Pakistani teacher Asma Manzar Qureshi writes about her experience with elephantiasis and how she’s creating an inclusive learning environment for every student. (Courtesy of Asma Manzar Qureshi)

Pakistani teacher Asma Manzar Qureshi writes about her experience with the disease and how she’s creating an inclusive learning environment for every student.

Since birth, I have been suffering from an illness called elephantiasis — more commonly known as the elephant disease — which causes my legs to swell up to elephant-like proportions. When I was 10 years old the doctor had to amputate one of my legs because it had swollen up to 50 kilograms.

Growing up, it was difficult to manage elephantiasis. I couldn’t go out much and live the life the way other girls in my community would live. I couldn't go play with friends. I couldn’t go to the market or visit relatives and meet people. I couldn’t walk by myself. It all made me feel helpless. Everywhere I went, people would look at me with pity, which made me feel bad. I wished they would have shown empathy but instead they laughed and taunted.

“I wanted to show girls who faced obstacles like me that those challenges didn’t have to define them.”

— Asma Manzar Qureshi

Despite all my suffering, I never gave up hope and never lost my desire to pursue an education. I wanted to do something for myself. I wanted to be independent and one day be in a position where I could support myself financially. I knew education was the path to achieving those dreams. I wanted to show girls who faced obstacles like me that those challenges didn’t have to define them.

However, it was very difficult for me to attend classes every day because of my heavy leg. I couldn’t walk and it was painful to move. I didn’t have a motorized chair to help me move. As a result, I spent most of my days studying at home. In eighth grade, I switched to private education at home because I couldn’t go to school regularly. I continued my classes at home and even though I faced more barriers — like my leg amputation and the continuous spread of my disease — I persevered and managed to pass intermediate school with good results.

It wasn’t always easy. I experienced taunts, ill wishes and jokes from neighbors, relatives and friends. I often felt stuck and helpless. My disease is very painful, made worse by the fact that others made me feel unwanted. There were times I felt like giving up but the encouragement and support of my family — particularly my sister — gave me hope. I also drew strength from my favorite class Islamiat (Islamic studies), which helped me trust God that I am not alone.

I am now a teacher at a private school and I have the honorable job of educating the future generations of our country. My teachers encouraged me throughout my academic career. They built my confidence through counseling. One teacher in particular, Ambreen Noor, used to guide me and motivated me to believe in myself and not give up. I wanted to provide other students with that same support.

As a teacher, my goal is to create an inclusive environment where every student feels welcomed. I want students with disabilities to be able to study and enjoy school. I want students with disabilities to feel comfortable being themselves and to know they have the ability to make a positive difference in their own life and in their communities as well.

“As a teacher, my goal is to create an inclusive environment where every student feels welcomed. I want students with disabilities to be able to study and enjoy school. I want students with disabilities to feel comfortable being themselves and to know they have the ability to make a positive difference in their own life and in their communities as well.”

— Asma Manzar Qureshi

But it’s not up to just teachers to support students with disabilities. To create an inclusive environment for students with disabilities, the Pakistani government needs to provide schools with financial support so that they have enough resources to support every student and their different learning needs. Leaders should create awareness campaigns about people with disabilities so that no one taunts us, hurts us or makes us feel bad. In order for students with disabilities to succeed at school, they need to feel safe and comfortable around their peers.

With time my medical condition has gotten worse and I can’t go out much. I’ve transitioned from going to school to providing home tutoring for my students instead. But regardless of whether I’m teaching in a classroom or in my home, my objective is the same: to inspire and support my students. I hope the young people I teach are inspired by my journey and experiences. I hope that they see I was able to complete my education despite the odds and that they can too.

Thank you to Madiha Rehman, Malala Fund Education Champion and director of programmes at AzCorp Entertainment, for connecting us with Asma. Malala Fund supports the work of education activists like Madiha who are breaking down barriers to girls’ education in their communities.