WINDOW TO SAI SEVA - SHANTHI SCHOOL IN KUWAIT

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SHANTHI SCHOOL IN KUWAIT

TRANSFORMATION IN A MEDICAL CAMP

THE SPECIAL 'SHANTHI SCHOOL' IN KUWAITFOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

 

The location of Kuwait in the Persian Gulf - Middle East Asia

 

Imagine if destiny ordained your family with a child with special needs. A child

who even after receiving your love and attention for 6 yrs can barely recognize

you! ….or a child who forgot everything that you taught just 5 minutes ago in a

trice! …or a child who never learnt to write and can barely speak because his

hands or mouth would not coordinate with his brain …

 

How would you feel? Sometimes you might feel confused, sometimes frustrated, and

at times in dire need of support. But imagine a case where the mother of a

family, apart from taking care of her normal children, volunteers herself to

take care of a special child and spends most of the day with this special

child…giving the child the special attention and love that the child

desperately needs…caring for him with the same love and concern that she does

for her own child…and making miracles happen. Calling such selfless volunteers

as angels will not be an overstatement, you will agree.

 

No wonder, the parents of one such special child wrote in a letter to the Sai volunteers in Kuwait,

“When God could not be everywhere, he made Mothers. But when he wanted to spread

hope and love, He made Guardian angels like you ALL.”

Further, in the letter, the parents told the volunteers how their child had now

“grown to newer heights on your wings of love”.

 

We are talking about the Shanthi School for special needs children, set up and

run in an amazing fashion by Sai devotees in Kuwait.

 

This has been going on for seven years now and we knew about it only when we saw

the pictures and read the inspiring stories of the mentally challenged children

in an exhibition in Chaitanya Jyoti Museum. This had been organized by the Sai

Organisation of Kuwait during the Guru Poornima Celebrations in Prashanthi

Nilayam as part of Swami's 80th Birthday celebrations.

We had decided on that day itself that we will share this story with all our

readers. For it is a story of great inspiration…it is a tale of the power of

love… a testimony to what can be accomplished by willing hearts full of

selfless love …. of how miracles can happen if we are sincerely committed to

God and good work.

 

Before we further tell you in detail about the activities that go on in this

special school, their methodology, their philosophy of care, etc. let’s go

right to the beginning…how the school came about in the first place.

 

The Beginning

Due to the expense of schooling in Kuwait, parents of low and middle-incomes

find it impossible to find schools for their children with special needs.

Seeing this opportunity for service, the Kuwait Sai Centre opened the School

for Special Needs Children as a service project, dedicated to their beloved

Sai, in 1998. It had 5 students and 12 volunteers then and was actually located

in the living room of a volunteer’s home.

In order to cater to the increasing demand of such children with Special Needs,

the school was shifted to a more spacious location in an area called ‘Shaab’.

The house was offered free to the school by a generous Kuwaiti gentleman Mr.

Hussain Al-Qattan. This made it possible for the volunteers to enroll more

children.

 

The First Building of the Shanthi School

The New Building being inaugurated by Mr. Hussain Al-Qattan

This new location was inaugurated by the then Indian Ambassador to Kuwait H.E.

Mr. Prabhu Dayal in 1999. However, as the owners were to renovate the house,

the school had to be shifted to another location in a rented apartment in a

place called ‘Salmiya’ to sustain its activities. The school presently has 18

children and 16 volunteers.

 

Classrooms inside Shanthi School

The Volunteers

What is the Volunteers' Attitude and Approach?

‘Every day and every interaction with these children taught me values such as

patience, compassion, selfless love and more than anything else a positive

attitude to life. I have learned to live every moment as God's special gift

without complaining about things that I do not possess.’

This is what a volunteer, Sister Vidya Saigopal, of the Shanthi School has to

say. And this is kind of response you will receive from any volunteer who is

working in this school. It is not only this positive attitude that has made

this school a success but also the volunteers’ training ability, skill and

commitment which has done wonders. And how do the volunteers pick up the skills

to train these special children?

The school is very professional in its approach. It actually trains its

volunteers regularly through workshops to help build their skills to handle the

children in the best possible manner. Training programmes are conducted by

professionals for these volunteers who come from diverse backgrounds, in

various fields, including Psychiatry, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy and

Speech Therapy.

Why and How Do The Volunteers Work?

 

Professionals and volunteers work tirelessly out of their love for these

children. And the only reward they expect is a smile on the face of the parents

when their little one utters his first word or takes her first step.

 

With 16 volunteers and 18 children the volunteer-child ratio, as you can see, is

very high. This enables excellence in care and quality time to be given to the

wards. One has only to learn how the volunteers’ positive attitudes shape this

model institution.

 

“I see God in these children,” one of the volunteers says, “I feel that I could

be of use to someone at the end of the day. I am thankful to Bhagavan Baba for

having provided me an opportunity to serve these children and thereby transform

myself to be a better individual.”

Every volunteer has, in fact, something similar to narrate. Sister Meera Bala,

who has been associated with the school for quite sometime now,

enthusiastically tells us,

‘When I was a little girl of 10 years I used to be really scared of seeing a

mentally retarded boy walk down our lane. My family members used to dissuade us

from even standing in the balcony when this child passed by.

How ignorant people were those days... Now thinking back I feel, if only I had

the education about children with Special Needs, I could have been a friend to

him and thus made his childhood enjoyable. I strongly feel that everyone in

this life should be educated about children with Special Needs from an early

age. Strangely from the first day of inception of this school, I have never

once looked at the children with any fear. On the contrary I just love being

with them.

Personally, I feel I am very fortunate to be working with these special children

of God. They are so full of love and affection and there is never a dull moment

with them around. A hug, a smile, and a whole lot of love are all that they

expect from us. Strange though it might sound, I have a lot to learn from their

unconditional love, egolessness, their innocence and the enthusiasm with which

they attend school.

 

Though their attention span and level of retention is low, the children never

shy away from learning whatever is taught to them. The classroom comes alive

when we have music, dance and party sessions. Every day is a learning process

for us volunteers too. We have been trained by specialists, and teaching

methods range from flash cards to puzzles, audio–visuals, speech therapy,

computer aided programmes, vocational skills and academics.

 

Oh! How I miss them when we close school for three months in summer.’

Celebrating Birthdays of special children....they share and care....

Methodology and Philosophy Of Care

 

Who is a ‘Special Child?’

 

Children aged between 4 and 16 who have conditions such as Down’s syndrome,

Autism, Cerebral Palsy and other learning disabilities are admitted to the

School. They are assessed with professional help before admission, to decide

their level of ability and their requirements and are then placed in different

groups. The morning begins with Prayers (and smiles) for these very special

children and the lessons are taught based on a structured curriculum.

 

Divine Guidance - The Altar at Shanthi School

The childrens' day starts with a prayer...

 

What does the School Do?

 

Anybody who visits the school will see that the School offers the children

opportunity to realise their full potential and to make them as independent as

possible in daily life. Here they learn, they share, they respond and most

importantly, they blossom. Essentially Love is the primary medium of

instruction. And this is their key to success.

Gross motor activities such as running, throwing, catching, jumping are

encouraged in the children through group activities. A range of fine motor

activities are also carried out by the children to foster eye-hand

co-ordination and facilitate the development of small muscles.

 

Fine Motor Skills - To foster eye-hand coordination...

 

Skills to enable the children to be more independent are taught through steps

like brushing the teeth, washing, feeding, toilet training, personal hygiene,

grooming etc.

 

Children are also encouraged to use all their senses - visual, auditory taste, smell, and touch.

They are encouraged to solve simple puzzles, gradually moving on to more complex

cognitive skills such as problem solving and logical thinking.

 

Solving puzzles and then cognitive skills like problem solving....

 

Reading, writing and arithmetic are taught through conventional methods.

Teaching aids such as video films and specially designed computer programs are

used to reinforce what is taught the conventional way.

 

Developing writing, reading skills...specially designed computer programs to

reinforce conventional learning.

 

The volunteers teach art and crafts to the children as part of the curriculum.

The children participate in an Inter-School Drawing competition conducted by

The Khalifa School (a private school for Children with Special Needs) and

regularly win prizes every year in such events.

 

They are also given wholesome encouragement to perform cultural activities. For

example, during the celebrations of Bhagavan’s birthday by the Kuwait Sai

Centre, the children usually perform small skits on stage and this has always

been a highlight of the stage programs. The audience looks forward to their

performance every year.

 

Learning crafts, arts and more crafts...

The children also are trained in vocational activities such as making candles,

greeting cards and a variety of other handicraft items. These were recently

exhibited in the “Educare” exhibition organized by the Kuwait Sai Organisation

at the Chaitanya Jyoti Museum in July 2005.

 

And Field Trips…

 

Shanti School aims to inculcate in each child, an appreciation of his or her own

unique abilities. To relate to the world around them and then be accepted by

society is an important step. This important aspect is covered through

educational field trips organized throughout the year. These efforts have been

more than amply rewarded through the satisfaction and joy of parents, and more

importantly, the love showered on the children.

 

During Field Trips...to help them relate to the world easily....

 

Some of these special children have been able to achieve better skills in their

thinking activities and believe it or not, they are in the process of joining

schools for normal children!

 

Celebration of School Day

The Shanti School celebrated its School Day on 18th May, 2005 to showcase the

talents of these children who performed to an audience. Under the divine

guidance of Bhagavan Baba and the efforts of the volunteers, the children gave

a moving performance. The audience was amazed, and warmly appreciated the

special talents these children are endowed with.

 

The School Day was attended by dignitaries presided by the Chief Guest Ms Nadia,

a prominent Kuwaiti philanthropist and included the Principals of other Indian

Schools in Kuwait. Speaking on the occasion, Dr.Ramachandran - father of a

student Sanjana - spoke eloquently of how his child has remarkably progressed

to take care of her own basic needs, within a short span of time.

 

Indian Ambassador with Mr. Hussian Al - Qattan

The Chief Quest, Mr. Hussian Al- Qattan

A member of the Royal family at the school...

Meena and Leslie Noronha, the parents of Calvin, wrote a moving letter to the

teachers after seeing Calvin perform on the School Day. We have already

mentioned a small excerpt of this letter in the beginning of this story, here

is the whole letter for you now.

A Letter From One of the Parents.

 

Dear Teachers,

This is a note to say “THANK YOU” for all that you have done and are doing for

our child. The words “Thank You” convey our Gratitude, love, prayers, blessings

and best wishes to you all.

Congratulations on a wonderful show on the School Day. It was a magnificent and

memorable occasion for us. Seeing our child perform on stage, made our eyes

water and hearts swell with pride. This was possible only because of your

efforts. We thank you very much. Your patience, love and painstaking efforts

were evident during each moment of the “Show”.

Our child Calvin has grown to newer heights on your wings of love. When God

could not be everywhere, he made Mothers. But when he wanted to spread hope and

love, He made Guardian angels like you ALL.

Wishing you all happy Vacation!

Thanking you. In appreciation and Gratitude,

Yours sincerely,Meena & Leslie Noronha(Calvin’s Parents)

31st May 2005

With Swami’s Grace, the school hopes to expand and increase its strength in the

days to come with the objective of spreading love and providing quality care to

these special children. They know it is not going to be easy but they are not

deterred, as one volunteer says,

‘We would not like to give up our attempt - but be confident as each day passes.

It is a test, a challenge and so we need to grow and learn with each child and

learn to meet his or her special needs.

When the student is successful, the teacher is successful. We are both learners

and there is great joy in learning. It is a bond which can never be broken.’

Really inspiring, isn’t!

 

To download a powerpoint presentation on Shanthi School,

 

With Sai love from Sai brothers ''

Source: http://media.radiosai.org/journals/Vol_03/10OCT01/

 

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