A Journey Home

A touching tale of reunion unfolds in the quaint village of Amshipora, nestled amidst the beauty of Shopian, Kashmir. Saba Jan (Name Changed), a spirited 14-year-old girl, and her younger brother, Shahid Ahmad  (Name Changed), aged 12, were at a crossroads in 2021 when their father, Qadir Ahmad Barwal, fell ill suddenly. Multiple orthopedic issues affecting his back and right leg necessitated several surgical procedures, leaving the family grappling with both health and financial challenges.

As a labourer facing mounting medical bills, Qadir made the heart-wrenching decision in 2022 to send his cherished children to childcare homes in search of a better life. It started with tearful goodbyes to their humble abode, laughter fading into their respective sanctuaries: Sana to Pareesha Girls Home CCI, 11 kilometers away, and Shahid to Shah-e-Hamdan Child Care Institute Tukroo Shopian, situated 16 kilometers from home. Yet, siblinghood remained an unbreakable bond as they began a journey of resilience and hope.

The HWVO team was able to formulate their Individual Care Plans during which Saba and Shahid expressed their hope to reunite with their family. Their deep desire to reconnect with their family touched the HWVO team, igniting a fire of determination in them to mend their fractured family ties.

HWVO emerged under this UNICEF supported project, becoming a guiding light in the field of child welfare, dedicated to reuniting families separated by adversity. The compassionate team with at the core promoting Family Based Alternative Care (FBAC) set out a mission to rebuild their familial bonds and pave their way home.

Between March and December of 2023, HWVO supported the Child care home authorities during family visits at the childcare institution with the family. The visits had been arranged previously, sometimes allowing the children to spend weeks with their respective families, however, they are always reluctant in returning to institutions. The March 2023 visits were some turning point experiences that became more memorable for the motivating of the whole family to reunite. In every conversation, there was empathy and understanding, laying the foundation for a heartfelt reunion.

The reunion was a poignant blend of tears and laughter as Saba and Shahid embraced their parents once more. Surrounded by the warmth of familial love, they found solace and hope in each other’s arms. The transition from institutional care to the comfort of their home was seamless, a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of compassionate intervention.

Beyond the reintegration, HWVO continued to aid Saba and Shahid’s journey back home. Recognizing the financial strain on the family, the organization secured a stipend of Rs 1000 each from a donor starting from January 2024. It is this generosity that will facilitate Saba and Shahid’s further education without interruption, setting up a better life for them ahead.

HWVO remains the consistent support of Saba and Shahid in weeks and changing seasons. Follow-up visits, combined with ongoing communication, encourage the children to develop both academically and emotionally. Once with uncertain smiles, their bright beaming confidence is a sign that love and care transform people’s lives.

This has marked a glowing success in the story of HWVO as that of Saba and Shahid Ahmad  has stood like a beacon for hope and strength in their endeavors. The couple exemplifies how, despite their adversities, HWVO works steadily toward implementing Family Based Alternative Care and upholding dignity and rights to vulnerable children. Through winding roads in life, Saba and Shahid represent the endurance power of family, community, and compassion alive today.