Rarely does it occur in a person’s life that they are presented with an opportunity to come to the rescue of a large population in need. Never would I have guessed that upon my arrival in Karachi, a movement would be set in motion soon thereafter to help improve (and in some cases save) the lives of hundreds of children with walking disabilities through the wheelchairs scheme for disabled children.
This was stated by Abu Qatada, General Secretary of the Nustrat Trust for Special Children, Pakistan, during the wheelchairs distribution on Sunday.
He said, “I’m grateful to all those who have partnered with us for years to help bring adjustable paediatric wheelchairs to a country for those families who had no access to them. I’m grateful to those who created and manufactured the paediatric wheelchairs, to those who donated and sponsored them, to those who brought them to Karachi, and to those who are working hard with us to organise and carry forward our missions so that children in many parts of Karachi could receive them.
Abu Qatada said that children with special needs were the most vulnerable segment of our society in need of help.
Later on, 80 wheelchairs were distributed among the physically disabled children from various parts of Karachi. Beside this, under the Food Help Scheme, families of the 80 poor children were also handed over one-thousand rupees.
Chief guest Abdul Razzaq Sagle, former senior vice-president all Pakistan Memon Federation, said that children with disabilities grew up watching brothers, sisters and friends learn how to ride bicycles, all the while they’ve watched despondently, grounded because of their disabilities. It’s like they’ve been left out as they’ve been condemned to a cruel fate alone, simply because their legs won’t work. They don’t get to participate in normal childhood activities; typically they’re ostracised in peer groups by default due to their disabilities.
He said as sad as their situation appears, I often see faces of children glow as they enter the wheelchair distribution area and see their first set of wheels waiting for them.
One boy told this correspondent as he sat in his wheelchair for the first time that it was his first bicycle. He was smiling from ear to ear - there was no way I could take away his joy at that moment. He may never ride a bike with two wheels, but a “bike” with four wheels is good enough for him!
This was stated by Abu Qatada, General Secretary of the Nustrat Trust for Special Children, Pakistan, during the wheelchairs distribution on Sunday.
He said, “I’m grateful to all those who have partnered with us for years to help bring adjustable paediatric wheelchairs to a country for those families who had no access to them. I’m grateful to those who created and manufactured the paediatric wheelchairs, to those who donated and sponsored them, to those who brought them to Karachi, and to those who are working hard with us to organise and carry forward our missions so that children in many parts of Karachi could receive them.
Abu Qatada said that children with special needs were the most vulnerable segment of our society in need of help.
Later on, 80 wheelchairs were distributed among the physically disabled children from various parts of Karachi. Beside this, under the Food Help Scheme, families of the 80 poor children were also handed over one-thousand rupees.
Chief guest Abdul Razzaq Sagle, former senior vice-president all Pakistan Memon Federation, said that children with disabilities grew up watching brothers, sisters and friends learn how to ride bicycles, all the while they’ve watched despondently, grounded because of their disabilities. It’s like they’ve been left out as they’ve been condemned to a cruel fate alone, simply because their legs won’t work. They don’t get to participate in normal childhood activities; typically they’re ostracised in peer groups by default due to their disabilities.
He said as sad as their situation appears, I often see faces of children glow as they enter the wheelchair distribution area and see their first set of wheels waiting for them.
One boy told this correspondent as he sat in his wheelchair for the first time that it was his first bicycle. He was smiling from ear to ear - there was no way I could take away his joy at that moment. He may never ride a bike with two wheels, but a “bike” with four wheels is good enough for him!
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