Framed: Maternal ties

Abandoned mothers find joy in each other’s company

As the world celebrates Mother’s day today, it is worth acknowledging women who live and busy themselves with the company of not their own, but strangers. For most of them, the traditional social structure of family could no longer accommodate their challenged bodies and minds.

The Ismaili Council and the Aga Khan Social Welfare Board for Pakistan set up 11 recreational centres across the country, where they provide residents a space to relax and entertain themselves by reading, playing cards and other games, watching movies, and surfing the internet. The centre is equipped with books, magazines, computers and audio-visual aids and is managed by a group of volunteers and helpers. These activities not only help alleviate physical ailments such as arthritis, diabetes and high blood pressure, but also temporarily distract these women from their troubles.

Arif Soomro is a pagemaker at The Express Tribune 

Published in The Express Tribune, Sunday Magazine, May 11^th, 2014.