Through a contact we had made at Kingdom Christian Fellowship, my team learned about The House of Joy. We traveled there believing that it was an orphanage for children with learning disabilities. We soon realized it was actually a home that provided adults with learning disabilities a place to stay during the week, enabling them to step into independence by learning household and interpersonal skills. Joy home is also connected to PKIK, which is an organization that strives to place adults with learning disabilities in programs that can best promote their capabilities. They have three main programs that include: nursery, day training, and work experience.
During my second day with PKIK, I got to work with the small children. The children attend classes three times a week and, for those who are capable, attend regular school as well. The disabilities of the three children I got to spend time with differed greatly. For this reason, the student to teacher ratio is normally 1:1. In this way, the teachers can spend individual time assisting the students in their area of need. Instead of hurrying to stay on schedule, the schedule is tailored to the child’s needs. However, speech was a main area of concentration as many of the children could not verbally speak. Much of the time spent in the class was focusing on vowel and consonant sounds. The most amazing thing about this class was their emphasis on sensory intake. They have a complete dark room for children to explore, discover, and relax. Towards the end of the session the teachers brought out a light rope. I don’t know if I can explain how incredible it was. It was a simple cord of lights that branched out in every direction and the children were absolutely enthralled with it. The children crawled around mesmerized by the glow. They found happiness and peace in such a docile form of entertainment.
Imagine if we could be that content. It was such an awe struck moment of pure amazement. God wants us to have that admiration and wonder at all the gifts he gives us in our daily lives.
