‘What next’ is the dreaded question that plagues parents of special children once they complete training and education in special schools. Most parents, unfortunately, have no option but to confine the children to their homes. They lead unproductive lives and gradually unlearn all they learnt at school.
Raksha Special School tries its best to provide some options for the parents and the children. Many children, who were enrolled here as infants are not just educated and trained to be as independent as possible, but on turning 18, are equipped with employment skills at its various vocational units. This instils in them a sense of confidence and self-assurance and empowers them to venture out and seek jobs elsewhere.
The tailoring vocational unit at Raksha is its nerve centre. Here, students are first introduced to basics in stitching like sewing buttons and hooks. Needles are replaced by coconut leaf stalks for children who can’t grip needles due to impaired motor functions. Coconut leaf stalks prove ideal for stitching rough sack like materials for door mats. Once sewing buttons and hooks are mastered, they are introduced to sewing machines.
Those with Cerebral Palsy and lower limb weakness, are trained in hand-operated or motorised machines while others are taught how to use leg-operated machines to create patchwork bed sheets, aprons, kitchen towels, baby sheets, table runners, purses, bags, sari covers, and shoe covers. These attractive products are often bought by visitors, friends of Raksha, shops and establishments.
John, a wheel-chair user with Cerebral Palsy from an orphanage, who has mastered tailoring, guides others and inspires every one around him by his commitment. Clara C P, is a tailoring instructor at the unit. She first stepped into Raksha around 25 years ago, to enrol her differently-abled daughter and consequently decided to join Raksha’s staff as tailoring instructor. She says: “Not just the children, but I have also gained confidence and self-reliance. Raksha has given me an individuality.”
Elizabeth Shirley, headmistress of Raksha says, “Before joining vocational units at 18, the students receive a pre-vocational exposure from 15 years, when each child’s skills and limitations are thoroughly evaluated, tried and tested; their interests, tastes and aptitude identified and accordingly they are placed in the vocational units.
While mild and moderately disabled students are placed in vocational units, those who are severely disabled are placed in a daycare called ‘Pakal Veedu’, where with the help of a care-giver, they perform whatever little tasks they can, thereby giving them a chance too, to contribute.
Creative pursuits
The paper bag vocational unit is bustling, because orders stream in. Here students are trained to make newspaper bags to supply to hotels, clubs, cafes and hotels such as Malabar House, Casino, Yacht Club, Brunton Boat Yard, Crown Plaza, Tea Pot and David Hall to name a few. Rema T K, paper-bag-making instructor, who first came to Raksha 20 years ago, to enrol her challenged daughter Gopika, says that she made a life-changing decision to stay back in Raksha after Gopika passed away. “Students make the bags independently; they work hard trying to meet the orders,” she says. Besides newspaper bags, butter paper pouchThey also make eco friendly kitchen waste inner liners.
Sania Antony, who is intellectually challenged, designs cute ‘Thank You’, ‘Get Well’, ‘Congratulations’ and other made-to-order cards. Decorative take-away gift packets, paper Christmas decorations are also made. Besides paper bags, Raksha would venture into cloth carry bags too, if orders arrived.
The carpentry unit makes disability aids on order from other special schools. The students are first guided to hammer nails, which may not be easy at first but constant practice improves focus and coordination. This is followed by polishing or repairing furniture, making frames, stools and disability aids. Joseph V X (Shibu), the carpentry unit instructor, says even students who lack a sense of measurement, gradually master it.
The candle-making unit is quite busy, especially during Christmas. Steel glasses and other cylindrical objects are used as wax moulds. “Children enjoy the activity, especially moulding the brightly coloured candle,” smiles Shibu, who also handles the candle-making unit.
The computer vocational unit introduces students to the world of technology. Mary Gia, a wheel-chair-user and Mary Vincy, who has Cerebral Palsy, have mastered MS Office, Tally and Data Entry, besides learning basic office functions such as filing and operating the photostat machine. They also maintain some of the office data of Raksha. Sony J, computer instructor, feels most children with disabilities have a special affinity towards technology and computers. The unit wishes to take up outsourcing of data entry and typing from offices and establishments in the locality.
And finally, a few yards away from it, is Raksha’s kitchen. When you catch the aromatic whiff, you know what’s cooking in the the catering unit. A unit yet to expand, it now receives offers for evening snacks such as bonda, banana fritters, and parippu vada. A new item, the nutritious and wholesome wheat biscuit I sampled tasted good. The unit takes vegetarian lunch orders for limited numbers.
The small remuneration they receive is an added incentive to go beyond their limitations.