Tamil Nadu - Tiruchi   

“Learning through understanding”

— PHOTO: R. M. RAJARATHINAM.

Special: Swedish students from the University West interacting with mentally challenged students at INTACT special school in Tiruchi.

TIRUCHI: It was learning through understanding for the four Swede students who visited Integrated Action Trust (INTACT) as part of their social work project.

During their 21-day visit to the Intact Special School run by the Trust, each student adopted a child and trained them on various activities for a week. They also learnt about the activities held at the school to train the special children in accordance with their age and IQ. They were explained on the therapeutic activities such as yoga, swimming and music.

Under the programme ‘Opportunity Campus,’ mentally challenged adults between the age group of 18 to 35 were given employment-generating project training by the trust. The students – Malin Larsson, Camilla Hanson, Susanne Anderson and Mette Berntsson – provided training to the mentally challenged persons on ways to perfect their vocational practices.

The four students of Social Work from University West also visited Vellimalai in Villupuram District to study the changes in lifestyle among a tribal population. They learnt how the way of living was improved after the girls in that community were educated by the trust. The family and social structure of the community were also studied.

At the special school, the students suggested Swedish methodologies for treating mentally challenged children. Horse therapy, where the children were taught horse riding, would trigger their brain activities, they said and assured all help from their side to start a training programme in horse riding.

They explained about pictogram, which could help children with difficulties in hands and legs movement to express their thoughts, to the special educators. It was an emotional farewell for the Swedes, as they bade goodbye to the children on their last day.

As they parted, the students gave a list of feedbacks fed with appreciations and suggestions on the activities at the special school. Director of INTACT Thomas Ebanezer coordinated the programme.

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