Southern Handicapped Association was established in 1985 and
at that time the Managing Committee comprised of the only ten volunteer members
who were elected annually during a General Assembly. Without forgetting that it
was the only handicapped association found in the south of the island. At that
very beginning, some sport and cultural activities were organised on and off. In
1990, a survey was carried out in the coastal villages of Souillac, Baie du Cap
nd nerby regions where it was found that there were many disabled children in
these regions who were left to themselves. This consequently led to the opening
of a Day Care Centre at Souillac for these vulnerable children. A religious
body helped the association by making available a building for classroom
purposes.
Soon after, that the American Embassy purchased some pieces of furniture and school materials for the students. On the other hand, the United Way helped with the salaries of two teachers, the MSS and NCRD also helped with other major expenses. In 1997, its student population increased as more students came from the regions of Riviere Des Anguilles, Tyack, Camp Diable and L’Escalier. Definitely, there was a lack of space as the initial building could not accommodate all these students thus the NGO had to move to Surinam. There, with the collaboration of the School of the Deaf, a special teaching class was set up and a new teacher was recruited for the deaf students. In the year 2000, a new building was erected at Surinam at the present address of Southern Handicapped Association Special Educational Need School Day Centre, Coastal Road, Riambel, Surinam.
It comprises of an office, a waiting room,
three classrooms and some amenities. “We are thankful to Trust Fund for social
and vulnerable group and NGO Trust Fund, the United Way, and the School of the Deaf,
Rotary Club of Mahebourg and the regular donations that always support us. For
without them, there would not have been the existence of this new building.” In
2002 with the Fondation Espoir and Development the “Atelier Protégée” was set
up where the young disabled after completing the pre-primary and primary courses
were given intensive training in the handicraft sector. The students are now
able to make baskets of all sizes, trays, dustbins, and jute bags. Today the
NGO has a “Boutik Artisanal” to market its products. Since January 2004, the
NGO has started working in close collaboration with the C.B.R and the EU
Decentralized Co-operation. In 2005, it also set up a Special Need School which
is registered with the Ministry Of Education. In 2009, it became affiliated with
the CSR. In the year 2010 on the occasion of its Silver Jubilee, the NGO opened
a pre-primary unit, still being the first one in the south. Due to increase in
the number of children in the school at Riambel, the Association opened a new
branch at Plaine Magnien in 2012 to serve the children coming from Vieux Grand Port,
Mahebourg, Rose Belle and Nouvelle France. “We currently cater for about 40
children aged from 5 to 20 years old. Our staff consists of 5 teachers and 2
assistant teachers. Our heartful thank to Innodis, Foundation Nouveau Regard, Shanti
Maurice and A.M.L which are still sponsoring us to stand with our projects. We
are also introducing Information and Technology for our students. At the
present moment we are caring for about ninety handicapped persons aged between
4-35 years. We are really grateful to all the bodies which always support us,
especially the Bio Culture Mauritius Ltd one of the main sponsors, together
with MACOSS, with public donations and other well wishes.”
One main priority for the incoming year is to have a
specialised room with qualified carers with all the necessary comforts for the severely
handicapped children. For the others, we wish to have a vast playground where
they can relax and play during their precious time because television time and
extracurricular activities are carefully considered against other activities. In
Mid 2013, the NGO introduced a new therapy room equipped with appropriate
equipment financed by State Bank. Finally in 2013 itself, they got a plot of
land annexed to the school where they would have a therapeutic garden which
will be ready soon. In 2014, the SBM financed the Occupational Therapy Room and
its equipment for the welfare of the severely handicapped children. “However,
we have also implemented a Lab-Techno Pedagogy sponsored by the MCB Forward
Foundation on 2014 where new technology is being used to upgrade the knowledge
of our children with disabilities. The DCP financed the association with an
amount of Rs 2,245,000 for the acquisition of a 16-seater Toyota van and
specialised wheelchairs for the severely handicapped children. The upcoming
project would soon be realised by the Mauritius Telecom Foundation with an
amount of Rs 290,040 for a project of Therapeutic equipment for children with
severe physical disabilities (Cerebral Palsy). “We inaugurated the school of
Plaine Magnien officially in the presence of Honourable Mr. Purmanund Jhugroo,
Honourable Mr. Joseph Hugo Thierry Henry and Honourable Mr. Mahendranuth Sharma
Hurreeram. Now, the same MCB Forward Foundation project has been approved at
Plaine Magnien’s branch for our children to benefit from the technology in
February 2016 for the sum Rs 319,000. In mid-August, we were given a class by
the Ministry of Education for seven severely children at SEN-Resource Development
Centre at Riviere Des Anguilles.
We have been awarded the 3rd
prize for “Make a wish” competition Colours of life Award 2016 organised by
Barclays. The Ministry of Gender Equality,
Child Development and Family Welfare financed the association with an amount of
Rs 1, 337, 385 for the
acquisition of a 15-seater Nissan van for the transportation of severe physical and intellectual disabilities children
for Occupational therapy and Physiotherapy in May 2017. The NCSRF financed the
project ‘’EMPOWERMENT OF YOUNG ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES IN HANDICRAFTS’’ in
August with an amount of Rs 423 900.
Contact person: Ramesh Bondy
Tel 625 4055
Our
motto is to help these students to become good citizens because