Back to What we do... How you can help the CGA School                         The Starfish Asia Fund 32 Beck Lane Beckenham Kent BR3 4RE UK Telephone +44 (0)20 8402 1914 Email mike@starfishasia.com	Children with Special Needs In Pakistan those who are born -- or who develop -- disabilities are at an immediate disadvantage. Society tends to treat the disabled as deficient, worthless and shameful. The lame, the blind and the retarded are precious in the sight of God and deserve special care and love, and those who have committed themselves to care for them are in need of extra help.   The Starfish Asia fund has come alongside several Pakistani men and women who are demonstrating the compassion of Christ for the downtrodden. These people are our special heroes, because they are going the extra mile to show that we love and care for the disadvantaged.   Fellowship of Christ School for Special Children in Sharakpur   Arshad and Nighat live in Sharakpur, a small town to the west of Lahore. Though there are government schools and a hospital in the town, there are no facilities for disabled or mentally retarded children. With help from Ashley and Seema of the Fellowship of Christ in Lahore, Arshad and his wife opened their own home and invited parents to bring their Special Children.   Twenty children now come to the School and, with committed help from Starfish Asia, they have moved to larger premises and hired two teachers. It provides a haven of light and love in an otherwise hopeless environment.          "Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and maimed and blind and lame." Gospel of Luke 14:21  Ananias Home for Blind Girls   The Ananias Home for Blind Girls is well run and professionally staffed under the auspices of Caritas Pakistan. The home cares for 20 visually impaired Christian girls, providing excellent tuition and care, under the inspiring leadership of Mrs. Khalida Nelson. The Home was about to be closed for lack of funding, when we came to know and the Starfish Asia fund arranged regular funding. We are now the main financial supporters of the Home and glad to contribute to the lives of 20 talented girls in this happy and hopeful community.   CGA School for Special Children   Pastor Iqbal was a childhood victim of polio and God miraculously healed him. He and his family have committed themselves to rescue and care for disabled children.   They run the CGA School for Special Children in Lahore, with about 20 children in various stages of schooling, of whom about 10 stay in the Home. Starfish Asia provides financial help to run the Home. Pastor Iqbal and his family provide love, care and a family atmosphere, as they prepare the children for a life of significance and usefulness.   CAP Mercy Mission The Communities Advance Programme (CAP) that runs a a free school for 400 children in Youhannnabad, a Christian colony in Lahore, also opened a school for the disabled in 2006. Meeting an obvious need, they now look after the physical and mental needs of about 15 children. Sumera (right) suffers from Muscular Dystrophy in her right arm, the result of polio. With daily physiotherapy and exercises, she has new hope in her life, and will soon start studying in a normal school. The Mercy Mission is overseen by Prof. Kaleem Din, his wife and capable staff.