History

It is gratifying that, in addition to the official institutions for the welfare of boys and girls of the aforesaid category, NGO’s have also sprung up particularly in big cities and towns. One organization of the kind is situated in the Punjab Co-operative Housing Society adjacent to the Defense Housing Authority, (DHA),Lahore Cantt. It bears the name of ‘Lahore Association Pakistan (LAP), It is functioning in conjunction with the ‘Lahore Association Japan (LAP), in Fukuoka City of Japan. The collaboration of the Japanese philanthropists became available when the mother of a handicapped child, Mrs. Mussarat Taimour, visited Fukuoka City to acquire a diploma in Special Education for handling and training special children. Her devotion and commitment to the mission she had undertaken voluntarily, impressed her teacher, Professor Susumo Harizuka and Mr. and Mrs. Shibata, who were imbued with the typical Japanese Quality of kind heartedness. Their interest in Pakistan and its problems grew with the passage of time so much so that Mr. Shibata visited Lahore and had a look at the existing institutions for Special children. Acting as a friend, philosopher and guide, he planned to form an Association in Fukuoka, bearing the name of Lahore Association Japan (LAJ) and a sister association at Lahore with the name of ‘Lahore Association Pakistan (LAP). The proposed associations were formed speedily.  

Aims and objectives of Lahore Association Pakistan (LAP)

• Creation of awareness about the seriousness of the problem.
• Provision of guidance and help to the parents in getting their children treated property and admitted in special Institutions.

Organization’s Mission:

The mission of our organization is to educate and train the special children in such a way that their dependence on their parents be reduced and they become independent and useful members of society. To achieve this mission, we have established an institution where special children acquire a quality education and training and to hire the dedicated and devoted teachers for them who can patiently teach them. We are also providing pick and drop facility to the existing strength of students with normal charges. The sub objectives are:

• To create awareness among the public, particularly in the parents to realize the seriousness of the problem of mentally handicapped children and the need to provide them with special education as early as possible.
• To guide and help the parents in getting their children treated properly and admitted in special institutions.
• To open more such centers/schools for educating and training mentally handicapped children.
• To provide hostel facilities to the special children Ø To make arrangements for training special teachers for the institutions.
• To conduct studies and surveys to collect necessary data about mentally handicapped persons and their problems.
• To mobilize resources for providing logistic support to such special institutions

Fukuoka School in Lahore Pakistan:

Mrs. Taimur initiated her efforts by establishing the Fukuoka School for special children from her personal residence. Presently, the school has a separate building which comprises three classrooms for students along with a playground. Before hiring teachers, Mrs. Taimur made sure that the basic quality she requires in teachers is patience with every child to deal with different attitudes and behaviors of children. Later, she personally trained all teachers to ensure the necessary skills that were required to handle children.

It is the unique Japanese system that has been replicated by the Fukuoka School. Children are categorized in three groups: (i) children whose level of understanding is very low are placed in the first category (ii) children which can comprehend little but cannot communicate effectively are placed in the second category, and (iii) children who can understand as well as communicate to a certain extent belong to the last category. In the first category, children are trained to dress up and use toilets. In the second category, they learn to recognize different objects through pictures and objects. While in the last category, children receive elementary education and learn how to sew, type and do basic mathematics. Although having separate classes, children are encouraged to perform certain activities as a group. Presently, there are 25 students at the school with FIVE Female teachers.

The school charges no admission fee whereas the monthly fee depends on the paying capacity of the parents. It ranges from Rs. 50-500 per month while the school provides stationary and books. Besides academics and training, children also participate in games, sports events, and painting competitions for confidence building and entertainment where they have won prizes as well.

The Children of Fukuoka School share recreational activities with other Special schools as well.