage of her life, she can be operated with cochlea treatment which will place her once again in a normal category. Marghzar wants to help such pity children, but cannot due to lack of much resources. Support us in this cause. Help them to be normal, help them to be a part of this society once again.

                                                        

#Specialtheyare #Specialtheyshouldbe

MARGHZAR WEFLARE SOCIETY FOR SPECIAL CHILDREN 

Marghzar Welfare Society for Special Children was established in 1995 with a mission to promote inclusive education and rehabilitation of PWD’s. From its establishment, Marghzar has gone through thick and thin to reach its milestones. Marghzar reached its 1^st milestone in 2005 by establishing a school for special children at Mughalpura, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. A backward area where people send their children for work rather than at school. So Marghzar initiated free inclusive education program to help the special children along with the poor needy children.

Marghzar reached its 2^nd milestone in 2011 and established a rehabilitation school in PCSIR Phase 3, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. Again the same kind of area with same kind of people living below the poverty line. The secondary mission of Marghzar is to decrease the child labor. The more the children go to school, the less the child labor. It is very heart breaking to see small beautiful children working under harsh environmental conditions.

Apart from inclusive education program, Marghzar also aims to provide rehabilitation to these children. To provide rehabilitation, a vocational center is to build in future comprising of knitting and sewing machines along with the skilled workers, to teach the relevant skill to special children so they can live their life on their own.

Special children are very different from the normal ones. Several types of special children are present at our campus, which include

1.    Hearing impaired(Mild and Profound)
2.     Slow learner
3.     Autistic
4.     Mentally retarded (Mild and Severe)
5.     Physically Disabled

All of these children are unique. Their interest specifies their mind set. Some of them like painting, computer operations, mathematics. While on other hand, some like to play outdoor games, indoor games, watch movies and see animals. They can be taught different skills by only providing them with the tools they like. No one can enforce them to study or acquire the skill set which lacks their interest. So to make them work, the first task is to keep them happy. Once they are set with the teacher, they are good to go.

Everyone thinks that special children have the same emotions as normal people, but the fact is that they have more feelings than normal ones. Once scolded by any teacher, they will not be coming to the school for the next week or even more. So at Marghzar, teachers keep this in mind and treat special children with love and care.  

Marghzar was nothing when it was started but now has around 300 children in which 100 are special; with two campuses and around 25 staff members. The inclusive education, boost their morale and make them realize that they are not much different from the normal ones. This all is due to efforts of people like you. Support our cause, promote inclusive education in your area and make the world realize, they are one of us.

#Specialtheyare #Specialtheyshouldbe

Inclusive Education Program: A Step Million Worth

As discussed earlier, how our society treats with PWD's ? We cannot change the society's perception as a whole but can make them strong enough to stand against the hardship. To some extent this can be done by Inclusive education; education in which special and normal children are taught together under one roof. Though it’s a tough job for the teacher but inclusive education really builds up confidence in special children and boost their morale. Mostly people prefer a separate school for special children, but when they step out in the real world. The scenario is entirely different. Communicating with a children with same sense is quite easy but when it comes to the difference in abilities, it is really a hard nut to crack.

When special children spend 7 hours a day with the ones with different abilities, different attitude and different thinking, it builds confidence in them. Not being normal, but thinking the same really fill them with happiness and joy. Promotion of inclusive education is a big leap towards rehabilitation of special children. Support this program and promote it worldwide so people could understand the importance of inclusive education. Share our words.

#Specialtheyare #Sepcialtheyshouldbe.