Serve Education Programme in Crisis Situation (SEPCS)

Rafi (pseudonym), a 14-year-old boy, suffers from hearing impairment. His father passed away several years ago, and he lives with his mother, seven brothers, and five sisters. The family makes a living through a small exchange shop run by one of Rafi’s brothers.

When Rafi was young, he saw other children attending school and longed for campus life. However, his family was concerned about how he could receive an education because the schools near Rafi’s home did not teach sign language, making it impossible for him to learn. Eventually, due to Rafi’s strong desire to attend school, his family went through the enrolment process for him. Unfortunately, the school had never admitted a hearing-impaired student before and had no experience in helping Rafi integrate into campus life. His classmates also lacked understanding of Rafi’s situation and often mocked and made fun of him, which made Rafi feel very sad.

One day, Rafi’s brother mentioned his situation to a friend who informed him that Serve Afghanistan had established educational programs for hearing-impaired children. They suggested that Rafi be taken there to give it a try.

In 2017, Rafi participated in a preparatory course organised by Serve Afghanistan for hearing-impaired children. He received training in sign language, life skills, and self-care. Through this course, Rafi finally became able to communicate with his classmates and enjoy the pleasure of learning. A year later, Serve Afghanistan assisted Rafi in enrolling in a public school that implemented inclusive education. Rafi is currently in the fifth grade and performs excellently in class, ranking among the top in almost every subject’s exams. Rafi’s goal is to complete his secondary education, and he hopes to become a teacher someday.