In Ramadan 2016, I appealed to all my brothers and sisters to raise funds to support Zobia School for children with special needs in Mirpur, Azad Kashmir. Alhumdulillah, we raised above and beyond the set target and the funds were sent to Zobia school to be used for the provision of education and care for the children at the school. However, there was still an increased demand for the services the school provides. Another school was needed and plans were initiated for a new school to be established.

Alhumdulillah, in January 2018, the new Zobia School for children with special needs was opened in New City, Islamghar. This school aims to continue the fantastic work of providing education, care, support and love to children with special needs. Alhumdulillah the school is now set up with specialised trained teachers and support staff and classrooms with specialised furniture and equipment. A new intake of students have started attending the school and the impact of receiving education and care is starting to become evident for these children. Alhumdulillah.

I am once again asking my brothers and sisters for your continued support. Education is such an important part of life. You can lose so much, but your education, can never be taken from you. We’re so grateful to live in a society where education is a norm for us, even the disabled have so equal opportunities when it comes to education. But in Kashmir, the healthy and abled struggle to get a “good” education. The disabled would be ignored. Parents struggle to care for their disabled children, with no respite or support available, so educating them isn’t even a thought which crosses their mind.

Since the opening of Zobia School in Mirpur, education is being provided to the disabled children, giving them an opportunity to learn, in a safe environment, with specialist trained teachers. We hope to continue this with Zobia School in New City Islamghar.