school
lieven de feijter - 01.11.2003 20:18
hello, this is an article about a school for illegal children in tehran, iran.
SCHOOL
Hassan sews cloths in a sweatshop, Solita removes thorns from roses, Mina pecks sugar into cubes and Fazeleh who makes flowers out of rags, all under 12, are just a few of the thousands of children working illegally in Tehran. They are also the lucky ones to have found the … school. Here everybody under 18, regardless of their origin, religion, background or habits, may come and learn. Mostly clandestine Afghans there’s quite a number of country side originated Iranians.
Public schools are for Tehran residents only. Registration is a lot of hustle and expensive. Refugees from remote areas lack knowledge and money to battle through the bureaucratic jungle. Recent laws to stop Tehran’s excessive growth made it even harder for their children to attend classes. Since the Afghan war foreigners are completely banned from education. Before the Taliban regime boosted migration, they were very welcome. The more Afghans come, the more Iranians look down on them. Associations with theft and rape increase and hostility grows. Even the Afghan kids prefer Iranian adults above their country fellows.
Besides legal problems, juridical hurdles and a non cooperative government, these youngsters face one more obstacle on their path to a human childhood. They work. Work to help their parents make ends meet, some even are breadwinners themselves. Although almost all children save money for tomorrow, none hesitates to spend it on food today, if mom and dad didn’t bring home enough yesterday. Removing thorns for 40 toman, about a nickel, an hour, pecking sugar for 30 toman a kilo or making dolls and flowers out of rags for 200 toman a thousand, are some of the domestic jobs children do. Raw materials, like roses, sugar or rags, are brought by Iranian swindlers, paid only when the job is done. Being the single source of survival, the young employees see their bosses as beneficial. Still such jobs are insecure, depending on the moment. The certainty of a career as a tailor for example isn’t for all. An apprenticeship in an atelier takes a year, in which nothing is earned. After that 3000 toman, 37$, a month is brought home for working 6 days a week 10 hours a day. Only the fortunate among the poor can do such an investment, only families with a lot of offspring can make such an offering. Whereas traditionally girls stay at home to help their mothers, boys are often sent out. Endlessly the lads wander the streets, hoping to sell some gum, polish a shoe or run an errand or two. They aren’t looking for crime, but will act when an opportunity occurs. Six days a week, but on Fridays they have the chance to be just a normal kid, to go to school. .
Most of the students never had any kind of education, and lack basic skills like reading and writing, as well as confidence, reliability and ethics. War and natural disasters forced many people to leave home and hearth, leaving everything behind. After a dangerous journey they reached the slums of Tehran, where a warm welcome was vainly waited for. No proper housing, no decent jobs and worse no human rights at all. Where heaven was expected, hell was found.
Learn to fish rather than supply fishes, is the general philosophy of the …school. The subjects don’t vary from ordinary primary schools; Farsi, math, writing, and handicrafts. It also looks like an everyday school; around 20 pupils in a class, a library, a schoolyard a bell. Nevertheless a lot more is being done for the clientele of this particular institute; an example is set, team spirit is built and responsibility, trust and honesty are increased. There is a social care department consisting of 5 psychologists, which watches over the children. Guidance, advice and protection from parents are issues. Domestic violence is common, a father has the right to hit or even kill his offspring. If the legal means wouldn’t prevent it, the school would take victims into custody. The health care section is the third pillar of the organization. Its goal: prevention and healing of diseases for both children and their parents. Vaccinations are updated, medicines are prescribed and sometimes a doctor is fetched. It all sounds simple; an uncomplicated blood test though could cause a severe fight in the family. A big achievement of this school was, when a 10 year old girl forced her little sister to see the doctor, to be examined and to take the drugs, all against the will of their parents.
There are a large number of thresholds to take. The school unfortunately can’t provide transport. Children, but especially parents, are ashamed of poverty, of child labor. Parents also bear mistrust and fear towards the organization. It’s estranging our children from us, it’s poisoning them and it’s taking them away, all we have left. Therefore it is quite usual that parents have no clue about their offspring’s whereabouts. Let alone encourage their children to attend. Advertising, to reach children, volunteers and benefactors, is practically prohibited; the only meritorious way is mouth to mouth. The association works with volunteers mainly. Although there are 600 enlisted, only 200 are active. It isn’t always easy to find sufficient well-skilled people.
Exclusion of advertising isn’t the state’s only counterwork. Although an old factory has been made available, it was renovated entirely from private resources. No penny has ever found his way from government to school. Threats of closing were made, if the boys and girls wouldn’t be separated. Officially, illegal immigrants aren’t allowed to be present. Companies are intimidated not to participate. Receiving foreign assets has been made just about impossible. There is no official status, the school is merely tolerated.
What started in a park 6 years ago now is a flourishing organization, where hundreds of children have the time of their lives. More branches arose, more kids profited. Eagerness to learn is stronger than all the faced resistance. Achieved joy is worthy of all the effort.
Lieven de Feijter
 E-Mail: azizondaroad@yahoo.com
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