Update on disability project and hair and beauty training

Outreach visits - view of zone 6, Athidiya

As mentioned in previous blogs, Mrs V and I have been visiting the children and adults with disabilities and their families recently to encourage increased attendance at the Saturday sessions run by special needs teachers from the RCCI School.

Last Saturday's  session at the centre

Attendance has been increasing slowly but surely and our plan is now to focus on the families that remain hard to reach.  For example, when we made some outreach visits last week, we were disappointed to see Hashini, one of the young people with disabilities, at home on her own.  She did not seem to know where her parents were and neighbours advised that her parents are separated and that her mother had left the house early morning and not come back.  The neighbours were keeping an eye on her but this does not seem appropriate support for a young person with a learning disability who requires help and guidance to look after herself. 

Learning the fruits

Mrs V and I have met with Hashini’s mother and father on previous occasions and they had seemed keen for her to get support.  My feeling is that with this family, other family issues  take over and Hashini is sometimes given low priority.  Mrs V and I will work on continuing to try and meet with Hashini and her parents and show them how support for Hashini now will mean greater independence for her as she grows up. We have a few ideas on how we can do this and will keep you posted!

What is heartening to see is that there are 4-5 parents who bring their children without fail every Saturday and never need reminding through visits and phone calls.  One of the mothers actually helps with telling us where other children and adults with disabilities live in the area.  She would be an excellent parent ‘advocate’ and may be useful in engaging the more hard to reach parents.    

Last week, this lady told us about a young boy who apparently had a disability and no longer goes to school.  Mrs V and I met with this boy, Nilaven,  as well as his mother and 2 sisters.  Nilaven’s mother advised us that he has been diagnosed with Duchene Muscular Dystrophy.  This is a progressive disorder with no cure and limited life expectancy.  Nilaven was diagnosed at the age of 7 and now aged 11 has not been able to attend school for one year due to the physical effects of his condition.  It was heartbreaking to hear that Nilaven is now isolated in his community with no education and no opportunities to socialise with his friends. Mrs V and I discussed the centre with Nilaven and his family and Nilaven said that he would like to attend.  With permission from his mother,  Mrs V and I took him there in his wheelchair with his sister accompanying  as moral support.  Sadly, the wheelchair did not appear to have been used much previously.  As we made our way to the centre, the look on Nilaven’s face said it all.  He looked thrilled to be outside! Once at the centre, he settled into meeting the teachers and was soon engaged in some play activities with other children.  Mrs V and I will be keeping a close eye on Nilaven to look at further educational opportunities for him and also to ensure that his trip outside was not just  a one off and will be a regular occurrence.

Jigsaws and matching

On another note, we continue to have good feedback from the trainers leading the hair and beauty course.  All the students are now spending one morning a week in the training academy in Colombo whilst the other 2 days are spent at the centre in Athidiya.  Attendance remains good and Cheryl is really positive about how the students are all progressing! 

This week sees the arrival of a group of volunteers to Sri Lanka so I will leave this blog for the moment in their capable hands!

N.b.  Due to the sensitive nature of this blog, the names of the children mentioned have been changed to protect their confidentiality.  

Katherine