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Key issues : Child to Child : Promoting Inclusive Education Through Child-to-Child Activities : Training Guidelines : Handouts
Story 1.
Mohammed lives with his family in a
village in the north of an Arab country. He is the only son and has three
sisters. When he was two years old he had a fever and developed polio. As a
result he can not use his legs. As the village is in a mountainous area and his
house far from the school he did not attend school. However his sisters taught
him to read, write and basic math. When a vocational training centre opened in
the village he was the first one to enrol. Although the training centre wanted
him to train for shoe maker he insisted on training in sewing. It was either
sewing or nothing. The centre gave in and Mohammed learned how to sew. Even
before Mohammed graduated, his father had set up a workshop for him with sewing
machines and all the materials. He has established himself and earns a good
living with the workshop and has a lot of customers. He recently bought a car
because public transportation to his workshop was a problem. The drivers would
not stop for him. First he used the family tractor to go to work but now he has
his own car. He hopes to be able to find a good wife who would like to marry
him for what he is: he has a good income and is healthy.
Story 2.
Fatma lives with her family on the
outskirts of a big city in the Arab world. When she was two years old her
family became aware that Fatma was not like other children. They took her to
many doctors and were told that she has Down Syndrome which leads to learning
difficulties. Her mother heard from a neighbour that not far from their
neighbourhood there was a special centre for children like Fatma. Her mother
went there with Fatma and she was enrolled. Every day the centre's bus would
pick Fatma up from her house, take her to the centre and back again at the end
of the day. She learned how to do sewing, knitting and other handicrafts. When
she graduated from the centre she joined a sheltered workshop. Here she works
in the biscuit factory where she puts biscuits in boxes. At home she helps her
mother and sisters with the household chores and looks after the younger
children in the house.
Story 3.
Mahmoud is a young man living in a big
city in the Arab world. When he was young he had polio and his parents send him
to an institution. When the war broke out he lost contact with his family and
stayed in the institution. Here he received daily rehabilitation and learned
how to repair electrical equipment. A few years ago he was reunited with his
family. He now lives with his family and has found a job in a factory, first as
a telephone operator but later assembling electrical meters. He was able to buy
an adapted car and will tell you that he could not do without it. He would like
to get married but housing is a big problem for people using wheelchairs.
Mahmoud complains: 'If you are able to overcome all the steps to get into the
building to apply for housing, your application form is put at the back of the
pile as soon as they see that you are disabled'. Mahmoud likes to play sports
in the sports centre for disabled people. He plays basket ball and table
tennis. He says; 'It is fun but it also lifts up your spirits when you hear the
spectators cheering'.
*Adapted from: CDI (1990). Just Ordinary People. Co-operation for Development Int.Ltd./Jordan Television.
Key issues : Child to Child : Promoting Inclusive Education Through Child-to-Child Activities : Training Guidelines : Handouts
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08/06/1998