The Enabled Children Initiative Care Home is a remarkable private residential care home nestled in Kabul, Afghanistan. It serves as a safe haven for 29 children and youths with disabilities who have faced the heart-wrenching experience of being abandoned or orphaned. It offers residential care, education, physiotherapy, healthcare and meals - all provided with compassion and care by ECI staff who stay with the children 24/7. It is the only care home for children with disabilities in Afghanistan.
In many Afghan communities, disabilities are often misunderstood, leading to discrimination and isolation. Families, already living in poverty, may feel overwhelmed by the additional burdens of caring for a child with special needs. Lack of access to healthcare, education, and support, leads some parents to abandon their children; others have been orphaned due to decades-long conflict and healthcare crises. Care home places are limited and children with disabilities have the least options.
ECI's Care Home is the sole orphanage in Kabul that offers comprehensive residential care exclusively to orphans and abandoned children with disabilities. It currently accommodates a total of 29 children and youths, ranging in age from approximately four to 21 years old, who find solace and care in this nurturing environment. All children and youth receive meals, education, recreational activities, physiotherapy and healthcare.
ECI has been successfully integrating residents from the Care Home into public schools, allowing children with disabilities to receive inclusive education, vocational training and employment and therefore find their role in society. ECI provides an environment for children with all type of disabilities to thrive, including children and youth with intellectual, trauma-induced, sensory, and physical disabilities. The Care Home provides a safe, family-like environment for all to blossom.
