Special children celebrate Mandela Day

On Friday, students of SPJ Sadhana School for the mentally challenged at the Sophia College campus were treated to 67 minutes of African interactive drumming, messy hand painting and a whole lot of cake by Pule I Malefane, consul-general, Republic of South Africa and his staff to celebrate Mandela Day, the birthday of Nelson Mandela on July 18.

Mandela Day is based on a simple concept: dedicate 67 minutes of your day in honour of Mandela who dedicated 67 years of his life fighting for social justice. 

Malefane, who was hands-on throughout the event, explained why he chose the school for the occasion. “The school is taking care of the most vulnerable in society — of children for whom nobody else holds hopes and dreams, not even their parents. But Mandela said, you are who you are because of other people, and the better the lives of others, the better your own.” 

The school, which offers skill-based training and polytechnic courses to gear the mentally handicapped towards mainstream employment, has for the past 35 years fighting a battle against segregation, one very similar to the one Mandela has fought. And according to Radhike Khanna, vice-principal of the school, the most resistance often comes from those who are closest.

“Parents of these children, find it difficult seeing meaning in education. Others struggle with accepting their children as young adults with feelings and emotions.” 

As for the school itself, which provides fee concessions for almost half of its students, funding is a constant source of worry. “Street children attract the most charity funding. Even among the disabled, the cognitively disabled attract lesser visibility than the physically handicapped. We have a long way to go in this country in creating awareness for this community,” says Khanna, who feels the recent spotlight on inclusive education is a step in the right direction.