Project
Improving Access, Education & Training for Kids with Disabilities
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Amount Funded
25,000 EUROProject Duration
01 Apr 2018 - 31 May 2019 -
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Lead organisation
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The Step by Step Learning Centre (SSLC) was born out of the personal hardships and experiences of Margaret Kenyi (Founder and Executive Director) while raising her Autistic daughter Ruth in a culture that values productivity above human dignity. At age 16, Ruth had attended, with much difficulty, 16 different schools, both government and private. Most of these did not meet her special needs. SSLC has been running for 12 years, making a difference to the lives of over 35 students. The numbers have been low because SSLC has to maintain a high teacher /student ratio due to the nature of learning challenges of the students. Plus there have been limited resources for special education.
The success of SSLC has been due to the strong belief that children with special needs have rights just like all other children. Their full potential can be developed and realised when given appropriate education and training. The biggest lesson SSLC has learnt over the years is that the best care for children with special needs involves collaboration between families, communities, schools and medical providers.
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Organisation
The Step by Step Learning Centre (SSLC) was born out of the personal hardships and experiences of Margaret Kenyi (Founder and Executive Director) while raising her Autistic daughter Ruth in a culture that values productivity above human dignity. At age 16, Ruth had attended, with much difficulty, 16 different schools, both government and private. Most of these did not meet her special needs. SSLC has been running for 12 years, making a difference to the lives of over 35 students. The numbers have been low because SSLC has to maintain a high teacher /student ratio due to the nature of learning challenges of the students. Plus there have been limited resources for special education.
The success of SSLC has been due to the strong belief that children with special needs have rights just like all other children. Their full potential can be developed and realised when given appropriate education and training. The biggest lesson SSLC has learnt over the years is that the best care for children with special needs involves collaboration between families, communities, schools and medical providers.
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Project
Improving Access, Education & Training for Kids with Disabilities is a project where Special Education (SE) is used in order to meet the special needs of students with Learning Disabilities (LD) and other special needs ranging from slow learners, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and autism.
The theme of Step by Step Learning Centre is ability, not disability. The uniqueness of SSLC, is in the Job Training Activities (JTA). Believing that all students, regardless of ability can be contributors to their families and communities,SSLC has created a Life Skills Training Programme that all students participate in, even those with severe challenges. The project aims that Students with intellectual disabilities and severe physical challenges are able to access appropriate education; they are nurtured to grow physically, intellectually, emotionally and spiritually; SSLC is able to provide healthy, nutritious, well-balanced meals to students; the students receive training in Life Skills and Income generating activities; the Parents/carers/guardians of SSLC students are actively involved in the implementation of the ILP of their child.
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Improving Access, Education & Training for Kids with Disabilities is a project where Special Education (SE) is used in order to meet the special needs of students with Learning Disabilities (LD) and other special needs ranging from slow learners, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and autism.
The theme of Step by Step Learning Centre is ability, not disability. The uniqueness of SSLC, is in the Job Training Activities (JTA). Believing that all students, regardless of ability can be contributors to their families and communities,SSLC has created a Life Skills Training Programme that all students participate in, even those with severe challenges. The project aims that Students with intellectual disabilities and severe physical challenges are able to access appropriate education; they are nurtured to grow physically, intellectually, emotionally and spiritually; SSLC is able to provide healthy, nutritious, well-balanced meals to students; the students receive training in Life Skills and Income generating activities; the Parents/carers/guardians of SSLC students are actively involved in the implementation of the ILP of their child.
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The Step-by-Step Learning Centre (SSLC) aims to provide students with the tools to fulfil their full potential and demonstrate that disability is not inability.
SSLC provided basic business training to students with disabilities, such as negotiating bargains in the local Maasai goat market, acquiring clients in Arusha, and selling products. SSLC developed Income Generating Projects (IPGs), implemented marketing and sales strategies that created an income of TSH 887,000 (approximately EUR 315). This is about 35% of two caretaker’s monthly salaries at the centre for supporting children with disabilities and IGPs.
SSLC successfully established income-generating projects to expand the income generation for current students and those leaving SSLC. The projects included a goat project, beekeeping project, fish farming, a hanging garden, and a chicken project. These projects also acted as an excellent therapy for students.
In the future, SSLC will be looking for funds to expand the project, construct more classrooms to take in new students, and develop an adult program for present SSLC students when they reach 18 years of age. Most of the students will need SSLC ongoing support for many years.
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News
