Monday, July 14, 2008
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Looking for street kids!
Dear Friends,
Many of you wrote about child labor issue, thank you! The verdict is unanimous - it is child abuse! I accept your chiding humbly, be it implicit or explicit. The matter does not end there though. The question is what can we do as individuals to change the situation, and do the poor bear any responsibility for their condition?
My grandmother was unlettered and a poor person but she knew the value of education and took pains to educate my father and his two younger brothers. Most of their children now are educated. If we are not rich, it is not due to a lack of education.
Looking for street kids.
Tarbela colony, about hundred kilometers west of Islamabad , was established by Italians when they built the Tarbela Dam on the Indus River during 60s and 70s. After completion of the dam the Italian left and the colony came under the control of Pakistani WAPDA – Water And Power Development Authority.
Now populated by the employees of WAPDA, the colony is a very quiet place with wide roads and secluded generally single family one story houses. Because my sister, Khalida, teaches in a WAPDA high school, she inherited the house when my father retired from his WAPDA job. The point I am trying to make here is that only employees of WAPDA live here and there are no slums inside the colony where you could find street kids. To find children who don’t go to school, you have to go to the neighboring areas outside the colony.
A few months prior to my coming to Tarbela Khalida had accompanied a friend to a nearby slum in search of a baby. Because she couldn’t have her own, she thought she could just walk in a poor house and buy a baby. Needless to say, no mother or father parted with their baby because they were poor.
During their visit Khalida spotted some kids who weren’t in school. One boy name Salah wanted to learn to read and write and was keen on going to school but one girl did not want to go to school, the rest were too young to know. Before returning Khalida had managed to get cell # of someone from Salah.
Khalida and her friend did not know where they were going. They had gotten on a bus and got off when they saw some tents near the road, they don’t even know the name of the place. Khalida did get in touch with cell owner and gave him some money from the childless friend for the children.
When I was in Tarbela we got in touch with the cell owner again. He had moved away but promised to find out if the children are still there and if there is some one we could talk with. Since it is a far away place that involves going to Ghazi - a town outside Tarbela, getting on the bus and going for half hour ride, we need some one local who could take charge of day to day activity. We are still working on it.
Meanwhile, Seemab, Noshi – khalida’s daughter in law and I came to Lahore to see my brother who was on a very short leave from his navy job. Khalida joined us later for summer holidays
June 13.
There was quite an excitement this morning. An eight year old boy came to our house and asked for some food, Khalida asked him to come in and do some chores and earn his keep. After hesitating a bit he not only came in but brought three other boys ranging in age from 5 – 7. They said they were related but the exact relationship was not clear. I was called to talk to boys in order to find out where they lived and if they go to school.
It turned out that they were professional beggars, lived by the ganda nala (dirty creek a kinda big open sewer) and none went to school, except the oldest boy went to mosque to learn to read the Qur’an. We wanted to go to their homes and speak with parents and explore the possibility of starting some kind of education program. But they were hesitant, probably because it would interfere with their full days earning which comes to 400 – 500 rupees and they divide it among themselves. One boy’s mother also begged and another’s worked as a cleaner in people’s houses.
After conferring with each other the boys promised to comeback in the evening and show us where they live. We are still waiting for them.
In the evening Khalida along with Seemab went to Walton to see her in-laws. Asma, my youngest sister and her daughter, Nayab, and I decided to go to ganda nala and look for huts or tents where we might find those or other poor kids.
Asma took us through inside streets that I had never seen before except one area called kakkay zayi, looked familiar. I remembered that area from my previous visit to Lahore . While walking through the Awan Town bazaar I stepped into a side street and after a block or so away ended up in a place that seemed to belong to another era. There was a big empty lot where children were playing in and around garbage with fly infested stagnant water in the middle of the lot. Walking a little further I ended up what seemed like a quant little town with mud huts and multiple houses in a compound.
I remembered I was quite disturbed to see all that filth just a block away from the bustling and rather affluent Awan Town . I tried to enquire from a seemingly educated adult who that land belonged to and what if any thing can be done about cleaning it. He was sympathetic and promised to look into it. I don’t know what became of it.
On one side there was a tent, I don’t recall how I ended up inside it. The family man was sick but he did put up a snake charming show for me which I have some where reorded on my camcorder. Any way, we walked for at least 45 minute to get to ganda nala; we found no huts, tents or kids.
The quest to find the street kids continues....
p.s. i'd have like to respond to each of your comments individually but the internet and power supply is such that it is not possible. even now i am afraid whether this message will go thru before the power goes off
Many of you wrote about child labor issue, thank you! The verdict is unanimous - it is child abuse! I accept your chiding humbly, be it implicit or explicit. The matter does not end there though. The question is what can we do as individuals to change the situation, and do the poor bear any responsibility for their condition?
My grandmother was unlettered and a poor person but she knew the value of education and took pains to educate my father and his two younger brothers. Most of their children now are educated. If we are not rich, it is not due to a lack of education.
Looking for street kids.
Tarbela colony, about hundred kilometers west of Islamabad , was established by Italians when they built the Tarbela Dam on the Indus River during 60s and 70s. After completion of the dam the Italian left and the colony came under the control of Pakistani WAPDA – Water And Power Development Authority.
Now populated by the employees of WAPDA, the colony is a very quiet place with wide roads and secluded generally single family one story houses. Because my sister, Khalida, teaches in a WAPDA high school, she inherited the house when my father retired from his WAPDA job. The point I am trying to make here is that only employees of WAPDA live here and there are no slums inside the colony where you could find street kids. To find children who don’t go to school, you have to go to the neighboring areas outside the colony.
A few months prior to my coming to Tarbela Khalida had accompanied a friend to a nearby slum in search of a baby. Because she couldn’t have her own, she thought she could just walk in a poor house and buy a baby. Needless to say, no mother or father parted with their baby because they were poor.
During their visit Khalida spotted some kids who weren’t in school. One boy name Salah wanted to learn to read and write and was keen on going to school but one girl did not want to go to school, the rest were too young to know. Before returning Khalida had managed to get cell # of someone from Salah.
Khalida and her friend did not know where they were going. They had gotten on a bus and got off when they saw some tents near the road, they don’t even know the name of the place. Khalida did get in touch with cell owner and gave him some money from the childless friend for the children.
When I was in Tarbela we got in touch with the cell owner again. He had moved away but promised to find out if the children are still there and if there is some one we could talk with. Since it is a far away place that involves going to Ghazi - a town outside Tarbela, getting on the bus and going for half hour ride, we need some one local who could take charge of day to day activity. We are still working on it.
Meanwhile, Seemab, Noshi – khalida’s daughter in law and I came to Lahore to see my brother who was on a very short leave from his navy job. Khalida joined us later for summer holidays
June 13.
There was quite an excitement this morning. An eight year old boy came to our house and asked for some food, Khalida asked him to come in and do some chores and earn his keep. After hesitating a bit he not only came in but brought three other boys ranging in age from 5 – 7. They said they were related but the exact relationship was not clear. I was called to talk to boys in order to find out where they lived and if they go to school.
It turned out that they were professional beggars, lived by the ganda nala (dirty creek a kinda big open sewer) and none went to school, except the oldest boy went to mosque to learn to read the Qur’an. We wanted to go to their homes and speak with parents and explore the possibility of starting some kind of education program. But they were hesitant, probably because it would interfere with their full days earning which comes to 400 – 500 rupees and they divide it among themselves. One boy’s mother also begged and another’s worked as a cleaner in people’s houses.
After conferring with each other the boys promised to comeback in the evening and show us where they live. We are still waiting for them.
In the evening Khalida along with Seemab went to Walton to see her in-laws. Asma, my youngest sister and her daughter, Nayab, and I decided to go to ganda nala and look for huts or tents where we might find those or other poor kids.
Asma took us through inside streets that I had never seen before except one area called kakkay zayi, looked familiar. I remembered that area from my previous visit to Lahore . While walking through the Awan Town bazaar I stepped into a side street and after a block or so away ended up in a place that seemed to belong to another era. There was a big empty lot where children were playing in and around garbage with fly infested stagnant water in the middle of the lot. Walking a little further I ended up what seemed like a quant little town with mud huts and multiple houses in a compound.
I remembered I was quite disturbed to see all that filth just a block away from the bustling and rather affluent Awan Town . I tried to enquire from a seemingly educated adult who that land belonged to and what if any thing can be done about cleaning it. He was sympathetic and promised to look into it. I don’t know what became of it.
On one side there was a tent, I don’t recall how I ended up inside it. The family man was sick but he did put up a snake charming show for me which I have some where reorded on my camcorder. Any way, we walked for at least 45 minute to get to ganda nala; we found no huts, tents or kids.
The quest to find the street kids continues....
p.s. i'd have like to respond to each of your comments individually but the internet and power supply is such that it is not possible. even now i am afraid whether this message will go thru before the power goes off
Sunday, June 22, 2008
My Week in Pakistan
June 1, 2008
It has only been a week since I landed at Islamabad airport but it feels as if I have been here forever.
After spending Sunday and Monday in Islamabad at my aunt’s house I came to Tarbela, about 120 km from Islamabad, accompanied by Farrukh, my cousin and Akif, my nephew.
My aunt has two live in maids/servants; one is just a child of 9 or 10. I kept thinking of all the discussions we had in Peoria about child labor and sweat shops. Is this a kind of child abuse?
The child, Sanya, does not go to school, but it is not so unusual in this country. I asked my aunt if any attempt is being made to educate her. I was told the girl is not interested in education. She did not go to school before coming to Islamabad . But my aunt is trying to teach her to read the Qur’an. Even that is a struggle.
I am also told that two of Sanya’s sisters – one younger and one older – are in my aunt’s older daughter’s employ. Before we pass any judgment whether this is a child abuse, lets look at the situation.. The parents are poor and uneducated. the girls are provided room and board and parents receive monthly stipend for their wages. If these girls were not employed at my aunt’s house they probably would end up in some other household. It is unlikely they’ll be better off.
In Tarbela Khalida, my sister and her daughter, Seemab, are winding down their school year. On Friday evening we all went to their last of weekly women’s Qur’anic session. There were three of them, my sister, her daughter and another woman, taking turns reciting the ayas and explaining what they meant to about 20 women of all ages to an audience of 25 women ranging in age from ~12 to 50+. It was quite impressive how keen the women were interested in listening to a different kind of interpretation of the Qur'an.
Today, sunday Khalida, Farrukh and i are going to Peshawar, the big city closest to Afghanistan border. Seemab could not join us. I'll write about our visit to Peshawar another time
It has only been a week since I landed at Islamabad airport but it feels as if I have been here forever.
After spending Sunday and Monday in Islamabad at my aunt’s house I came to Tarbela, about 120 km from Islamabad, accompanied by Farrukh, my cousin and Akif, my nephew.
My aunt has two live in maids/servants; one is just a child of 9 or 10. I kept thinking of all the discussions we had in Peoria about child labor and sweat shops. Is this a kind of child abuse?
The child, Sanya, does not go to school, but it is not so unusual in this country. I asked my aunt if any attempt is being made to educate her. I was told the girl is not interested in education. She did not go to school before coming to Islamabad . But my aunt is trying to teach her to read the Qur’an. Even that is a struggle.
I am also told that two of Sanya’s sisters – one younger and one older – are in my aunt’s older daughter’s employ. Before we pass any judgment whether this is a child abuse, lets look at the situation.. The parents are poor and uneducated. the girls are provided room and board and parents receive monthly stipend for their wages. If these girls were not employed at my aunt’s house they probably would end up in some other household. It is unlikely they’ll be better off.
In Tarbela Khalida, my sister and her daughter, Seemab, are winding down their school year. On Friday evening we all went to their last of weekly women’s Qur’anic session. There were three of them, my sister, her daughter and another woman, taking turns reciting the ayas and explaining what they meant to about 20 women of all ages to an audience of 25 women ranging in age from ~12 to 50+. It was quite impressive how keen the women were interested in listening to a different kind of interpretation of the Qur'an.
Today, sunday Khalida, Farrukh and i are going to Peshawar, the big city closest to Afghanistan border. Seemab could not join us. I'll write about our visit to Peshawar another time
Friday, May 16, 2008
Friday, May 2, 2008
Pakistan/Palestine
Dear Friends,
Some of you already know that I have been accepted by the International Women for Peace Services to serve as witness in Palestine during the olive harvest.
It is the same organization that Anna Baltzer works for. I will know more about it when I am there, my preliminary understanding of the function of a volunteer is to document human rights violations by the Israeli government and/or act as a support person for the mission and publicize as much as possible
In case you were wondering I have to finance my trip myself. I expect to be in Palestine for about 3 months from September to December.
Before going to Palestine I have decided to go to Pakistan. I'll be leaving on May 23rd and expect to be back in the US next March. This is the first time I'll be in Pakistan for that long since I came to this country 30 some years ago.
In addition to helping my sister in educating women about their rights in Islam, I hope to start some education program in villages where there are no schools or street kids. i have been thinking along these lines for quite some time and at the moment these are just ideas, what come to fruition and what form it takes remains to be seen.
I'll try to keep you updated as much as possible.
Thank you for listening
Some of you already know that I have been accepted by the International Women for Peace Services to serve as witness in Palestine during the olive harvest.
It is the same organization that Anna Baltzer works for. I will know more about it when I am there, my preliminary understanding of the function of a volunteer is to document human rights violations by the Israeli government and/or act as a support person for the mission and publicize as much as possible
In case you were wondering I have to finance my trip myself. I expect to be in Palestine for about 3 months from September to December.
Before going to Palestine I have decided to go to Pakistan. I'll be leaving on May 23rd and expect to be back in the US next March. This is the first time I'll be in Pakistan for that long since I came to this country 30 some years ago.
In addition to helping my sister in educating women about their rights in Islam, I hope to start some education program in villages where there are no schools or street kids. i have been thinking along these lines for quite some time and at the moment these are just ideas, what come to fruition and what form it takes remains to be seen.
I'll try to keep you updated as much as possible.
Thank you for listening
Monday, March 24, 2008
Kathy Kelly, Nobel Peace Prize Nominee, in Peoria
Kathy Kelly is a cofounder and co-coordinator of Voices for Creative Nonviolence. She was actively involved in a campaign to end the US/UN sanctions in Iraq; has made 24 trips to Iraq since 1996; was in Baghdad in March of 2003 for a peaceful protest during our "Shock and Awe" campaign; has been arrested 60+ times for nonviolent protest, most recently for a March 20th, 2008 action calling for an end to funding war in Iraq.
In 1988 she was sentenced to one year in prison for planting corn on nuclear missile silo sites.
Kelly served nine months of the sentence in Lexington KY maximum security prison.
Kelly, an author and a storyteller par-excellence, has been nominated as a candidate for the Noble Peace Prize.
Kathy Kelly at Bradley - Olin 168
Mon. April 7th; 7:00-9:00 p.m.
Eyewitness Stories of the ravages of war
Sponsored by: Muslim Student Association
Contact:
Rabia 339-2906; rzahid@mail.bradley.edu or Razia 868-4218; raziaha@gmail.com
In 1988 she was sentenced to one year in prison for planting corn on nuclear missile silo sites.
Kelly served nine months of the sentence in Lexington KY maximum security prison.
Kelly, an author and a storyteller par-excellence, has been nominated as a candidate for the Noble Peace Prize.
Kathy Kelly at Bradley - Olin 168
Mon. April 7th; 7:00-9:00 p.m.
Eyewitness Stories of the ravages of war
Sponsored by: Muslim Student Association
Contact:
Rabia 339-2906; rzahid@mail.bradley.edu or Razia 868-4218; raziaha@gmail.com
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israeli gunman
palestinian in class at the check point
Israeli gunman
palestinian children
Musician!
My heart will go on
Urdu Bazaar, Lahore, Pakistan
LAHORE - March 24, 2006: No way-out to avoid a traffic jam near Urdu Bazaar. — Dawn
poor animal!
MULTAN - March 24, 2006: A camel performance at the spring festival organised by the City District Government to mark the Pakistan Day
beast of burden
LAHORE - March 20: BEAST OF BURDEN: A damaged vehicle being taken to a workshop.—APP
Communing with pigeons
KARACHI - March 20: A child enjoys the company of pigeons, whom he feeds, at Hyderi on Tuesday.—APP
Waiting for drinking water
HYDERABAD (India) - March 20: People stand in a line as they wait to fill containers with drinking water supplied by a mobile water vehicle in a slum area in the Saidabad colony here on Tuesday. More than 500 families living in this slum area depend on water supplied by a mobile vehicle and provided by the Metro water works once in three days. 'Coping with Water Scarcity' is the theme for the World Water Day 2007, which is celebrated each year on March 22.—AFP
Mud slide in Kashmir
BAGH - March 20: A man marooned in an area of Azad Kashmir affected by hill torrents following heavy downpour over the past few days is being rescued by local people on Tuesday.—AFP
Palestinians
BETHLEHEM - March 22: Palestinian students wear traditional clothing during a cultural event taking place at the Bethlehem University here on Thursday. The event, which included a mock wedding, is to promote the education of traditional ideals of Palestinian culture.�AFP
The World Water Day,
HYDERABAD - March 22: Peasant women make their way to a distant place in order to fetch water. The World Water Day, being observed on Friday, is intended to highlight the need for reducing wastage of this precious commodity. � Photo by Yousuf Nagori
