Dar – ul – Khushnud
Centre for Mentally Challenged Children in Karachi
Beginning
Khushnud’s profound compassion for the handicapped was deeply rooted in her personal experience with her younger sister “Sally”. After returning from Singapore in 1977, Khushnud dedicated her life to working with developmentally disabled children in Pakistan. “Where there is a will, there is a way”! God mysteriously opened the way for Khushnud to receive training in special education from Siyo Gakuen, Japan in 1979. To better equip herself to minister to these children, Khushnud, who was newly married, once again left the country to avail herself of the opportunity for training and” live in” experience with children with severe mental disability.
Upon returning to Pakistan in 1980, Khushnud drew her Bishop’s attention to the plight of the developmentally disabled children in Pakistan. Once again, she was told to wait as the diocese of Karachi did not have a place and resources to start this work. Undeterred by obstacles, Khushnud with God’s help, and moral support of St. Andrew English Congregation, where her husband was an Associate priest, embarked on a remarkable mission to help developmentally disabled children in Pakistan. With the support of her husband “Samuel Azariah” who used to transport a couple of children in his personal old car Ford Anglia, Khushnud began working with children including her sister from a single room of her own house (Parish Priest’s residence) in 1st September 1980.
Thus, Dar-ul-Khushnud (Centre for mentally Challeged children) came into being. It began without financial resources, proper staff and place.
What does Rev. Dr. Khushnud tells about her inpiration,
“God gave me a sister, a beautiful sister, “Sally” who will forever remain the baby of our family as her mental age remind a four year. Living with her intimately, i have learnt to be a sensitive to the needs of others. It was also she who persuaded me, through her silent, yet forceful words, to look beyond my own home and spread my loving, caring and friendly hands to many other children who are either forsaken by their families or lie at the periphery of the so called human society. “
The training programs at Dar-Ul-Khushnud are geared towards the total development of a child. Equal importance is given to all area of life, whether it be mental, physical, emotional, social or psychological. Dar-Ul-Khushnud is not only train and education a child, but also create a sense of awarnesss amongest the so-called un-handicapped society of their responsiblitiy towards the handicapped.
Contect Dar-ul-Khushnud
If any differenty able child need support for basic living skills please contact
247, Staff Lane Fatima Jinnah Road, Karachi Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan-74900
Phone: +92 21 35660570 email: duk.karachi@gmail.com www.darulkhushnud.org