Special Needs Program
MISSION:
To demonstrate our Father God`s unconditional love for all as we care for children and adults with both physical and/or learning disabilities.
GOALS:
Here at Kasana Children`s Centre, we believe that God values and has a purpose for each and every person he creates, no matter what their ability. At the beginning of 2011 our Special Needs Program officially began as we opened a class in the primary school for children with both physical and learning difficulties.
The children initially attended class just three days per week but by the start of the second term we were able to make it four as we employed a second teacher; Uncle Eric. Fridays are left open for staff to do home and hospital visits and for our monthly Community Outreach Sessions.
We began the year with 6 children; Ismaiel (15), Hassan (8), Kakulu (8), Ivan (8), Brian (5) and Nalubega (5) but we soon became 7 as Allen (8) came to join us (although this was just part time to start with.) By the third term, we also had a boy called Najib(6) who is deaf attending on Mondays. Kakande, a man with learning disabilities who lives within one of our family groups also attends the class and helps with jobs such as fetching water and keeping the compound tidy.
Apart from Hassan who has lived at Kasana children`s centre since he was 7 months old, the children all live in local villages and most of them are collected and returned home each day using our van. Allen and Kakulu whose homes are deep in the 'bush' are transported on boda bodas (motorbike taxis) and stay at Hassan`s House during the week. At the start of the school year, Kate was the only teacher supported by two assistants; auntie Jane and Uncle Stephen
In class, the children have lessons in basic literacy and numeracy as well as working on independent living skills. Once a week they enjoy an art/cookery lesson and they have a daily Physical Education session which for some of the children, involves completing a specific exercise programme prescribed for them by the Physiotherapist. As well as spending time as a class group, each student is also given the opportunity (at least once per week,) to spend time within a mainstream class, accompanied by one of our classroom assistants. So far, this has been a huge success not just for our children but for those in the classes they have visited.
We are currently situated in several rooms at the newly built clinic but in the future plan to build our own classroom on the main primary school site.
The Community Outreach sessions which we hold are open to people in the community whose lives have been affected by disability. At these sessions, disabled individuals and their families receive input from a physiotherapist and a chance to encourage and share struggles with one another over a good meal. We have also just started to invite a different speaker each month, sharing on topics such as ‘Feeding and Nutrition,’ ‘Epilepsy,’ and ‘Communication.’ We also intend to give opportunity to individuals with disabilities to share their story of how God has enabled them to live a full life.
We really believe that God is going to use this ministry to transform the way people in this area see people with disabilities and more importantly, how they view their Father God. All of us need reminding that God doesn`t love us because of who we are or what we can do; he is able to love us only because he sent his one and only son to die for us and to pay the price for our sins. In Christ, we are all holy, blameless and precious children of God.
How you can help:
Pray for us: if you would like to receive our programme newsletters to keep you informed of what we need prayer for then please email the programme coordinator Kate Tolhurst on specialneeds@newhopeuganda.org
Sponsor a child in our class or the programme as a whole: if you would like more information on how to do this then please take a look at the sponsorship section on our website and contact the sponsorship office on sponsors@newhopeuganda.org
To demonstrate our Father God`s unconditional love for all as we care for children and adults with both physical and/or learning disabilities.
GOALS:
- To promote a biblical view of disability and suffering both within Kasana Children`s Centre and in the surrounding communities.
- To equip individuals who have disabilities with basic life skills and all that they need in order to fulfil their God given potential.
- To provide support and education to families affected by disability.
Here at Kasana Children`s Centre, we believe that God values and has a purpose for each and every person he creates, no matter what their ability. At the beginning of 2011 our Special Needs Program officially began as we opened a class in the primary school for children with both physical and learning difficulties.
The children initially attended class just three days per week but by the start of the second term we were able to make it four as we employed a second teacher; Uncle Eric. Fridays are left open for staff to do home and hospital visits and for our monthly Community Outreach Sessions.
We began the year with 6 children; Ismaiel (15), Hassan (8), Kakulu (8), Ivan (8), Brian (5) and Nalubega (5) but we soon became 7 as Allen (8) came to join us (although this was just part time to start with.) By the third term, we also had a boy called Najib(6) who is deaf attending on Mondays. Kakande, a man with learning disabilities who lives within one of our family groups also attends the class and helps with jobs such as fetching water and keeping the compound tidy.
Apart from Hassan who has lived at Kasana children`s centre since he was 7 months old, the children all live in local villages and most of them are collected and returned home each day using our van. Allen and Kakulu whose homes are deep in the 'bush' are transported on boda bodas (motorbike taxis) and stay at Hassan`s House during the week. At the start of the school year, Kate was the only teacher supported by two assistants; auntie Jane and Uncle Stephen
In class, the children have lessons in basic literacy and numeracy as well as working on independent living skills. Once a week they enjoy an art/cookery lesson and they have a daily Physical Education session which for some of the children, involves completing a specific exercise programme prescribed for them by the Physiotherapist. As well as spending time as a class group, each student is also given the opportunity (at least once per week,) to spend time within a mainstream class, accompanied by one of our classroom assistants. So far, this has been a huge success not just for our children but for those in the classes they have visited.
We are currently situated in several rooms at the newly built clinic but in the future plan to build our own classroom on the main primary school site.
The Community Outreach sessions which we hold are open to people in the community whose lives have been affected by disability. At these sessions, disabled individuals and their families receive input from a physiotherapist and a chance to encourage and share struggles with one another over a good meal. We have also just started to invite a different speaker each month, sharing on topics such as ‘Feeding and Nutrition,’ ‘Epilepsy,’ and ‘Communication.’ We also intend to give opportunity to individuals with disabilities to share their story of how God has enabled them to live a full life.
We really believe that God is going to use this ministry to transform the way people in this area see people with disabilities and more importantly, how they view their Father God. All of us need reminding that God doesn`t love us because of who we are or what we can do; he is able to love us only because he sent his one and only son to die for us and to pay the price for our sins. In Christ, we are all holy, blameless and precious children of God.
How you can help:
Pray for us: if you would like to receive our programme newsletters to keep you informed of what we need prayer for then please email the programme coordinator Kate Tolhurst on specialneeds@newhopeuganda.org
Sponsor a child in our class or the programme as a whole: if you would like more information on how to do this then please take a look at the sponsorship section on our website and contact the sponsorship office on sponsors@newhopeuganda.org
