SHARJAH // A schoolgirl has urged her fellow youngsters to give up their holidays for charity work.
Suha Khan, 16, a Pakistani who studies at the International School of Choueifat in Sharjah, has returned from her home country, where she spent a week teaching street children.
Suha said it had been the most satisfying school holiday she has had.
“I never thought my seven days in a public park under the scorching heat would be memorable when compared to my vacations spent in different international leisure holidays,” the Grade 12 pupil said.
The children she taught in Islamabad were street children, mainly from the city’s Christian community.
The programme was organised by Master Ayub Park School, which is located in a public park where underprivileged children are given free education. Suha said that she found about the school through social media.
Ms Khan said her parents were happy with her decision but somewhat concerned about where she would stay in Islamabad.
“As it is a charity school, I had to arrange everything by myself. But luckily, we found a family friend who hosted my Islamabad stay.”
The schooling starts in the afternoon, as many of the children are working in the morning to support their families.
“Most of them are street vendors or car cleaners and come from the nearby slum colony where poor Christian families are living,” she said.
Mohammed Ayub, 56, who has run the park school for 28 years, said this was the first time that any volunteer came from Dubai to help out.
“I wasn’t sure that how a young girl from a privileged background would be able to connect with the children,” he said.
Mr Ayub, who is known as Master Ayub in Islamabad, said he that he was delighted to have been proved wrong.
“Within a few hours, she gelled with the children with so much affection as if she had spent all her life with them,” he said.
“She was a dedicated teacher. Her students missed her a lot. Even though, she left the school, every day children are waiting for her and keep asking about when Madame Suha will return,” he said.
Mr Ayub said he would be pleased to welcome more volunteers from the UAE.
“We need volunteers like Suha but unfortunately I don’t know why parents particularly Pakistani parents don’t sent their children back home for social work,” said Mr Ayub, who works as fireman in the morning and a teacher in the evening.
Bina Khan, Suha’s mother, agreed volunteering for charity work would benefit many youngsters in this country.
“Our children who are born and brought up here are living in the fantasy world,” she said.
“They don’t know the bitter realities of their native country. Such programmes would give them a reality check.
“I have seen a great change in my daughter after her Islamabad visit. She has started realising how blessed she is and she should use her blessings for other’s benefits.”
Georges Faouzi Joubran, senior academic counsellor at Suba’s school, said that both parents are teachers are responsible for encouraging and motivating children to undertake charity work.
akhaishgi@thenational.ae
