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Teacher Notes Issue No 13 Pg 3

Mission Together's Helping Hand

In This Issue
The Catholic Church in Kenya recognises the problem of disabled children and turns to MISSION TOGETHER and other agencies to help to support a wide range of projects. One of these is a primary and the other a secondary school for deaf children in Mumias. The school caters for children from a number of east African countries but principally from Kenya and Uganda. Run by Catholic African Sisters, the school admits children from various religious backgrounds: Christian, Muslim, Protestant and traditional religions. Teresa Chemba, head of the primary school and Sister Sabina, head of the secondary school, when asked about their aims for the children, both shared the same hope saying, "Our aim is to help all the children to learn to become self reliant."

 

Case history of a deaf epileptic girl who receives help - the second Therese
Therese Odhiambo is aged seven. She is the third in a family of five. Her father is dead. lmelda, her mother, goes out to work all day. She returns in the evening and cooks for the children. From the time she was born Therese suffered attacks of malaria and at the age of four contracted meningitis. She became deaf and epileptic. Her home is near Mumias School for the Deaf. Imelda took Therese to the primary School. Like most parents, Imelda cannot afford to pay school fees. Despite this Teresa, the headteacher admitted Therese.

THANK YOU

The children from Mumias have been given a big helping hand by children in MISSION TOGETHER.
Last year we sent £7,000.
Sister Sabina says, "Without your help we could not manage to feed our children. Thank you."

 

Jerona signs as
Milka holds the
book of readings
for the deaf.

 Besides basic curriculum subjects, Therese is learning the international sign language. The school also cares for the emotional development of children. Teresa explains, "Therese, like many children who have to adjust to deafness and disability, felt isolated, frustrated and consequently experienced behaviour problems". These took the form of attention-seeking behaviour such as teasing other children, and snatching toys. Therese was moved to a smaller unit. There is also a blind deaf unit. Therese was encouraged to befriend children through more positive behaviour strategies. The school also devotes time to pastoral and spiritual development for all the denominations.

 

Imelda in her "kitchen".

Therese can now look forward to moving on to the secondary school where she will be given opportunities to learn a wide range of skills which will help her to find work.

Hoots mon!
Scottish dancing is
popular with the pupils at Mumias


A pupil tucks in to
a plate of ugali
( a maize porridge,
and cowpeas - a green
 vegetable)

Sr Sabina looks on as
girls prepare jumpers
in their workshop.