Pakistan: Since 2001, a socio-therapeutic institution with three different workshops has been developing in Lahore: a textile workshop, a woodworking workshop and an organic bakery. The biodynamically cultivated vegetable garden is being steadily expanded, and with the animals that have been kept for a few years now, a start has been made towards eventually having biodynamic agriculture at Roshni. The kindergarten and the Green Earth Roshni School have had permanent premises since 2006. Today, the school provides education to 360 children, ranging from Kindergarten to 8th Grade.

The city of Lahore is one of the former main centres from the era of Mughal rule. The Punjab region, the land of the five rivers, experienced a cultural golden age at that time, which has left its mark through many buildings. Today, Lahore is a city of millions and, as a result of the 1947 border demarcation, lies in the immediate vicinity of India.

Shahida Perveen, who was born in Pakistan, had gone to Germany for teacher training in Witten, where she also met her future husband, Hellmut Hannesen, at the time the managing director of the Association for Curative Education and Social Therapy. Back in Pakistan, Shahida Perveen-Hannesen, together with her husband and with the help of the two curative educators Lars Jamke and Graham Simpson, began setting up a socio-therapeutic initiative, "Roshni" – the Urdu word meaning "light" – to bring light into the situation of people with disabilities in Lahore.

Sixteen people lived in a rented house on the outskirts of Lahore. However, the number of enquiries was so great that another house soon had to be rented, and the number of people cared for rose to 30. The request from the Amin Maktab special school was the next major step in Roshni's development: a day facility was to be established for the school's leavers.

Roshni's neighbour is the Green Earth Recycling Factory. Thanks to the openness of Roshni's staff, the factory-owning couple got to know the Waldorf education initiative. When the school was founded – its name borrowed from that of the factory – the couple made unused factory buildings available free of charge. The wife's enthusiasm was so great that she familiarised herself with the workings of the kindergarten and is now active within this framework.

Roshni maintains an intensive exchange with other countries. Biodynamic farmers from Germany have worked, and continue to work, at Roshni for shorter or longer periods. Waldorf educators from various countries support the initiative, and the "Freunde der Erziehungskunst Rudolf Steiners e.V." also regularly sends volunteers to Roshni, as well as volunteers from Roshni to Germany via the Incomer programme.

Roshni Today

• Roshni Village: We currently have 32 friends residing in our living community, with 10 additional friends joining us as dayboarders.
• Green Earth Roshni School: We provide education to 360 children, ranging from Kindergarten to 8th Grade.
• Roshni Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) Project: We now support 302 special children, providing them with essential therapeutic support and door-to-door visits.