By Mary Mwendwa
Andhra Pradesh , India : Spandana School for Special Needs in Daavajigudem Village in Andhra Pradesh is appealing for help to be able to cater for the 30 pupils under their care.
Located in the middle of a humble village, the school offers education and other social services to children living with special needs.
Many of these pupils suffer from Autism, Cerebral palsy, Down Syndrome among other types of disabilities.
A visit to the school by participants from Kenya, Italy, Greece and Spain on child Development and Protection training project funded by the European Union revealed how the school needs support to be able to run services for these children.
The School started in 2008 has been struggling with even most basic needs for the children under its care.
According to Sankabattula Venkat, Founder, Spandana School for Special Needs, the school is helping many children with special needs from many villages in the district.
“In India we have so many cases of disability among children, I decided to open this facility to cater for this kind of children because I witnessed their plight back home. Most of these children are hidden, some are even tied on ropes and not given any chance to interact and access education like other children. Attitudes towards children with disability here are different.” He notes.
“This school has seven permanent employees and 25 trainee teachers who are helping in daily activities of the school. However, as much as I have this kind of support, these children have very special needs, most of them need physiotherapy services, special diets and above all special learning materials.”
Adding, “Due to lack of funds, all pupils here are day scholars because I need more money to take care of them. We have to pick and drop each and every one of the at their doorstep every day. This is a cost to us because we do not own a bus to transport them. We have to hire transport every day. I am appealing to well-wishers to assist in whatever way they can to help me give these children a decent life.”
The children come from villages spread across the areas of Ganna raran, Allapuran, Dara Gehouden and Buddaravan among others.
According to Hemalatha Garu, Teacher in charge, they struggle as an institution to get even the most basic goods that are needed by the children.
“Currently we are in urgent need of sanitary towels, books, bags, tape recorders for music therapy, water bottles, special roundtable, Tv Projector, sports Kit, slates, computers ,mini freezer and a bus. We have 15 girls and 15 boys, all who are under our care on a daily basis.”
Hemalatha appreciates the fact that those parents who accept to bring their children in the facility see big changes in their children because they are handled in a special way. We teach them even toileting skills which are essential in their daily lives.” We decided to offer transport because many parents are poor and cannot afford to bring their children here every day. Although we struggle along these lines, we believe we will manage with the little we have. The school is taking care of children from ages 15 and above .“
Gondi Madhara Rao, a social worker aged 82 was among the very first donors of the school. He agrees that children living with disability in India are many hence the need to support facilities that take care of them. I like supporting such kind of children because I believe they too need a good life just like anybody else. ”He concludes.
Contacts: Spandana school for Special Needs
Email : helpinghands.ngoap@gmail.com
