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| Fousia, Navajyothi Special School, Mankavu, Kozhikkode |
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Her ‘Blossom Flower Designs’ event management and catering unit at Kozhikode serves multiple purposes: as a service provider for hosts of marriages and parties, for giving at least temporary employment to women and students and perhaps to find funds for her other ventures. These other ventures include ‘Navajyothi Trust’ that runs a special school for 60 mentally challenged children and ‘We Malabar’, an organization to guide women to self-employment and to counsel them on opportunities.
Born in a family with A tradition of progressive ideas even 2 generations ago, Fousia wanted to do something in the field of social service. It was while she was in the Middle East with her husband Mubasheer that she saw a TV program on mentally challenged children and an American woman who took care of them. But there was no scope for such activity in the Gulf. So she had to wait till the family came back to Kerala.
And once in Kerala, with the support of her husband and 3 children, she had an opportunity to join a trust and work for the welfare of mentally unstable children. “Actually nothing was planned; everything happened just like that,” she says about her entry into the field of philanthropy. In the running of the special school, she has the support of few like-minded persons who include N.A.Aboobaker, Habeeb, Ali Sahib, Haseena and Jameela.
Though her event management unit is able to provide only temporary jobs to women and students, her experience is that such temporary assignments of 2 or 3 days is welcomed by them. It provides them enough money to pay their monthly fees and meet other expenses.
The students of the special school make candles and washing soap as part of their training. These items are sold through Rotary Club, which entails the students to make a small earning.
Courtesy: V.R., Vanitha, January 1-14, 2005
Contributed by: Administrator
