PESHAWAR: Dr Rafique Mohammad Anwar, director of Mercy Educational Complex (MEC), at annual event of an orphanage near Peshawar, has appealed to the charity organisations to fulfil needs of his school. He said that his institution was in dire need of books for its library, two ambulances, computer laboratory and UPS system or power generator.

The event ‘moral lectures’ was organised by the MEC administration here on Friday. A number of Fata students also study at the complex. Spread over 50 kanals, MEC is located on GT road near Nasirpur in Peshawar. Built in 1994 for orphan children, the school currently has about 800 students from nursery to matric. The institution is being run on donations.

“Our institution is providing education to destitute children irrespective of their religion, race or gender,” he said and added that the objective of this project was to provide formal and vocational training to orphans enabling them to meet challenges of life.

“I am from North Waziristan. My father was killed in a bomb blast in 2010 when he was present at a registration point in the agency. I want to become a doctor. I feel happy here as I enjoy a study-friendly atmosphere in the hostel,” Mohammad Waqar, a resident of Khaddarkhel village in NWA and student of 6th class, told Dawn.

Built in 1994 the school currently has 800 students

Addressing as guest speaker, Prof Abaseen Yousafzai , chairman of Pashto department, Islamia College Peshawar, said that adopting moral, ethical and social values was a must for young students for their character building. He said that students needed to read and understand their history, culture and moral norms so that they could build their character to mould the society in which they had to live.

Character building, he said, should be the base of learning, adding that education without training would be a futile exercise. He stated that for orphan-children, land and earth served as father and mother.

Earlier, a documentary based on poems of Abaseen Yousafzai was shown in which the poet had depicted plight of poor children.

Prof Falak Naz Khattak, Principal of MEC, said that the school was providing both formal and informal education. He said that vocational training was given in six technical fields. He said that 100 qualified faculty members taught at MEC.

The MEC has a vocational block, mosque, educational block, health clinic, kitchen, dining hall, playgrounds, etc.

Published in Dawn, November 22th , 2014