Mother’s Dream Came True…

By Shahnaz Kauser

Child Weflare Programme

 A large number of children living in the developing countries do not have access to their basic rights i.e. education, basic health care, clean environment and abuse free society. These children often get abused and one of the reasons for that is the insensitivity within the society they are living in. Among those children orphan children are the most vulnerable and suffer far beyond one’s imagination.

 Muhammad Ahmer is four and half years old is one of those children who in a very young age have experienced the harshness of life. He is living with his mother and 5 siblings in the slums of Pindora area of Rawalpindi. After the death of his father it became extremely difficult for his mother to bring up her children and provide them all the basic amenities of life.

 Father of Muhammad Ahmer was working as a driver of a well off family living in F-11 where they were provided a servant quarter which was in good condition. Children were studying in a local school and were living normal life just like other children. But this all could not last for long after the sudden death of Ahmer’s father. They had to leave the place they were living in and were left with no shelter. Children had to pull out from school and it became extremely difficult for the mother to fulfil their basic needs as there was no source of income.

 They shifted to their uncle’s house which was a mud-made house. Housing conditions were far below the average state. The house was situated close to the wastage point which was causing huge health risks especially for the children. Siblings of Ahmer became sick and because of not getting proper treatment they were getting weaker day by day and also due to the conditions they were living in with no basic amenities of life.

 Children were deprived from their basic rights after the sudden death of their father. For the mother it was difficult to maintain the life style they were living before the death of their father. Not only physically but psychologically the whole situation affected the children and their mother severely. Their uncle was struggling to support them as he had meagre earning to support his own family.

 When the first time Islamic Relief team visited the family, the staffs were in shock to witness the conditions they were living in. Mother was given some financial support to quickly get some of the essential items for the kids and was advised to move to some other place while the team prepared Ahmer’s sponsorship case and was submitted for approval. He was sponsored immediately and the family was given first sponsorship money. This gave the mother much encouragement and hope in improving their life style. She moved to a fairly better and a liveable place.

 With sponsorship not only that Ahmer is benefiting but the rest of the family is also getting the same benefit from the financial support that is given to the child. He is now back in to school, there is enough food for them; they now have proper clothing and are living in a far better condition than they were before.

 The sponsorship has brought a huge change in Ahmer’s and his rest of family’s lives. His mother can now focus on her children whereas prior to this support she was going through stress every day. Her day would start with worrying about the future of her kids, to her the future of her kids seemed bleak.

 Ahmer’s mother said “Islamic Relief has given me a new ray of hope and they have enabled my children to live with dignity and respect. I pray for this organization and all those who are helping me and my children. I can never pay back for the support I have been rendered but for sure can pray for the success, safety and comfort of the person who has brought this huge change in our lives.”

 Children such as Ahmer are deprived of their rights which lead them in to a bleak insecure future but with sponsorship which costs Rs. 26,400/- for the whole year that is Rs.2200/- a month less than Rs. 75/- a day which we normally would spend on tea or drink can change someone’s circumstances.