KARACHI: The Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) has established pre-vocational training areas at the Sindh Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation to facilitate the integration of children with autism into life and provide them with preparatory opportunities for advanced vocational training.
The pre-vocational training areas, renovated and equipped with furniture and electronic equipment, were inaugurated by Dursun Ali Yasakan, Head of TIKA’s East, South Asia, Pacific and Latin America (DOGAL) Department, and Cemal Sancu, Turkish Consul General. In Karachi.
In his statements after the opening, Dursun Ali Yaskan stressed that TIKA is developing and supporting projects around the world to facilitate the lives of disadvantaged groups. He expressed his satisfaction in contributing to such a successful institution.
Consul General Sanju added that after touring all the units, he witnessed firsthand the useful and successful services provided by the institute. He expressed his gratitude to TIKA for choosing the right institution for the project and thanked the institute officials for their dedicated services to Pakistan.
Dr. Irum Rizwan, head of the institute, pointed to the rapid increase in the number of people with autism around the world, noting that one in every 100 children in Pakistan is autistic. She expressed her gratitude to Tika for her support in helping these special children adapt to normal life.
One of the beneficiary mothers, who received rehabilitation services for her child years ago, expressed her deep gratitude to TIKA and the Turkish people. She mentioned how the vocational training provided by the institute helped her son develop his skills and eventually find work.
The institute, which was established as the first training hospital in Pakistan for individuals with autism, provides rehabilitation and vocational training services to about 150 children daily.
In addition to developing motor skills and activities of daily living, the institute offers vocational training in handicrafts, lamination and cooking, as well as educating academics and students. – program