How the Gilgit Education & Rehabilitation Centre started...

In the year 2000 the Gilgit blind training school began as a training facility for men and boys. In 2002 girls were admitted for the first time and 2003 it became a primary school for blind impaired children. The blind school teaches a basic local curriculum and students learn 2 Braille languages, English and Urdu. We have 2 hostels for the students that live outside of town and we provide transportation services.

In 2004 a community based program for visually impaired infants began and the following year the community based program began including children with all types of disabilities. In 2006 we changed our name to the Gilgit Education & Rehabilitation Centre to reflect the different programs we are running. We are currently part of a joint program funded through the World Bank that teaches local women volunteers how to teach disabled children through play.

Currently the blind school has 15 students from all over the northern areas, 12 of which reside in our hostels. There are currently 9 full time staff for the blind school and 1 for the community based program. The joint project currently has 6 trainers. The community based program and World Bank project currently helps around 90 children and both the blind school and the community based program continue to grow.

The community based project has funding through to December 2007 but the blind school is totally dependant on donations from outside. Currently there is an urgent need for donations to enable this program to continue. If this is something that you would like further information about please contact us at directorgerc@yahoo.co.nz