ST.
DYMPHNA’S SPECIAL SCHOOL
UPDATE 5/21/2014
STUDENTS: The school currently enrolls 24 students,
and St. Dymphna’s Special School is constantly receiving referrals for more.
The maximum number of students the school will enroll is 40, although this
would place an additional strain on the already minimal resources. Three
students are sponsored and the rest pay minimal if any tuition or fees.
BUS: The bus has not been running since November
2013. It cost 1 million tsh (~$600 USD) a month to run and the school could no
longer afford it because the funds are needed elsewhere. Students now must come
to school independently either by walking or dala dala. This is difficult for
many students for a number of reasons; they live far away, their parents cannot
afford/ are not willing to pay the dala dala fare, or their
physical/cognitive/behavioral problems make it impossible to travel alone.
A former teacher is willing to escort Jackson, Lucy,
and Hosna to school every day if the school can fund it and home school four
other former students that live in her area.
FOOD: Convoy of Hope has been donating food to the
school for the past year and has reduced the school’s food expenses by 74%. St.
Dymphna’s contract with Convoy of Hope expires at the end of May and an
inspector is coming to see if it will be renewed next week.
STAFF: St. Dymphna’s Special School currently
employs 5 teachers and 1 assistant, however has been unable to pay them consistent
wages since July 2013. Mary pays them small sums of money when she can, but she
is concerned that they may quit. The school no longer has a guard or shopkeeper
because the guard was too expensive and the shopkeeper was untrustworthy. They
also lost half their teachers since November 2013.
SHOP: Closed due to lack of funds to replenish
inventory and to hire a shopkeeper.
VOLUNTEERS: The school had a bad experience with
volunteers and staff from TVE (IVHQ) and currently only accepts volunteers from
Ujaama Hostel and Itwangi Hostel and
Volunteer Experience (ITHVE). The new volunteer coordinator at Ujaama Hostel is
very interested in supporting St. Dymphna’s and working with AFLLFA to create
sustainable educational and vocational programs for the school. She is visiting
St. Dymphna’s tomorrow to discuss the role of Ujaama Hostel in helping to meet
the school’s needs.
PRIMARY EDUCATION: Not yet evaluated.
ASSESSMENT OF STUDENT NEEDS: The last assessment of
student’s health, family history, and physical and cognitive abilities was
conducted in 2012. Another assessment is necessary as well as regular progress
reports written by teachers and volunteers. A comprehensive copy of these
records will be held in the office of the school and an abbreviated version
with non-confidential information will be held at Ujaama and Itwangi Hostel.
VOCATIONAL EDUCATION: The vocational class
participates in beading and sewing programs. The beading is taught in the
traditional Maasai style and helps build fine motor skills. The school has four
sewing machines and two are in working order.
Two of the older students practice sewing scrap fabric together and are
able to make a few different garments. They have made great progress, and this
could lead to promising careers as seamstresses.
St. Dymphna’s Special School wishes to teach students
of all ages and abilities agriculture by building a garden. This will benefit
the school by decreasing the cost of food, and the surplus can be given to the
teachers in lieu of wages or sold at the village market. It will also benefit
the students by allowing them to practice daily living skills in a safe
environment and ultimately be able to participate in their community. Before
this can be attempted, the fence around the school must be secured to keep out
the neighbor’s chickens that have destroyed the school’s previous attempts at
constructing a garden.
Products made by the students are not sold due to
insufficient funds to run the shop.
INCOME: Sporadic donations from former volunteers,
sponsors that cover some student’s tuition, and Mary’s pension. Parents are
asked to pay 10,000-20,000 tsh ($6-$12 USD) a month for school but most do not.
PROJECTS:
·
Curriculum development (after primary
education has been evaluated)
·
Student assessments
·
Construction of fence and vegetable
garden
FINANCIAL PRIORTIES:
1. Sponsors
to cover student’s tuition
2. Teacher/
staff wages
Conducted
by:
Kathryn
Copley, AFLLFA (USA)
allforloveloveforall.org
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