Time (doesn't) stand still (a review from Truus)

In 1963 when I began to work in the care for the mentally deficient (as they were called then) there were large institutions, full of mentally handicapped hidden away from general society.

As a beginner I saw here the problem of those who do not count, often seen as a punishment from God. Not worthy to care for.

Truus second from right and her class mates

The time of flower power brought great changes in this care when people were seen as individuals with their own rights. Small scale adjustments appeared and the right for education.

Uganda has only 1 hour time difference to The Netherlands but after 55 years I see the same problem. Here this group are not recognised and don’t count, also seen as a great taboo. It is clear that people think they can’t do anything. 

It surprised me that I hardly saw one of this group in the streets, health units or even schools. After a local research with a social worker I had a long list of mentally handicapped children and decided together with Alfred to do something. We started with a lot of questions: Will it work? Will it be accepted? How big? What are the costs? Which Personnel? Shall we manage? But sometimes the best answer is just to do it. It took us more than 1 year and a lot of patience to open the school. And after another year, we dare to say that the school works and is a success. Most of all breaking the taboo and the recognition of this group.

The first time on a bicycle

With time most questions were sorted. Now we have the personnel working more and more as a team. But we still miss a teacher with a focus on this group. Even the university for Special Needs in Kampala told us there is little knowledge in this field. 

We made individual lesson plans and we are concentrating on a more practical education from English to cooking. From Mathematik  going to the market with real money to buy tomatoes and onions. And of course something nice for yourself.

There are signs they can do more. At Christmas in the church there was a Christmas play and afterwards a market to sell things they had made. Also one of our pupils, who couldn’t speak when he arrived, has now begun to speak.

Most children come regularly and enjoy each other’s company. It has become a bit of a friendship club too. It is clearly good for them and they help each other. Parents tell us that they see the changes and it seems they are proud of this.

May was an exciting period. We gave the children a report and closed the term with a celebration dinner with their parents.   We are a school and there are always new questions. How big do we want/ can we grow? Do we expand on our present location or decentralise?How much can the child do? How does the future look?

Graduation Day

The whole school with teachers, parents, volunteers, children and a giraffe

 So many questions but one thing is clear, this group are now recognised.

Time doesn´t stand still.