We shared his story with the MEPO community, and responses of support were immediate. With donations for Obaid’s salary, we were able to offer Obaid the possibility of beginning work with the staff at the Garden of Flowers, and thus began the transformation of Obaid.
In the two months since he rejoined those whom he had grown up with (Razia is like his older sister!) Obaid has gained a completely new life. With MEPO’s support, he found good doctors to assess his eye troubles, and Fatima and Razia helped him gain pride and dignity in his appearance. They began to train him on the basics of Montessori education and gave him responsibilities such as making careful classroom observations of the children, and reading stories to them.
He comes early to work every day and helps out wherever needed – in the classrooms when the teachers take break, in the kitchen, helping clean the building, and supervising outdoor playtime. Twice a week he stays overnight as a night guard. Obaid now has direction, dignity, and purpose in his life, and in being surrounded by those who know and care for him, his heart is slowly mending.
It is becoming clear that the Garden of Flowers is not just for the children – it is soothing to the heart for adults as well.
