Albert Pine once said, “What we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others and the world remains and is immortal”.
The Pakistani nation has a strong tradition of philanthropy. In 2016, the Pakistan Centre for Philanthropy produced a report titled The State of Individual Philanthropy in Pakistan. It said in a survey of 10,000 households 98 per cent had reported contributing in cash, kind or time (by volunteering). Most of the dontions came from Zakat (13 per cent), non-zakat charity (32 per cent) and volunteer time (21 per cent).
Giving and helping for social good has also taken the form of starting non-government, non-profit and voluntary organizations. Many of the NGOs that have now become quite prominent started small. Some of them have expanded into other cities and provinces. A few are also serving in other countries. A great inspiration is this regard has been Abdul Sattar Eidhi who has left behind a legacy of devotion, care and service to humanity in the form of Edhi Foundation.
Misha Lobban Clark, former CEO of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of the Caribbean (ICAC), wrote in a recent article that social activists and social change leaders leave their “social imprint” as a legacy. What they do for the good of their people, specially marginalized groups of society, out lives them.
Many welfare initiatives by the civil society in Pakistan have been led by dedicated and passionate individuals who came to be seen as emobodiment of a certain service. Abdul Sattar Eidhi now symbolizes one of the worlds’ largest ambulance services. Dr Ruth Pfao’s name is associated with the fight against leprosy
Education, health, economic empowerment and advocacy are the foremost among a large list of services provided by the NGOs and CSOs. Over the last decade, the media has helped raise awareness of the challenges as well as of the efforts made by the organizations.
Many of the heroes and heroines of the efforts for social change remain unheard of. Today I wish to talk about the couple behind the Rising Sun charity which has illuminated the lives of thousands of families across Pakistan over 35 years. They are Dr and Mrs Abdul Tawwab Khan. They have been working for persons with special needs and their families.
Dr Abdul Tawwab Khan was a paediatrician by profession. He strted his long career in volunteer work for special children after he saw the mother of a child with Downs Syndrome break down and cry. What started as a pledge to support a girl with special needs and her family, has grown into an NGO serving thousands of families and their special children.
Many welfare initiatives by civil society have been led by dedicated and passionate individuals who eventually came to be recognized as embodiement of a certain service. Abdul Sattar Edhi now symbolizes one of the worlds’ largest ambulance services. Dr Ruth Pfao’s name is similarly associated with the fight against leprosy. Dr and Mrs Abdul Tawwab Khan represent a progressive and visionary struggle for empowerment of persons with special needs.
Having started as a school for special children, Rising Sun Education and Welfare Society has grown into an organization offering diverse services covering the entire life span of people with special needs. Through various projects it provides early intervention services for children from birth to pre-school age, structured teaching, training and therapeutic services to school age children with special needs and elaborate vocational training to adolescents and adults with special needs. Those unable to gain employment in open market, are also provided with sheltered employment opportunities. The Gosha-e-Afiyat project will soon be providing a safe living facility to people with special needs who lose family support. The Rising Sun is also running a community based programme to reach out to the population with special needs.
Dr Khan realized from his experience that most special education institutions were unable to cater to all the diverse needs of the children. In 2009, he started an initiative to raise awareness of the problems among teachers in general education schools. His vision was that if teachers in regular schools were given training in special needs and inclusive education most of the students with diverse needs could be accommodated in the general education classrooms. Over the years, the Rising Sun has trained hundreds of public and private school teachers from various provinces. It is an inspiring, invigorating and motivating journey.
The government of Pakistan has recognized the services of Mrs Perveen Tawwab with a Sitara-i-Imtiaz and of Dr Abdul Tawwab Khan with a Tamgha-i-Imtiaz. Dr Khan passed away in 2016. Mrs Perveen Tawwab continues to lead the team. Those wishing to witness their work personally can drop by at Rising Sun Institute for Special Children in DHA, Lahore.
The writer is a Director Programs & Projects at Rising Sun Education & Welfare Society