Jane ‘Sizakele’ Ansell
Well it was like going from home to home in
one sense… straight from the airport with Nombulelo (head of special education
for the province) and Isaac and off to the education department to finalise my
schedule in South Africa for the next week. I spent the next couple of days
being taken around the special schools. The schools ranged from those for
physical disabilities, cerebal paulsy, general learning difficulties and of
course autism.
My aim is to try and pair as many up as
possible with the Scottish special schools.
My dream, which might become a reality, is
to get Alex to help me organize a visit for our special school teachers, to
build a real relationship and skills exchange. With Nombulelo, head of Special
Needs in KZN, anything is possible. Already we have Isaac set up to work with
St Raphael’s Special School, a school that was for cerebal paulsy until one set
of twin autistic boys were taken in because there was nowhere else for them.
Four years later they have an autistic unit with 56 children.
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| A 'junior-middle' class at Ekuthuthukeni Special School in Umlazi |
I had the opportunity to do a number of
presentations to professionals from education, psychologists, and therapists on
the subjects of sleep and different approaches to learning and education. My
highlight was when Isaac and I took the first workshop for parents of children
on the Autistic spectrum. Lots of parents came and together we explored Autism
and communication strategies.
Many of these parents were from St Raphael’s and so Isaac will continue the workshops as the parents were so enthusiastic.
I am glad to say that the festival of
Passover being Friday and Saturday allowed me to take a break from this to
sample endless hospitality from the Jewish community, and of course delicious
food.
There were a few other highlights to my trip,
which included accompanying Isaac and Abdul to SISCO to see everyone there, and
my home visit to Benjamin and his family. Benjamin was on the streets last time
I was here, a 13-year-old boy, so cute so lovely and with such threats to his
life. Every time he went outside SISCO, the kids on the street tried to get him
back on glue. He was pulled in all directions, telling Isaac he couldn’t get
way from these kids. So young, so torn at least he knew SISCO were trying to
help him. Eventually through the work of
SISCO staff, he got back back with his mother and family, back with a chance of
a real life again.
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| Benjamin, Jane and Benjamin's sister at his home |
My other favourite trip was going to Umlazi
to spend Sunday with Ti Ti’s family in their home. In between there were lots
of lovely outings with Alex, Jean and the former students, and of course
Emmanuel, Lucia and Bona...
Thank you Alex and Isaac for helping me to
find this wonderful world of Africa. I will miss the words echoing in my ear… “I
am coming”… “Sawubona”... “Unjani”…
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