Jhara Moni Biswas had a world of opportunities before her when she graduated with a degree in music 2011, to build a career as musician and enjoy the serenity that comes with music.
Instead, she chose to share that serenity and hope with children – not of the privileged quarter of society, but from the rather underprivileged and often neglected one.
Jhara joined Sopno Kuri, an organisation devoted to the welfare of differently abled children in Muktagachha, Mymensingh, as a music teacher in 2012.
“I came to know about Sopno Kuri in 2011; I was writing a story on the organisation for a national daily, where I worked as a reporter.” Jhara reminisced.
The then chief of Sopno Kuri was Debashish Ghosh Bappi, who established the organisation in the same year.
“Learning about my background in music, Sopno Kuri offered my a job of a music teacher,” Jhara said.
Needless to say, she accepted the offer, and three years later she runs the organisation with the belief that differently abled children, if provided with a little care, love and cooperation, can shine and contribute a lot to the progress of society.
“We have found that music motivates differently abled children a lot; so does sports and other forms of activities. Children in our school are allowed to take part in district-level music and sports competitions. Although they cannot usually outperform the normal children, they can hold their own,” Jhara said.
Sopno Kuri now has 400 differently abled students and 16 regular teachers to provide voluntary service to the school. There are also therapists to provide physiotherapy to the children.
The fact that motivates Sopno Kuri organisers to continue their efforts is that a considerable portion of the total population of this country are differently abled. According to World Health Organisation, as much as 10% of the world population are differently abled in one way or another, and most of them belong to very poor families.
“We hope to continue our work so that we can merge the differently abled children with the mainstream and that no such children can be regarded as a burden on their families.”
To achieve that goal, Sopno Kuri has undertaken a number of initiatives, such as offering scholarships to its students, improving mothers’ healthcare facilities, and educating and empowering parents of differently abled children.
“Most parents of differently abled children here are often seen to have very negative attitude towards their children. But we believe that these children have a lot of potential to grow into good citizens if provided with proper guidance and care.
“That is why we involve them so much in music, sports and other activities with a view to convincing them that they are normal, just like other children,” Jhara said.
She also urged both government and non-government organisations to launch awareness-raising programmes for mothers to help avert the possibility of a child being physically challenged.
“It is true that the government is willing to involve differently abled children with the society. But the scenario will not change overnight,” she said. “Children living in remote areas have yet to receive due attention.”
Sopno Kuri’s efforts were recently recognised by Youth Bangla, the largest platform of change makers in the country under the patronage of Centre for Research and Information – Jhara was one of 30 awardees in the Joy Bangla Youth Award ceremony.
Jhara strongly believes that Sopno Kuri – which literally mean “bud of dreams” – will bloom and continue to grow through the contributions of differently abled children. “The process has begun,” a proud Jhara said.