15-year-old Arwa Imtiyaz: A voice for Kashmiri sportspersons who don't have one

Fifteen-year-old Arwa Imtiyaz could be called a voice of sportspeople in Kashmir who don't have one. She is a translator for 300 sportspeople who are hearing-impaired and unable to speak.

Arwa was not trained at a special school -- she learnt from her mother, who has been hearing-impaired since birth.

Arwa became a translator for the hearing-impaired at the age of 11 after she joined her maternal uncle who runs an association for differently-abled sportspersons. Her uncle is also hearing-impaired.

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The association is registered with the Jammu and Kashmir sports council. And Arwa translates everything for its members.

Arwa, who lives on the outskirts of Srinagar in the Nowgaam area, quite often misses school to accompany the association's sportspersons to their tournaments in places as far away asChennai, Hyderabad, and Delhi, helping them maintaincontact with familyand communicate with organisers.

"Money is not all to me but I want to help people like my mother, maternal uncle and aunt, who cannot speak. They have always taught me to fight back in life despite being disabled," says Arwa.

She adds, "My mother and maternal uncle are very good badminton players and my mother had won many medals at state and national level. I have seen them struggling while facing discrimination in and around but the way they stood with their goal has inspired me a lot and has given me the courage to go further in this mission."

While other children enjoy their leisure time, Arwa works. She says it is not to easy convince the parents who, fearful for their children's security, do not wish to send them away from home.

They hold Arwa responsible for their children. Arwa however takes that risk since she believes the association's members have the talent and should be allowedto prove themselves.

Arwa aspires to become a doctor but her family is not in a position to support her ambition.

"I don't think I can fulfill my dream of becoming a doctor as my father's income is very less," says Arwa. "I had even changed my school at a time when we were not able to deposit fees, but I believe that prayers of the differently-abled will help me to make my future shine."

Arwa's father Imtiyaz Ahmed Bhat is an autorickshaw driver. "I am proud of my girl she does a tremendous job. I am trying my best to support her. Whatever I have it is for my daughter and the differently-abled children," he says.

Arwa’s younger brother Abu Zar studies in class V while her elder brother Arbaz dropped out of school four years ago -- he was in class X -- after he met with an accident. Despite the hardships the family faces, they do notdeter Arwa from her work.

"She is an inspiration to others and we are tryingto support her and also the association," the Jammu and Kashmir sports council says.

Arwa meanwhile says she is happy to see her support make people smile.

"I will work for them till my last breath and hope that the government is also doing something for them. This will earn them a respectable life and also help me to fulfill my dreams. I will also get reward when I see the children smiling," she says.