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Transcript/Script((PLAYBOOK SLUG: Pakistan Karachi School
HEADLINE: Pakistani School Focuses on Healing Generational Trauma
TEASER: Sabina Khatri spent almost a decade applying her self-designed mental health-focused model of care on small groups of children, mothers
PUBLISHED: 03/15/2024, 1:04 pm
BYLINE: Sarah Zaman
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Karachi, Pakistan
VIDEOGRAPHER: Wajid Asad
VIDEO EDITOR: Malik Waqar Ahmed
SCRIPT EDITORS: sb, Reifenrath
VIDEO SOURCE: VOA original
PLATFORMS: WEB __ TV X__ RADIO X_
TRT: 3:03
VID APPROVED BY: sb
TYPE: TVPKG
EDITOR NOTES:
((Intro))
In a neighborhood that was once a hotbed of gang violence in Pakistan's economic hub, Karachi, one school is focused on healing the wounds of trauma passed down through generations. With emphasis on mental health, the Kiran Foundation’s school is empowering children and mothers to end the cycle of aggression and abuse. VOA Pakistan bureau chief Sarah Zaman has the story.
((NAT of Sabina meeting children))
((Narration))
When Sabina Khatri walks into her Kiran Foundation school, children flock to her, beaming with joy.
The school is in the heart of Lyari, a densely populated, impoverished neighborhood in Pakistan’s economic hub, Karachi. For years, Lyari was a hotbed of violent political and criminal gangs.
((For radio: A student’s father, Yaseen Ahmed, says the road that school is on was once impossible to take because bullets could fly anytime.))
((Yaseen Ahmad, Lyari Resident (Male, Urdu)))
“Traveling on this road used to be impossible for us. We couldn’t come here in the day or night. Bullets could fly anytime.”
((Narration))
A domestic abuse case brought Khatri to the neighborhood two decades ago. She saw that street violence was severely impacting families behind closed doors.
((Sabina Khatri, Kiran Foundation Founder (Female, English)))
“Because of aggression, because of rage within people, the rage would come out on the youngest human in the family or the weakest, which a lot of time is the woman.”
((Narration))
Khatri designed a model of care focusing on mental health.
Before adopting this school, she spent almost a decade applying her system to small groups of children and mothers.
((Sabina Khatri, Kiran Foundation Founder)) ((Female, English))
“So, understanding what trauma does to a child, how it would manifest in adulthood, how can I reverse this cycle for them? And then the mothers eventually become spokespersons into the community, speaking about trauma and its effects to people.”
((Narration))
Fierce but controversial law enforcement operations largely brought peace to Lyari almost a decade ago, but the trauma of past violence persists.
In 2104, Khatri's charitable foundation took over the school that housed a political party’s torture chamber. She spent the first year helping senior students process their pain.
((Sabina Khatri, Kiran Foundation Founder)) ((Female, English))
“I announced it as the healing year. That this year we are not going to do any studies. Let’s just close the books, let’s heal. There was a lot of shame, guilt, revenge, anger, rage within them for everybody.”
((Narration))
The walls, once stained with blood, are now plastered with messages of kindness.
((For radio: New to the school, 5th grader Maham Soomro says staff here is polite and doesn't hit students.))
((Maham Soomro, Student)) ((female, Urdu))
“Here, they are polite and don’t beat us.”
((Narration))
A psychologist is always on hand to help with behavioral issues. For older students, meditation corners provide space for self-reflection.
But special attention is given to empowering mothers.
((For radio: Amna Khatri’s is the mother of a preschooler))
((Amna Khatri, Mother of Student)) ((Female, English)) ((She used two, three words of Urdu but those can be ignored.))
“Then you teach others at home how to interact with your child and what kind of language do you use at home and what kind of words you are not using at home.”
((Mandatory CG: Courtesy: Kiran Foundation))
((Narration))
Many of Khatri’s former students are now pursuing higher education in Karachi. Still, she says, her methods have some sceptics.
((Sabina Khatri, Kiran Foundation Founder)) ((Female, English))
“There are people in Lyari also who say that, and a few educationalists also say that, that if you’re going to be so polite with them [the students], if you are going to keep no distance with the children, they will not be able to go to good universities. Today, I am so happy that I have proven them wrong.”
((Narration))
Khatri hopes her model of healing while teaching will help younger generations build a future different from the past.
((Sabina Khatri, Kiran Foundation Founder)) ((Female, English))
“Let the magic happen. (If) you keep the children safe and happy, they will do it themselves.”
((NAT of children playing))
((Sarah Zaman, VOA News, Karachi, Pakistan))
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