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A new comic series, dedicated to children with special needs has been launched in Bahrain, expressing solidarity and empathy with them and their caregivers, writes Melissa Nazareth.
The Special Squad is the latest initiative of Shahzaib’s Club House, a local community of differently abled people, and tackles topics like regulating difficult emotions, common apprehensions felt by differently abled individuals and pursuing ambitions against the odds, among others.
The comics are brought alive as conversations, inspired by real-life dialogues the children at the club house have had with their parents, teachers or others.
“While the comic series was born in Bahrain, its heartbeat is universal, and we’re thrilled to have started it in collaboration with a creative agency in Pakistan,” club house founder and director Amena Shahrukh told GulfWeekly.
“The Special Squad is a visual story world where children of determination aren’t pitied or ‘managed’. They take centre stage and are bold, tender, hilarious, curious and unapologetically themselves. Each comic is a real conversation. These stories reflect what really happens at Shahzaib’s Club House,” she added.
Amena started the club house, registered under Bahrain Mobility International, three years ago, as an extension of her personal journey with her late son, Mohammed Shahzaib Lali, who was differently abled. He died of pneumonia at the age of 21.
Talking about plans for the comic series, Amena revealed that she hopes to publish them as a book and eventually launch themed merchandise.
“We will be releasing merchandise for special children, designed to uplift, inspire and represent them like never before,” she added.
To read the comics, follow @shahzaibsclubhouse on Instagram.
