As the name suggests, the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth are a ray of hope and have played a vital role in empowering children with disabilities along with their families at the ‘Asha Deepam School’ in Trichy, India.
Sister Prashanthu Mandapathi
The Sisters of Charity of Nazareth created a support center dedicated solely to serving children with intellectual disabilities – “special children” Asha Deepam Dar in 1995. Since then, they have welcomed these beings and strived to provide them with opportunities for holistic development, focusing on their unique abilities and potential.
The center provides everyone with the skills they need for daily life, encouraging them to seek educational and vocational opportunities and to participate directly in social and recreational activities. Students take part in a variety of training activities, including making candles, food, flowers, bracelets, beads and incense sticks by hand. They also receive training in sewing and gardening.
Over the years, the Centre Asha Deepam Provided support to about 460 children, promoting dignity and helping them realize their potential. About 50 of them can now work to support themselves and others have won medals at the National District, Interdistrict and Special Olympics Games, but also at the International Special Olympics Games in the USA and Greece. Julian Santo is one of the children the school is particularly proud of: the development of his history validates the efforts and successes of students, parents, nuns and school staff. Asha Deepam,
Teacher Rosaleen Francis preparing students for the high school exit exam
The Journey of Julian Santo
Julian Santo was a boy with multiple disabilities, including autism and visual problems, who faced many challenges when entering school. Asha Deepam Five years ago in Crawford, Trichy.
At that time, Julian could not even recognize his mother’s face and relied on physical characteristics such as height to identify her. During the transition to the pre-primary stage, Julian faced great difficulties in performing basic tasks of daily life, such as eating, dressing and going to the bathroom, due to his visual impairment. Shapes, colors and sizes were a big problem for him.
The school gave him all the medical help he needed to deal with his vision problem and Julian was also subjected to a three-month program of special sensory integration, led by teacher Rosaleen Francis herself and supervised by the nuns. After that, he underwent a training program designed to improve his visual abilities.
Julian Santo with his mother Joan Matharas
Overcoming multiple shortcomings
After several years of intensive training, Julian finally managed to overcome his echolalia: he can now distinguish objects in the classroom, recognize body parts, understand rhythm, identify shapes and colors, and much more. Julian can now name some fruits, vegetables, clothing items, cars, birds, and other creatures. In addition, he learned to read morning prayers, showed a certain general literacy, remembered numerical names, and distinguished vowels and consonants. Despite his vision problems, Julian has an impressive memory, which allows him to remember many details with great accuracy.
Great progress towards independence
Julian’s mother Joan Matharasi has nothing but words of joy and gratitude for her son’s incredible progress since joining school. Asha Deepam Special School. Joan explains that Julian has made great progress in his independence, as he is now able to express his needs with confidence. His writing skills have also improved a lot and he is also able to actively share details about his school activities.
Julian’s behavior has become calmer and more reclusive, no longer pushing the children away from him, while he enjoys games and the company of his little friends. In particular, he learned to follow the teacher’s instructions and respond correctly. “Before participating in this Asha DeepamJulian was completely dependent on me for his basic needs and I was in complete despair thinking about my son’s condition. But since visiting this center, he is getting ready to go to school, his eating ability has improved and he puts on his school uniform on his own.” Moreover, Julian asks you for help with his homework and completes it with enthusiasm and confidence.
God’s Grace in Ministry
A Asha Deepam Special School This journey of transformation began with about 460 children, restoring their dignity and giving them the tools to live a fulfilling life. About 50 of these got employment in various sectors and became independent. Notably, six girls and four boys who left the centre got married, had children and found a respectable place in society. Currently, Asha Deepam It welcomes up to 45 children a day. Sister Saleth Mary, the school director, says, “It is a great opportunity for us to help these special children. Every day, I recognize the face of God in your expressions. After working for years in conventional schools, helping these special children in this school gives a deeper meaning and satisfaction to my religious life.”
Sister Saleth Marie highlights the amazing experience of the children who receive food and everything necessary for their needs every day through the kindness of charitable people. The nun is convinced of the constant Divine Providence in her life and her ministry, and also says that seeing the positive changes achieved in students like Julian strengthens her faith: «God provides for his people through the service of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth».
Sister Saleth Mary with some children from ‘Asha Deepam School’
