"I will never give up teaching!"

A bright and sunny day at the school in Mansehra District reflected Riaz's lighthearted mood. Proudly looking at his wheelchair, Riaz said he looks forward to school every day. Mohammad Riaz, a 51 year old from village Shahllia (Union Council Jallo) in Mansehra District is one of many people with disabilities identified by the DRC almost a year ago. When we first met Riaz, he told us he had paraplegia or paralysis of the lower half of the body. Coming to school and getting around the classroom was a struggle for him every day. "Although life is tough, my passion for teaching the village children meant that I could never give up teaching," he told us. We noticed that Riaz's wheelchair was old and he always needed someone to move it. We met with some international NGOs and after telling them about the DRC and people like Riaz, we successfully signed a MoU with UK Rehab International for the provision of 24 wheelchairs. Riaz also got a new wheelchair and he could not believe how much easier it was to get around without help! Next, we built two ramps in Riaz's school to improve access for all persons with disabilities, and put in a new black board that helped Riaz in the classroom. Riaz's school has not only become more accessible to persons with disabilities, it has become a model school for the District. The DRC continues to advocate for inclusive education at various forums so that more and more children and teachers with disabilities can also start going to school. As for Riaz, the wheelchair has given him a "great deal of independence." He goes to school on time and can move around with more confidence. Riaz also feels that children in his school are much more aware of the needs and abilities of people with disabilities. Riaz is grateful to CAMP for helping him get a disability certificate from the Social Welfare Department, which makes him eligible for zakat (The fifth pillar of Islam: Muslims give a fixed percentage of surplus wealth to the poor and needy) individual and other state incentives. He was part of the World Disability Day in Mansehra and is a member of a self-help group where he continues to advocate for the rights of persons with disabilities.