The education centre for mentally disabled persons

A rapid growth
This centre was founded in February 2.000 in order to care for mentally disabled persons from the villages around. At the start three special teachers only were caring for about ten disabled young people. At present 11 specialised teachers, one social worker, one teacher in charge of the programs and one manager are accompanying about 30 disabled persons. After the erection of a new building in 2005, the centre will accomodate between 40 and 50 of them.

Operation
The centre is open from Sunday to Thursday each week, from 9.15 a.m. to 1.15 p.m. The mentally disabled persons are coming from a dozen villages in the region . Two minibusses are used for their daily commutation. Up to 2004, the care of them was totally free. As from this year the families are required to financially contribute to the operation of the centre according to their own resources ( 3 to 6 dollars a month).

Educational program
The disabled persons are following specially designed programs in consideration of their individual age and level. They are cared for by a team of teachers who are specialised in a variety of skills : mental education, speech therapy, sport and psychomobility. In addition, they take part in various workshops : farming, craftwork, candle manufacturing… Other activities are proposed also outside the centre : summer camps, craftwork exhibitions, sporting challenges in cooperation with other associations in Syria and abroad.

A strong link with their families
The centre entertains strong links with the families by organising specialised meetings, outings and festivities. These oppotunities are strenghtening the relationship between the mentally disabled persons and their families as well as the contact and the mutual assistance among the families.