![Hayatullah Saber, 33, is shown during a live radio programme in a studio in Khost city last November 5. [Khalid Zerai/Salaam Times]](/cnmi_st/images/2023/01/06/40165-img_0049-739_416.webp)
KHOST -- A 33-year-old Khost man who lost one leg, one hand and both eyes in a mine explosion is defying all expectations and providing thousands of people with the opportunity to learn.
Hayatullah Saber, a resident of Khabashkhailo village of Matun, the provincial centre, was injured in 2007 soon after he finished high school.
Despite his injuries, he has been hosting social and political radio programmes with various local media organisations in Khost starting 10 years ago.
More recently, over the past year, Saber began recording a radio programme aimed at teaching listeners to read and write.
Now he has more than 10,000 students in the provincial capital and other districts of Khost.
Saber writes elementary English and Pashto books and then sends them to shops and other businesses in various communities for listeners to purchase.
The books contain letters, words and sentences corresponding to a number. Saber on his programme calls out the number and then reads aloud the content to his listeners.
Although Saber is blind, he memorises lessons with the help of his friends. After recording them at his home, he sends the recordings to four local radio stations to be broadcast.
The majority of his students are illiterate girls and women in remote areas who either do not have schools in their areas or are not allowed to go to school.
"We first launched this programme to teach families ... who either do not have schools in their areas or are deprived of going to school by economic and social issues," Saber said.
So far this year, Saber has printed three series of books.
Lessons for the third series, which in addition to Pashto and English also cover math, are still being broadcast and will be completed soon.
"Through these lessons, we not only achieve moral returns but also earn millions of afghanis," he said. "We are trying to expand this programme to other provinces too."
Opportunity for learning
Shazia Sahaar, 20, a resident of a remote area of Khost province, said she has been following Saber's radio programme for a year and has learned much in a short period.
"This programme should be further developed," she said. "The person in charge of the programme taught us a lot. We could not read the expiration date of medicines at home before, but now we know a lot of things."
"Girls may not go to school in remote areas," said Mariam Sahaar, 18, Shazia's sister, who also listens to the radio lessons, in reference to local cultural restrictions or great geographic distances.
"We call on the international community to help in this area. Right now local radio stations do not broadcast in some remote areas. If broadcasting is expanded to those areas, this programme will have even more listeners."
"Both of my nieces were illiterate, but they are now familiar with both English and Pashto," said Wali Khosti, 48, the Sahaars' uncle.
"I call on the international community to provide learning opportunities to these girls through different means," he said.
In addition to his nieces, his son and nephew also study through Saber's radio programme, Khosti said.
The only means to progress
Teaching through radio is an innovative approach, said Shabroz Paktin, a lecturer at the medical school of Shaikh Zahid University in Khost city.
"As far as I have followed it, the 'Study with Saber' programme is very important for students," he said. "The programme has provided much help in reading and writing."
"Education is the only means of progress in a country and a society, which enables us to compete with others," he said.
"Study with Saber", which is broadcast through four local radio stations in Khost at different times, has also become an important source of income for the hosts.
Saber's educational programme has not only increased the Wolus Ghag radio station's audience but brought in some advertising revenue, said Sharif Ilham, programming manager of Wolus Ghag, a local private radio station in the province.
"When this programme started, [Saber] also signed a contract with Wolus Ghag radio to broadcast, which continues to date," said Ilham.
"This programme increased our audience since thousands of listeners, including school students, listen to it," he said.
Indeed, blindness or disability is not a defect; if one has determination, no one can stop him from the struggle. Saber is a good example. He is a living example for human beings, especially for Afghans. Every human being should learn from Saber. While he does not give up the struggle of learning in this situation, what do you think of a healthy person? What are you doing, and where are you going?! Let the sisters and brothers study together and brighten their future lives.
Reply6 Comment
In the beginning, I would like to thank the Salaam Times agency for publishing a report on a region of Pashtuns after a long time. We want the magazine to write about the problems of the people of those areas because Salaam Times is an international media organization whose broadcasts reach a large number of people, and responsible people (institutions and responsible officials) can hear their voices and then their problems can be addressed very easily. Also, thanks to Saber, who is working hard and has not lost his courage but has deficiencies. In Nangarhar, Kunar, and Kabul provinces, blind people do various works. They teach... There is a kind of writing called (Braille) that is taught to blind people. A friend of mine is blind; he teaches Braille writing. He has many students. He wrote the Holy Quran in Braille. In general, it can be said that if disabled people want to change their lives, they will not need anyone and will not be forced to reach out to anyone. There are examples of this at the international level, and inside Afghanistan, there are many disabled people who are working hard to continue their lives and do not beg anyone to seek help.
Reply6 Comment
I thank Mr. Sabir for providing educational programs for the people of Khost, especially for women. Such programs should be expanded even more. It should not depend only on the radio, but television programs should also be made in this area and presented to the people. Now is the age of technology. We should use radio, television, and the internet to educate our people and eliminate ignorance in society. I wish Ustad Sabir more success in his endeavors.
Reply6 Comment
I admire the feeling and efforts of this selfless person, but we must keep in mind that informal education can never replace formal education. I see that many organizations and offices these days are busy providing online or radio lessons for students, especially girls, but unfortunately, the money and energy used in this field is wasted to a large extent. It is true that this work will increase people's knowledge, but at the same time, this work will divert people's minds from the main issues, especially formal education for girls, and will cause unnecessary expenses. The people of Afghanistan and the international community must together and with one voice ask the Taliban to open the gates of schools and universities for female students and put pressure on the Taliban to the last degree.
Reply6 Comment
Hayatullah Saber, who has lost one of his feet and one arm and two eyes in a mine explosion, is able to teach free education to tens of thousands of female and male students through his radio teachings. Hayatullah Saber may be facing a lot of problems, because it is difficult for a person who has lost both of his eyes, a leg and an arm. This is a very difficult task. It is difficult to leave home and go to the radio station every day, but Saber has a strong will. He considers something impossible as possible and achieves it. Nothing in the world is a problem as long as there is a strong will. Anyone who fights like Saber and works for this country, God willing, illiteracy will be eradicated.
ReplyMay Almighty Allah always keep him successful.
Reply6 Comment