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CHARITY champion Sarah Clarke, who teaches autistic youngsters how to cook, hopes some culinary treats at one of Bahrain's top restaurants will help her raise funds to educate needy children living in some of the worst slums in Asia.
She will host a 'Jazz Brunch' fundraiser for schools in Pakistan at the Upstairs/Downstairs Restaurant in Adliya next month hoping to raise at least BD2,000 as a participant in a trek in Jordan for 'Friends of The Citizens Foundation', a UK-based charity that raises money on behalf of The Citizens Foundation (TCF), a non-profit organisation in Pakistan.
She said: "My passionate belief is that everyone, regardless of age, ability, gender, race or religion has an equal right to education, something which many of us take for granted but which others have to fight for.
"Without education our children will be lost, for it is through education that children can fulfil their dreams, achieve their potential and contribute to the betterment of society. I cannot imagine what my life would have been without the solid foundation of a good education."
Dr Clarke, 43, who lives near Hamala, arrived in Bahrain two years ago with her husband, David, Group Chief Financial Officer at Batelco, and immediately volunteered in the community.
"Over the last 15 years I've lived in six countries on three continents," she explained. In each place I've worked in charitable organisations alongside local people to help improve the educational opportunities of disadvantaged and disabled children and young adults."
Here in Bahrain she helps out at RIA as a general advisor on fundraising and development of the school which caters to the needs of students with autism, who might otherwise slip through the cracks in the school system.
RIA Centre sits happily in the centre of Adliya in Bahrain. It caters to the needs of both nationals and expatriates alike, offering a year round English Curriculum, pre-school nursery and a special educational needs unit for those students with communication disorders.
It was founded by Dr Emad Al Attar and his wife, Christine Gordon. Seeing the way that their autistic son was needlessly ostracised at pre-school because of his lack of communication skills, they set out with Principal Christine Hasan to create a place where all children could feel safe and loved whilst gaining a first class education.
Dr Clarke also runs cookery classes for the children which she says is the most fun she's had in a long time. When she first arrived in Bahrain she swam with the autistic children at Alia and spent several months assisting disabled athletes at the Bahrain Disabled Sports Federation.
She first heard about TCF four years ago in London when invited to a charity auction by a business acquaintance. This opened her eyes to the simple fact that thousands of children in Pakistan were going without an education.
Founded in 1995, to date TCF has built 443 schools, providing primary and secondary education for about 55,000 children. In the process, they have trained around 3,000 teachers, most of them women. TCF aims to build 1,000 schools to accommodate 350,000 children.
"With a simple mission, clear vision and strong leadership, TCF was doing something about it."
This year she decided to do something too - participate in Trek Jordan 2008 in October. The trek will take her through some of the most spectacular and dramatic landscapes of Jordan starting in Wadi Finan and ending in Petra, covering nearly 100 km in five days.
"I've done the route before so I know what to expect," she said. "But we were in a 4x4 which struggled up the mountains so it's going to be tough!"
Preparation for the trek is made easier for Dr Clarke as she is accompanied on her twice daily training walks by her dogs, Jack and Baloo, both rescued in Bahrain.
To date she has raised BD800 through direct donations at www.justgiving.com /sarah_clarke
She's organised a Jazz Brunch to celebrate her love of jazz while giving people an opportunity to support her efforts.
The Upstairs/Downstairs event is BD16 (children aged up to five free).
Upstairs/Downstairs general manager George Cherian said: "We're always happy to support initiatives such as Sarah's. Education is vital for everyone."
Tickets for the Brunch on June 14, 11.30am-2.30pm, are available by calling 17713093.
Anyone wanting more information about the trek, TCF or to sponsor may call Dr Clarke on 39989727 or e-mail her at sfclarke2@aol.com
