The air is pulsing with music. Colourful bunches of balloons and fairy lights add to the festive atmosphere. There is a general buzz of activity and excitement as applause and cheers keep breaking out. A talent show with a difference is underway.

Welcome to Down Syndrome’s Got Talent, a one of a kind music and dance concert featuring Karachi’s special children. Hosted by the Ujala School for special children, the event brought together 7 schools from across Karachi to pool their talent and liven up the evening. The teachers of all the schools had obviously worked extremely hard to coach the children, as was evident from the costumes and choreography.

“That was my daughter up on stage,” a gentleman said proudly. Another parent beamed fondly as her son danced onstage with abandon, his relatives cheering him on from the audience.

The evening had three components, painting, block-printing and performance. While the painting and block-printing sessions were being conducted simultaneously, the performances were naturally the highlight of the evening. The energy and excitement of the performers and the enthusiastic appreciation of the audience made each number a success.

The evening was the brainchild of Hammad Aslam, the young General Secretary of Ujala, located in Karachi’s upmarket Defence area. However, the school caters to all stratas of society, offering a pick and drop service to children from Landhi, Korangi and Lyari.

“In 1981, the Parents Voice Association was formed when a group of parents with special children came together to build greater awareness,” says Hammad. The idea of a school subsequently took root. “The association wanted to set up a school which would be run solely by parents of special children with no outsiders involved.”

But the group ran into trouble finding the premises for their scheme. In fact, they got some negative feedback from people who were not open to lending space for a school of this nature. Undeterred, they began a street school, which came to the notice of a major in the Defence Housing Authority. The school was then allotted a space which Ujala now occupies.

A completely non-profit organization, Ujala tries not to turn anyone away. A mix of children from different social backgrounds, ages and degrees of disability frequent Ujala. The school has two shifts and on any given day one can see children coming in with their own cars and drivers to being dropped off on motorcycles or using the Ujala vans.  “A few days ago, a qari sahib came to me with his son who has no arms or legs and is also mentally disabled,” says Hammad. “He had very limited resources and was desperate. All I could say to him was that you came to the right place.”

Ujala’s success can be measured from the fact that the children obviously love coming here. “It’s the highlight of their day. That’s why we barely have any holidays. We only close on Sundays and on Eid,” says Hammad. “If there is ever trouble in the city and the vans can’t make it to pick up the children, we get calls from their parents to pacify them.”

Hamad narrates a touching story from within his own family. “My mamu, who had special needs, passed away two years ago. He was in a coma and nothing would get to him. My family was distraught praying constantly for him and trying to reach him. But the only voice that got through was that of our chowkidar who used to call him every morning saying “Chalo beta! Van aagayi.”

Hamad’s grandfather Mr Zakaria Godil is one of the founding fathers and current chairman of Ujala. Hamad was nominated by his grandfather to head Ujala despite his youth – he is currently doing his undergraduate studies – since his dedication and interest in the school was obvious from the start.

Mr Godil has served as a provincial minister for Special Education and passed an important law during his tenure. The law calls for the screening of all newborns since, if caught in the early stages, 90% of defects can be reversed or alleviated. The law is applicable only to Sindh, but it’s implementation, or lack thereof, is another story.

Ujala also has a very well organized volunteer programme for teenagers from Karachi’s privileged schools as well as government schools. In summer and winter breaks and on week-ends, volunteers flock to the school in growing numbers. The idea is to increase contact with special children and spread awareness amongst the youth who will mould our future society.

And what about the Ujala kids? What do they think of this stream of volunteers passing through their lives? “Oh they love the attention,” laughs Hammad. “They are the stars of the school and everything is centered around them.”

Ujala is a happy place and a sense of joy and affection permeates the atmosphere. For this credit must be given to the principal and teachers with their unflagging energy and cheerfulness. “Karachi University is the only place that offers a special degree in teaching children with special needs,” says Hammad. “And they have very few graduates. But we have found that parents often make the best teachers. Then there are others as well.  All our teachers are put through in-house as well as external training sessions.”

Run completely on private donations and fund-raisers, the numbers at the school have been growing over the years. “We have a waiting list in Lyari,” says Hammad. For the future, there are plans to build a hospital catering to special needs for which fund-raising is underway.