Karibuni to read about new program that Ni Hekima
Pekee has started in the primary school of Lwanhima. Program is working in the
class for disabled children in Mwanza in the ward of Lwanhima. At the same time
that program where taking it`s first steps, new volunteer Pihla from Finland
jumped in to the work of Ni Hekima Pekee and will participate also in new
program.
New programs need always planning, meetings, discussion
and creativity. First step was to visit the Lwanhima primary school to introduce
Ni Hekima Pekee to the headmaster and teacher of the class. In the meeting we
discussed about the coming program and how Pihla will be working in the
classroom with teacher.
The aim of the program is to support disabled children
in the Lwanhima ward to have equal possibilities to access school and to get
education. The challenges that disabled children and their families experience are
various.The class where Ni Hekima Pekee is working has just started in January,
and it is still trying to reach families with disabled children in the ward to get
access to the school. Children in class has different challenges and disabilities from physical to difficulties with communicating, learning and
concentrating. Program aim is to support children to learn and have a education
and that way to have possibilities to build up their future and reach their dreams.
The journey to the school takes time. Volunteers and
workers use public transport which means one hour ride to the field. In the
class is eleven pupils, but six of them are able to attend school at the
moment.First thing is always getting to know each others as children felt a bit
shy when Pihla started to work in the class. The aim with the school visits is
to understand what kind of challenges children have in the school which are
affecting their learning and evaluate the circumstances together with the
teacher. Teacher is the one who is with the children everyday and have
priceless information about the situation in the school.Pihla has visited
school now four times. Together with the children she has been playing football
and trying to learn letters and numbers. Some children in the class have been
also included to other classes after one year studying in the class.
Beside that Ni Hekima Pekee is also doing home visits
together with two teachers of the school once a week; Fridays. Conditions in family
and home have great affect how child can concentrate and access to the school
and learning new things. The purpose is together with the teachers and parents
find the way to support children to get education and learn life-skills. So far
Ni Hekima Pekee has participated six home visits. In the visits important thing
is to respect family`s home and privacy as well as their knowledge about
child`s needs, challenges and strength. Plan is to visit families that are in
the class, as well as children who are not attend to school yet to see how we
can support them to start studying.
Ni Hekima Pekee is using needs assessment as a tool to find out what kind of challenges families, children and
communities have and how those challenges are affecting child's possibilities to
have education. Ni Hekima Pekee is doing evaluation together with families, school,
community and other organizations and policymakers to find the way to support
children with disabilities to have future where to accomplish dreams.
