Orphan children in Ghor seek govt’s support to continue education

FEROZKOH (Pajhwok): A number of orphan and working children in western Ghor province say they want to study and the caretaker government should help them in this regard, while local officials say education programs for such children have been launched.

Abdul Sabour, 12, is an orphan who works as a cobbler from dawn to dusk along the dusty roads of Ferozkoh City to provide food for his mother and sisters.

He told Pajhwok Afghan News that his father was a police officer in the previous government and he died in the conflict seven years ago.

Sabour also goes to school, but with many difficulties as he has to work to eke out a living for his family.

According to him, they (Sabour, his mother and two sisters) live in a rented house, and he often thinks to quit education.

“If the government helps my family, I can study with enthusiasm and peace of mind, otherwise I may leave the school,” he added. He earns up to 200 afghanis daily, but some days he returns home empty-handed.

Meanwhile, 10-year-old Fridon, a resident of Ferozkoh city, scavenges junk from garbage heaps with his 12-year-old sister.

He said: “After my father fell sick and died, our situation became very bad, my mother goes to people’s houses every day to wash clothes. I go to the market with my sister and we collect paper, old iron or anything that can be sold.”

This child collects reusable things from garbage piles in Ferozkoh City and earns 50 to 100 afghanis a day to buy bread.

Both children asked the government to save them from this situation and provide them with the chance to pursue an education.

However, Maulvi Abdul Wahid Hamas, the governor’s spokesman, told Pajhwok that they had plans to place the orphaned children under their protection and provide them with education.

“Currently, there are 250 orphaned children, 50 of them are girls who are currently enrolled in the kindergarten of the labor and social affairs department.”

According to him, these children are taught carpentry, welding and making handicrafts in addition to school subjects.

sa/ma