It is situated right next to the main road that we travelled each day to and from the worksite, so we had been curious to see what went on there ! Also, Gill was a recently retired speech therapist, and was keen to see if speech therapy was in use in special schools in Kenya.
The school was pleasantly shaded, with verandahed classrooms, and we arrived just as school started for the day, so we went into the assembly. There were about 60 or 70 children (some obviously more than children ...maybe 20 - 25 years old) ... and the handicaps of many were plain to see. We sat at the back and observed the assembly, which was conducted in a mixture of English, Kiswahili and Dholuo. Many of the children were unable to control their limbs, and some shouted out involuntarily. But the atmosphere was happy and friendly, and the children were encouraged to join in with simple hymns and responses to questions about the date and the time of day.
One little boy, about 8 or 9, wandered in and came to the back of the room where he studied us closely; he then climbed quite unbidden onto Gill's lap and went to sleep ! He slept quite peacefully for half an hour; then as the assembly finished, one of the teachers quietly got a mat out of the cupboard, and laid him gently onto it to finish his sleep ! We learned later than he had been abandoned outside the school gate, tied with string to the fence, and the teachers couldn't locate family, and had no idea what his name was, or how old he was, or even what tribe ... for he appeared not to be able to speak.
We went to see the class of badly autistic children who were being taught by two or three teachers plus helpers to wash their faces, and clean their teeth. Soap, water and toothpaste everywhere ! It was encouraging to see the teachers all wore surgical gloves for this task, for it is quite likely that some of the children are HIV+. (Another day, just before we left, we dropped off a box of 100 surgical gloves which we had taken with us, in case we needed them).
Next we visited classes, from those for children who were learning very basic skills such as sorting objects, to simple counting, and then classes where they were being taught to write and even read very simple words. The aim of the school was to train the children so that when they returned to their home communities, they would have some skills which were useful.
The almost total lack of equipment which we expect to see in special schools in the UK was very obvious. But the commitment and love of the teachers and helpers, three or four to each class, was apparent.
Finally, the oldest or most able children were being assessed to see what work skills they could be taught, to give them some chance of employment. Simple carpentry, sewing, laundry and ironing, and cooking were taught to those most able.
What UK or US resources could do for these children ! But I compare what is being done now in Kenya to how things were 40 years ago, when handicapped people were obvious on the streets as poor ragged beggars; now at least they will have a chance in life.
I didn't take any photos in the school, as I didn't consider it to be appropriate, but these flowers were growing in the school compound.
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