Stories:
A Young Girl in Takhar Province
Afghanistan
February 09, 2005
A man brought his twelve year old disabled daughter in a hand trolley who was double amputee. She had suffered with polio and both legs were affected. He was hurrying and rushing to get a wheelchair for her. LIFE staff relaxed him and assured him that he would get a wheelchair for his daughter. He said he is a poor person feeding a family of seven people. He works as a daily wages laborer to earn a livelihood for his family. If she were not disabled she would be helping her mother and also would be going to school but as she is disabled so we are helping her instead, he said with sorrow and his eyes started tearing. He said his daughter wants to study but she can't go to school on her own and he is not able to take her to and from school every day, because he remains working all the day and comes home late in the afternoon. He said he can't afford to buy a wheelchair for her because he is poor. If she receives a wheelchair then she will be helping her mother and also will go to school because the school is nearby to his house and she will not be needing any one to take her to school. He said, taking a deep breath, it is my wish that my daughter move on her own and study. LIFE staff told him, these wheelchairs are a gift of friendship from American people for the Afghan disabled people, like your daughter and LIFE will certainly donate a wheelchair to her. When he received a wheelchair for his daughter, he was so happy that his wish was fulfilled. He said, his daughter has legs again and now he will not be worried about her while he is out of the home for work. He said, his daughter will start going to school and he hopes she will have a bright future and become a constructive member of the society.
