Humanity Welfare Organization Helpline.

Humanity Welfare Organization Helpline (HWOH) is the brainchild of Javed Ahmed Tak, a paraplegic since 1999. Javed was shot in the spine by unidentified gunmen who were persuading him to join their ranks and become a militant. Javed’s refusal cost him his ability to walk. He was confined to bed and after major surgeries is now able to use a wheelchair.

Javed did not loose faith or hope in himself. To channel his energies he stared teaching orphans of conflict free of cost at his home. The children later became his networkers and they reached out to marginalise, destitute and those who suffered disability in any form.

In 2005 the small initiative expanded to include basic computer literacy for orphan children and youth. Raised on public donations and gifted by social and charity organisations, computers became ‘social connectors’ and tools of empowerment, especially for young girls. The first batch of girls participated in capacity building workshop organised by Women in Security, Conflict Management and Peace. As local partners of WISCOMP’s Athwaas initiative, the young girls actively engaged to form Samanbal, the grassroots spaces for healing and sharing and empowering women.

Meanwhile HWOH worked tirelessly to organise community gatherings for spreading awareness about rights of physically challenged. They conducted workshops with teachers, government-run grassroots organisations and involved families and local community about issues related to disability. They received funding by Child Rights and Youth (CRY) to conduct research and for identifying children affected by any form of disability, including those who were victims of landmines or weapons. With the help of CRY funds, HWOH now runs a school for 20 physically challenged children. For Javed and his team peace in Kashmir is possible when rights of all are respected and included. Working under the larger framework of Human Rights, HWOH endeavours to link issues of peace with justice for all.

HWOH is also actively involved in monitoring human rights violations of disabled people.

Individually Javed has been advocating at various forums, locally and at the national level against small arms and weapons. This is an area wherein he wishes to intervene more actively for peace in Kashmir. The organisation is currently looking funding to build a barrier free school and establish physiotherapy centre for severely disable people.