COBT's Special Education Program - invaluable for so many!
COBT’s Special Education Program now has 3 specialist teachers focused on learning, hearing and visually impaired children! Stella just joined the COBT team in July. Many children, youth and young adults attend regularly for help with the basics of reading, writing and math. Many have never been to school. Others dropped out because of health reasons, like chronic seizures, or because they were not learning well in the classroom environment. Now they can learn in our smaller classroom environment. This opportunity is invaluable for these young people. Help our Thrive Malawi team raise the funds for the Special Education Teachers!
The General Special Education Class runs Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Many children, youth and young adults come regularly to this class. Here they are introduced to the basics of reading, writing and math. Many of these clients have never been to school. Others went to school when they were young but dropped out because of health reasons, like chronic seizures, or because they were not learning well in the standard classroom environment. Now they have the opportunity to come and learn in our smaller classroom setting. Kevin has perceptual motor problems, which interfere with his ability to learn how to read and write. As well as attending the Special Education Class he also regularly attends Occupational Therapy sessions. Mary is hearing impaired. She attends the general special education class as well as the special classes for the children who are hearing impaired. She has been assessed for the School for the Deaf but so far has not been selected.
On Monday and Wednesday afternoons we offer remedial classes for children with disabilities who are attending Primary School in Standards One to Four. Here the children receive extra assistance with the subjects they are struggling with.
Tuesday and Thursday mornings we offer the Behaviour Challenge Program. This is for children who cannot sit still, pay attention and interact nicely with people and toys. Here they learn to listen, follow simple directions and play well with others. They also learn how to take care of themselves by learning how to eat, wash and dress themselves. Robbie attends this class regularly. When he was small he had Cerebral Malaria. Though he still is able to walk by himself he cannot talk and he often runs away from home and is lost for several days before his family finds him again. He has no idea where he is or how to get back home again. He also has a lot of seizures. He is a very special boy and has an amazing smile as you can see. He gives great hugs as well!
Another group also runs on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. This is the Vocational Club. Youth and Young Adults with disabilities have the chance to learn bout income-generating activities. Some of the youth are running small businesses like growing and selling vegetables or selling biscuits and sweets. Others have formed a jewellery making business. Soon they are going to learn how to make fabric flowers as well. This year in November they are going to a Craft Fair to sell their goods for the first time outside of Children of Blessing Trust.
On Tuesday and Thursday afternoons the Remedial Classes for the children in Standards Five to Eight takes place. As with the younger children they can get help with the subjects they are struggling with the most. On Thursday afternoon we also offer these youth and young adults a voluntary Bible Club.
We also run specialized programs during the week. Anne, our Teacher for the Hearing Impaired comes at least once a week to teach our deaf children how to use the Malawi Sign Language. During the school holidays she comes full time to teach sign language to all our hearing impaired children. 14 of them are attending a boarding school for the deaf. The school does not teach sign language however so they need to come to school with us during their breaks so that they have the chance to learn sign language.
Many of our children graduate from the Integrated Preschool, Children’s Rehabilitation Program and Special Education Program into Primary School. Some like Charles and Lizzie, attend the nearby government school. Others are able to attend smaller private schools. All of them are able to come regularly for physiotherapy or occupational therapy at our centre either once a week or during the school holidays. Some will come for the remedial classes in the afternoon. They can also receive specialized equipment to help them out at school such as a wheelchair, walking frame or special chair. Charles is now in Standard 5 and is doing very well in school. He rides to school in his wheelchair and has a special seat at school with a tray so that he can sit. The other children in his school sit on the floor but this is way too hard for Charles. He has a walking frame at home so he can practice walking everyday. Lizzie is also doing great at school. She is now in Standard 3. They both come regularly for physiotherapy and occupational therapy. Here they are working on standing and walking as well as working on gaining better hand function.
Education is critical for young people to succeed in life. Please help Thrive Malawi raise the money to pay the salaries of the Special Education teachers!