Community Based Rehabilitation
“Wednesday Club” is a two-hour programme for children with disabilities (CWD) and their caregivers, held once a week. While CWD work on physical exercises and socio-emotional skills, caregivers gather in their own group for various discussion topics.
Ainar* is a seven-year-old girl diagnosed with cerebral palsy. She and her mother attend almost every week.
Ainar’s condition affects her muscle development, movement, speech, and cognitive understanding. Through activities in our programme—both group and one-on-one sessions—as well as practices at home, Ainar has shown clear improvement in her physical development and overall learning. Where she was once unable to sit on the floor without support, she can now sit upright independently during group time. She is also showing improved balance while sitting and walking with assistance. In addition, she has become more curious, more engaging, and makes more eye contact. Recently, she loves to play “Row, Row, Row Your Boat.” She now takes the initiative to hold an adult’s hand to ask for high fives and responds to her peers’ high fives too!
Ainar’s mother is raising three children, two of whom are diagnosed with cerebral palsy. She attends the programme week after week. While Ainar joins the children’s group, her mother participates in the parents’ group discussions. For her, this is a safe space to share life’s struggles openly. When we first launched Wednesday Club in May, Ainar’s mother attended but looked troubled and sad. As our team built a trusting relationship with her, she felt safe enough to share the heavy burdens she carries. Her newborn child has heart problems and was recently diagnosed with cerebral palsy as well. Since her husband struggles to accept that both of their youngest children have special needs, he refuses to go out of the house with them. His family continues to blame Ainar’s mother, saying it is her fault. Despite facing blame and rejection, she still clings to hope.
A few weeks into the programme, she began to look lighter, with more smiles on her face each time she came. Week after week, she returns to our caregivers’ group because she has found something precious—a place where she belongs among other mothers of special children. A place where she feels seen, heard, and supported with love and without judgment.
Ainar’s mother’s story reflects the reality of the shame and burdens many mothers of children with disabilities carry daily. Within a safe and trusted space, mothers can open up about hardship while our team comes alongside CWD and their caregivers. Looking ahead, we hope to start a focus group with Ainar’s mother to strengthen her spiritual growth. She welcomed the idea and even considered inviting other mothers to join her in finding hope.
Wheelchair Gives New Hope in Life
The wheelchair has not only contributed to Amir’s improvement physically, but emotionally and psychologically as well.
Chairs for Children
Positioning and proper support for children with disabilities is important for their development
Each Child is Valuable
“I’ve learnt from you that each child is created by God and valuable, and I want to do my best to love and raise her like you would” she said
Empowering Mothers
“It is so important that you know your rights!”
Don’t Give Up, There Is Still Hope
After a year of working with her, she is now able to feed herself, shower independently and help with cleaning around the house! When we first started working with her,
Trust is Built Through Peer Groups
This group of four men became eager to meet each other and friendship was formed.
Partnership Opens the Way to School
There are many barriers for a child with disability to access education in Tajikistan. Sometimes this barrier is seen in the attitudes of people that think children with disabilities don’t belong in school or should be kept separate from other children.
Never too late to learn!
With the support and help from the staff I learnt how to take care of a child with disability.
The View Changes
After a couple of sessions on the back of a gentle horse, Jamal now rides with a smile on his face.
Colours of Hope
A new initiative started at the beginning of the year with the aim of training a group of teenage boys with disabilities in practical skills. By learning to repair wheelchairs,
Professionalism Produces Results
Practical training like this empowers therapists to be more professional and to achieve better results in their treatment.
Local Partnerships to Maximise Capacity
When a massive flood hit the North West of the country, our team was able to visit and make connections with families and centres with children with disabilities.
Growing in Strength and Love
When our team first met Gulnar, a six-year-old girl diagnosed with cerebral palsy (CP) and a suspected case of CHARGE syndrome, she was unable to walk or communicate.
Exploring New Ways of Moving
Yousif, a 4-year-old diagnosed with spina bifida, lay curled up in the corner of the living room floor. The doctors had told his family to give up hope—he was disabled and would remain that way for the rest of his life.
Grateful Families
The parents of these children hosted a celebration to say thank you to our partners who have helped their families.
Hope Stored in His Heart
Most of all we sense that Haitham now has hope stored in his heart that he did not have before.
Standing Strong
Farhad is a bright seven-year-old and the third child in his family. However, unlike his siblings, he has faced significant challenges since birth due to Cerebral Palsy,
Our Life is not Our Own
Many mothers of children with disabilities experience significant isolation, as caregiving responsibilities often keep them at home for extended periods. These mothers report feelings of suspicion,
Trading Shame for Acceptance
So these women continue on, persevering on behalf of the children and their community, sharing a love and passion that grows warmer with time and over many more cups of hot tea.
Perseverance Brings Progress
Now Rustam can express himself, he is socializing with his peers, and he is participating in the cultural events of the organization. Rustam is ready to go to school!