Successful  Reintegration  of  Health  Volunteers  at  

Raksha  Special  Needs  School    The  objective  is  for  health  volunteers  to  reinstate  the  partnership  between  GVI  and  Raksha  (MDG  8)   in   order   to   achieve   universal   primary   education   for   those   with   learning   and   physical  impairments.  (MDG  2).    During   December   health   volunteers   worked   in   close   partnership   with   the   staff   at   Raksha   to  identify   children   who   were   in   need   of   assessment.   The   aim   is   to   identify   goals   and   areas   of  development  depending  on  the  children’s  individual  needs  and  abilities.  A  total  of  29  children  had  Occupational  Therapy  assessments.  Therapeutic  activities  have  since  been  completed  to  work  on  areas   such   as   social   interaction,   dexterity   and   gross  motor   skills,   alongside   educational   tasks   to  improve  overall  well-­‐being  and  development.              Raksha   is   a   special   needs   school   that   has   dozens   of  students;   ranging   from   18   month   old   children   in   the  early   intervention  unit  right  the  way  up  to  the  20  year  old   men   and   women   in   the   vocational   unit.   The  children   have   a   huge   range   of   impairments   such   as  muscular  dystrophy,  Down  ’s  syndrome,  cerebral  palsy,  autism   and   developmental   delay.   The   school   has  passionate  staff  despite  limited  teachers  and  resources  and  the  children  are  a  delight  to  work  with.    After  a  12  month  gap,  health  volunteers  have  started  to  build   upon   the   already   working   relationship   between  GVI  Kerala  and  the  staff  at  Raksha.  A  steady  stream  of  volunteers   have  been  working   at   Raksha  over   the   last  few   months;   including   2   occupational   therapists,   a  music   therapist   and   other   volunteers   with   varying  degrees   of   health   experience.   The   staff   expressed   the  desperate  need  occupational   therapists   to  assess   certain   children   so   that   the   teachers  knew  what  areas  needed  help  developing.  The  volunteers  were  more  than  happy  to  assist.    The   assessments  were   lots   of   fun,   especially  when  more   resources  were   acquired   such   as   a  mini  trampoline,   toy  tuk-­‐tuks  and  drums!  Following  the  assessments,  goals  were  set  to  try  and  develop  the  child  in  various  ways.  What  is  exciting  about  Raksaha  is  how  the  other  projects  can  get  involved  

too.  Working   on   the   potential   for   construction  volunteers   to   be   involved   with   the   carpentry  unit,   and   the   development   of   a   sensory   room.  All   health   volunteers   have   been   able   to  contribute   despite   their   backgrounds   and  experience.   As   well   as   the   assessments,   the  volunteers   have   also   been   involved   with   the  vocational  students  to  help  train  them  ready  for  employment   at   a   local   hotel,   a   fantastic  opportunity   for   the   students   to   be   involved   in.  We  were  also  fortunate  to  have  a  trainee  music  

 

 

therapist   volunteer   who   completed  some   valuable   music   workshops   that  were   very   noisy   but   extremely  beneficial  to  the  children  who  took  part  in  them.    Another   exciting   project   that   the  volunteers   participated   in   was   the  redecoration  of  one  of   the   classrooms.  This   was   not   just   a   beautification  project  -­‐  it  was  to  improve  the  learning  environment  to  help  with  engagement,  education   and   sensory   work.   The   bare  walls   soon   were   covered   with   a  plentiful   mural.   The   room   now   had  educational   facets   –   numbers,   shapes,  colours  and  objects  -­‐  to  help  the  teachers  teach.  The  room  took  2  days  to  transform  with  the  help  of  volunteers   and   GVI   staff   over   the   Christmas   period.   The   children,   teachers   and   volunteers   were  delighted  with  the  result  and  can’t  wait  to  start  using  it  after  the  Christmas  holiday.    The   relationship   between   GVI   and   Raksha   is   really   developing   and   exciting   changes   are   about   to  happen  with   regards   to   focused   structured   therapeutic   activities   and  encouragement  of   the  more  able   students   to   develop   academically   –   all   thanks   to   the   volunteers,   GVI   staff,   Raksha   staff   and  more  importantly  the  enthusiasm  and  sheer  joy  from  the  children.    Watch  this  space!