MESPT ABD CSR: Migwani Sub Unit for the Mentally Handicapped

History

Migwani Special Sub unit for the mentally handicapped was started in the year 1994, then with only four children who were all day scholars.  At the time the sub unit had only one classroom.  The sub unit is hosted by Migwani AIC Primary School in the newly created Mwingi West district.  The purpose of carving the sub unit out of the main primary school was to start a special school that would cater for the needs of mentally handicapped children from around Mwingi and its neighborhood.  In the year 2000 the school became a boarding school then with about fourteen children.

When the sub unit was started, it quickly attracted handicapped children in their numbers most of them dumped at the sub unit by their parents who considered it good riddance.  It did not take time for the sub unit to start experiencing problems with food and water supply given the fact that the school is located in the semi-arid regions of Eastern province.  Other challenges the school faces include accommodation, lack of equipment and materials for training the children in practical skills that they can use to become self reliant.

The Challenge

It is common for many parents to regard the birth of children with disability as some kind of misfortune, as is expected such children are treated unfairly and sometimes completely neglected by their parents.  It is also the case that the parents may be disabled as well or too poor to provide for the basic let alone the special needs of the children.

Above pupils entertain visitors with a song

There are many kinds of disabilities among them blindness, lack of hearing or speaking disability.  Experience has shown that blind children can be taught to read and write in Braille, the deaf can learn through the use of sign language and better still those who are dumb can be taught and educated like any other normal children.  What if a child is mentally handicapped?  How does one go about teaching such children any basic knowledge and skills that they can use to earn a living?  This is the challenge that is faced by teachers at the sub unit at.  To further put this in context the pupils seen above singing a song had taken almost a year to learn the song.

 MESPT ABD Intervention

 Through the contribution of well wishers and partners such as the local CDF kitty, the school has been able to achieve great milestones notably the construction of a new dormitory and the construction of a new water storage tank.  Apart from this, the school faces the daily challenge of being able to provide food, clothing and shelter for all the sixty pupils.  This problem is further aggravated by the fact that even when the school closes most of the children remain at the school since their parents do not come to pick them up.

 It is in this light that the MESPT ABD CSR committee identified the sub unit and organized a visit to the school on Monday the 31^st of May 2010.  During the visit the staff were received by the head teacher Mrs. Kasina, the acting Head of the main primary school Mrs. Kilonzo as well as the children and other teachers.  A function was organized by the school management for the staff to meet and interact with the children.  During the function the children were all well kempt and pleased to receive the visitors.  The children entertained the visitors with several songs and a poem both in the local dialect as well as in English and Kiswahili.

Above some of the items donated by MESPT ABD CSR

 During the visit, MESPT ABD CSR donated the following:-

• 15 beds
• 15 mattresses
• 40 blankets
• 12 dozens of knitting wool
• 3 bags of maize
• 1 bag of rice
• 2 Bales of Maize Flour
• ½ a bag of beans
• Cooking fat among others

 At the same gathering a former headmaster Mr. Ngatia presented the sub unit with a CDF cheque meant for the completion of the new dormitory.  The school administration was very appreciative of the contributions made by all, they thanked and prayed for all who went out of their way to make a contribution.

 Success Stories

 Despite the many challenges the school faces, it strives to achieve its main aim which is to teach the pupils some basic literacy, basic numeracy and some functional/adaptive practical skills to help them become self reliant.

Above Mrs. Kilonzo the acting Headteacher addresses the function

Some of the success stories include those of a young boy known as Kiilu who improved so much that he was integrated into the mainstream primary school only to emerge 5^th position out of a whooping 52 pupils.  Others include Naomi & Kimanzi who have mastered practical skills in weaving.  To top it all up there was the example of a young man called Peter who graduated from the school and is now earning himself a living at the local shopping center.

The children are also able to develop a variety of products among them vitambaa, keyholders, earings, necklaces and so on.

 During the meeting emphasis was put on income generating activities.  All well wishers present were of the view that products made by the school should be marketed for generation of income instead of perpetual dependence on hand outs.  In fact during the meeting the unit head teacher Mrs. Kasina announced the intention of the unit to venture into tailoring of uniforms for the entire school by the sub unit.  Last but not least the school management welcomed any contributions from other well wishers not necessarily material but also ideas that can propel the sub unit to self sustainability.