Giving happiness to children a moral obligation

Written By: Lachin Rezaian TEHRAN, Oct. 16 (MNA) – How we care for children, protect their welfare, making them happy and prepare them for the future are the most important issues we face during our lifetime. There is a very important goal the charity institutions follow in Iran: Teaching poor children. Not the alphabets, but rather how to live a happy life despite living in poverty. For many parents, raising happy children is the holy grail of parenting success. What makes a happy child who grows into a happy adult? Poverty is an important factor that can prevent many children from feeling happy. The future of poor children is in darkness. Due to a lack of education, these children have stolen loot, have addictions, turn into street children and have gone the way of crime. Because alienating get them from all over the place. These children need love and guidance. There are a number of institutions, organizations, NGOs or centers in the Islamic Republic of Iran where they provide needy children with financial support, education, treatment, shelter, job opportunities, happiness and many other basic or secondary needs. Taaly NGO Institute, a charity group to make children happy, is one of the nation’s nongovernmental centers which was established in 2003 to propagate happiness among children of low-income families for they thought happiness was among the basic needs of socially-injured children. Taaly Institute's Managing Director Mrs. Ghobadi was our special guest at English Desk in Mehr News Agency. During a meeting with her, she elaborated on the goals and functions of the institute. Mrs. Ghobadi said the members of the group decided to bring joy among children of poverty-stricken families by teaching them how to grow up as responsible persons and how to enjoy their lives despite all hardships and deprivations. She stressed the members are all experienced individuals who transfer their knowledge to little children in the educational classes. The "Taaly Happy Children" charity foundation has also established a number of schools in less developed regions of Tehran. Pointing to the key mission of the group, she said providing children with a healthy environment is an important factor to make them happy and foster them more responsible for their future life. Mrs. Ghobadi said the idea of founding such a group crossed our mind when we decided to do something for the children who are hurt in poverty, not economically, but through making them happy, literate, educated and beneficial to their society. "We take for granted hope, respect and optimism about the future among the basic needs of such children and founded a volunteer group named "Taaly Happy Children" in a bid to establish educational and recreational camps for children," Mrs. Ghobadi stated. One measure Taaly Institute considers as the main feature is holding training and recreational camps for children in less-developed districts of Tehran and its suburban regions, including Rey City, Shahriar and Pakdasht in Varamin. Children receive courses to keep up with their peers. Annually, the institution holds recreational and also educational camps and children from poor families take part, she said adding that the program provides them with the opportunity to enhance their communicative skills and improve their potentials. In addition to annual camps, a number of classes are active in the above-mentioned districts to teach children life skills through playing games and engaging in other social activities. Mrs. Ghobadi reiterated that one of the fruitful and interesting acts of the institution is to involve mothers in the programs. As the most important member of the family in educating and upbringing their children, mothers are taught how to instill the sense of self-esteem, optimism and happiness in their children, she said. The NGO is not the only center to help needy Iranian children and their families, regardless of their religious, political, or ethnic background and provide them with health care, education, and related facilities that promote the well-being of children. Iran’s Mahak Society to Support Children with Cancer is one of those centers. Mahak was named as the world’s tenth top Non-Governmental Organization in 2013. Mahak strongly supports the parents of the children suffering from cancer. With support from Mahak, parents can concentrate on the treatment of their children and the children, themselves, change their concern from a grim current condition to a joyful hope for a better future. Mahak ensures that children with cancer are never refused treatment due to poor financial status. At the same time, we must recognize that action by governments alone is insufficient. Our model must be one of true partnership between the state, citizens and other actors, including the private sector. In this more unequal, unstable and interdependent world we cannot now settle for charity. We must recognize our responsibility to the poor and continue the long march to justice. Happiness is a moral obligation, then every individual person must do his/her moral duty for building a better family, society and world. In order to support the Taaly charity foundation or to share your donations with the institute, contact us via English@mehrnews.com.