http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2012/01/‘o’-level-students-teach-poor-garbage-pickers/
ISLAMABAD - In an unprecedented contribution to the mankind, young and dedicated students have setup a makeshift school to educate garbage-picking children, who could not afford schooling facilities. With the ambition to share with the society what they already have, a group of eight O levels students have silently been passing knowledge, values and traditions to over one dozen garbage-picking children at a makeshift facility, Ray of Hope Street School, at the football ground of F-8 Markaz.
When Pakistan Today visited the makeshift schooling facility set up near a garbage dump, Yousaf Sarwar, Fiona Virjee and Ahsan Sarwar were distributing hygiene kits among a dozen students, aged between four to twelve years.
“We give them hygiene kits to wash their hands and faces before starting studies,” said Yousaf, who conceived the idea of giving education to the kids of the garbage pickers, who were considered the most ignorant part of the society. “We also give them gifts as incentives to keep their interest intact,” he added. Another volunteer, Sara Hayat, joined in and she was introduced as Urdu teacher for the students.
“Ahsan and Fiona give them English tuition, while Fareeha, Naima, Momena Amir, Zoha and Saad also contribute. We also teach them Noorani Quaida and later we would start teaching Quran to the children,” Sara said.
She said that the classes were held once a week and as more volunteers join, the shifts would be increased.
“Initially, we were holding classes once a week. But we will increase the number as reinforcement comes.”
Yousaf said that Sawab Din, a 10-year-old student, was a talented boy with extraordinary talent. “We want him to get registered with any school but his parents are against the idea,” he said. When Sawab Din was asked whether he wanted to join a school, he responded in the affirmative.
“I want to join a school but my parents are opposing. I earn Rs 200-250 per day from garbage picking and if I join any school, my parent would be deprived of this money,” he responded.
Yousaf said that they had got three children registered with different schools and were paying for their fees also.
“If we see a spark in any child, we visit his/her parents and ask whether they have documents, as majority of garbage pickers are Afghan nationals. If they have documents, we request them to allow us to get their children registered with any school. If they show willingness, we go ahead,” said Sara Hayat.
“We pool in our pocket money and everybody contributes to continue helping to the level till we can contribute,” said Yousaf.
As the interview continued, Ahsan and Fiona started teaching the classes for English language. Ahsan teaches the students of class one, while Fiona teaches the class two students. Later, Sara Hayat started teaching Urdu to class two students, while Yousaf started teaching Noorani Quaida.
The aim of establishing the school was to prepare garbage-pickers for joining the regular schools. “At first stage we attract the garbage-picking kids with gifts and once they get familiar with us, we persuade them to take classes at our makeshift school. Later, after giving some classes, we shift them to regular government schools,” Yousaf said.
Talking to Pakistan Today, almost all garbage-picking students, who were taking their classes, said that they wanted to get themselves enrolled in regular schools but their parents were not allowing them. “I want to join regular school and I want to be a doctor but my parents are not allowing me to materialise my dream… keep forcing me to continue picking garbage,” said four-year-old Bismina, who has been taking classes for the last one week.
I hope more and more such examples are set by the young generation.