Edwenase is a nurturing facility for children and persons with special needs, where they are engaged in vocational skills training, including mat making, shoemaking, hairdressing, and dressmaking. We spoke to some of the dedicated facilitators at this remarkable housing facility to understand their challenges and joys in teaching these children.
The dressmaking facilitator has been working at Edwenase for nearly 16 years. The hairdressing facilitator has been there for 17 years, while the shoemaking facilitator will mark his fourth year by November. Despite their long-term commitment, these facilitators face significant challenges, primarily due to limited tools and equipment necessary for training the children. The scarcity of materials and funds further aggravates the situation, making it difficult to sustain the vocational programs. They noted that access to industrial machines could greatly enhance productivity, allowing for large-scale operations.
Teaching Challenges
Teaching children with special needs comes with unique challenges. Facilitators often take more than a month to teach topics that would typically take 1-2 weeks. Some have even used their own money to buy machines for the children to ensure the continuity of the training programs. Communication is another major hurdle. For children unable to speak, facilitators use sign language, but their proficiency is limited, and only educated children can understand it. The uneducated ones rely on lip-reading or hand gestures to communicate.
Joys and Rewards
Despite these challenges, the facilitators find immense joy and satisfaction in their work. One facilitator expressed his love for teaching the kids and seeing them grasp new skills. Another mentioned the joy she feels every morning and even during vacations when she sees the kids. She revealed that with patience, the children master their skills. She further revealed that most of her outfits are sewn by the kids themselves.
A fashion designer at the facility teaches the children bead making, turning them into bracelets, waist beads, neckpieces, and bags. She uses sign language to deliver her lessons and finds fulfillment in helping and working with children with special needs, especially knowing that some people discriminate against them.
An empowerment ground with limitations
Edwenase home for children with special needs stands to inspire hope and empower them. The facilitators’ dedication and patience in teaching vocational skills to these children are commendable. However, the challenges they face, particularly in terms of resources and communication, need urgent attention. By addressing these issues, we can ensure that children at Edwenase continue to learn, grow, and gain skills they need to lead productive and fulfilling lives.
