JEDDAH, 18 November 2002 — A Sri Lankan Islamic charitable organization is tackling the problem of impairment of children through its unique educational, vocational and rehabilitation program.
A number of Saudi delegations, including recent ones representing the Shoura Council and the Imam of Madinah had a first hand experience of the activities of the Sri Lankan government-approved Islamic Center for Physically Handicapped. “They were pleasantly surprised that impairment — whether hearing, visual or physical — has not come in the way of the center’s children. Each year 25 to 30 inmates graduate and are gainfully employed in the private sector,” ICPH Director N. Jiffry Haniffa told reporters at the Sri Lankan Consulate here yesterday.
At present 250 students suffering from hearing, visual and physical impairment are learning and pursuing vocations.
Males are trained in gem cutting, tailoring, printing, carpentry, dental technology and baking, while females get training in jewelry making, home science and cookery, said Haniffa who is accompanied on the tour by Ahmad Barry.
“There are plans for enrolling mentally impaired children,” he added.
It was the first Sri Lankan charitable center for the handicapped when established in 1984 in a rented house with just five handicapped children, he said.
Over the years, its enrollment has multiplied. It has a 35-member teaching staff today. It is already a member of some international Muslim and Western organizations and has newly become member of the Islamic World Council on Disability and Rehabilitation.
“We’ve been providing hostel accommodation to our students and also giving them medical care,” Haniffa said, adding that Iqra Charitable Society, Organization of Islamic Countries and Muslim World League have been contributing funds to the center.
The team also had a meeting with Iqra Charitable Society here at which Haniffa emphasized that the center was taking up income generating projects.
“Through our programs, we want to convince the world that disability is no handicap nor inability,” Haniffa said, adding that the center’s future plans included a second women’s hostel, a playground and pavilion, teachers’ quarters and a health care center.
Consul General A.C.M. Ibrahim said a Haj delegation led by Rauf Hakeem, minister of Muslim affairs, ports development, shipping and eastern development, recently had a successful meeting with local authorities here to finalize arrangements for welcoming over 5,000 pilgrims from the island state, about the same number as last year.
