Help This Fearless Cancer Survivor Save Her School From | Milaap
Help This Fearless Cancer Survivor Save Her School From Shutting Down
  • Farida

    Created by

    Farida Rizwan
  • FR

    This fundraiser will benefit

    Farida Rizwan

    from Bangalore, Karnataka

Press Coverage

"I always nurtured a dream of someday having a school of my own. When I went through 3rd stage cancer when breast feeding my 11 month old daughter who was diagnosed with special needs, for a moment I felt none of my dreams will ever come true. But, my drive to be there for my daughter and not give up on life before I achieve something helped me fight cancer hard. Today, I have survived without any evidence of disease for 22 years "

In 1996, Farida Rizwan was diagnosed with 3rd stage Breast Cancer when her mentally challenged daughter was just 11 months old. Farida had been running a canteen at the Bangalore Children's Hospital and Research Centre, but lost her job when she was diagnosed. She received no financial support from her husband too who had left her for another life in Dubai after her diagnosis. 

                         

"I travelled around Bangalore in crowded BTS buses, with my bald head, carrying my daughter and soft toys to sell them"

Throughout this toughest phase of her life, Farida's motivation was her daughter. "I didn't want to leave my daughter fight it out alone in this society and wanted to live for her". After a 5 year battle with cancer she finally won over it. Her struggle with the disease changed her forever.

Inspired by her daughter and wanting to make the world a better place for kids like her, she decided to have her school where there would be one kid with special needs for every eight students.

           

I made sure I have raised my daughter with a lot of dignity and attitude even though I was going through cancer, but I see a lack of understanding in people while dealing with special kids in society. Through this school my aim will be to sensitise the kids and their parents and make them understand that special kids are normal kids too. They can learn along with the normal kids in a regular school set up and do not need a separate school.

I want the kids with special needs to learn from their peers and gain confidence to mingle. At the same time, other kids can also learn to respect and treat those differently abled as equals,” 

         

Farid who had worked as a counsellor and a content writer had put all her savings into this school but any new concept is not going to met with immediate acceptance in the society and similarly many parents backed out once a special child was admitted in the school. So her admissions have dropped drastically. She is now short of funds to run the school

I invested more than 11,00,000 INR in my project . Many parents with special needs children have approached me for help for their children, I am unable to contribute anything to them. Like I fought with my cancer, I'm going to fight to make my school a success. If there is anyone out there who believes in my school and the idea I request you to kindly make a donation so that many special kids can benefit. 










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