My daughter is different and she has blossomed at MJF school
Seated on a bench , I watched this inspiring scene unfold right before my eyes. All the children who are special and differently abled were eagerly listening to the instructions given by the physical trainer. He takes immense effort, to demonstrate and encourage them, to follow him in his outdoor workout.
Situated in Moratuwa, this school run by the MJF Foundation accommodates kids, and adolescent age groups who are differently abled. As a mother of a child with Cerebral Palsy, (a condition caused by brain damage) my prayer to find a school which could address her disability, was answered at MJF.
The Cerebral Palsy Centre here, is geared to train and create progress in these children who are the victims of brain damage. I cannot express the joy I feel, watching my girl progressing day by day, slowly and steadily. She enjoys her classroom activities with her teachers who are dedicated, patient, and go getters. The bubbly energy-packed speech therapist will not give up on Hasara, my daughter, until she does what she says, even if it takes a million times, for Hasara to respond.
I watch how confidently the physiotherapists at the unit, handle Hasara. Hasara at 14 years, still cannot walk or talk properly, and after bringing her over to MJF, the therapists have got her to kneel and take weight on her knees with support, to respond to instructions given, and make her to sit with minimum support. It is their hard work, and overwhelming, never-failing love and patience that has made Hasara’s progress in school possible. It is the same quality of service that each and every child receives from these young, lovely, persevering staff, at all times. Hasara’s day in school is well planned and efficiently carried out by all of them.
The school stands out from the rest, since they have different units to suit each child’s particular disability. Cerebral Palsy, Autism, Down’s Syndrome and other behavioural issues are some of the areas that are covered at this school. Every day I observe with awe, how they deal with children with severe behavioural issues, and with their helpless mothers. Within a few months, the ones who were screaming and howling, and never cared to respond, fall in line and attend classes with others!
The lady who heads the school takes time to personally speak to mothers and the kids, and also to overlook and handle any situation. She and her team would get together to discuss the progress of the kids and then have a very open conversation with the parents. The advice and guidance given by them to the parents is intended to help in how they deal with a special child on a daily basis. While the child is in care, even the mothers are provided the opportunity to learn home gardening at school, on a weekly basis.
The MJF school is equipped and geared to do a lot more than what I have described. The beauty of this institution is that it overflows with love, care, empathy and humanity, which are the essences that these children respond to. Hasara could never fit into a class which consisted of special children alone. I had almost given up hope for a proper school for Hasara, therefore I am deeply grateful to the founder of the MJF Charitable Foundation, Merrill J. Fernando, for initiating such a blessed service. His exemplary act of humanity, needs to be commended, for reaching out to children with special needs.
Hasara celebrated her 14th birthday on April 1, 2015 and I thanked God for the many countless blessings bestowed upon her, through the years. Among them, the MJF School is definitely a blessing that I cannot miss out on. May God’s blessings be in abundance, upon this institution, the children benefiting from it, the management, benefactors and their families, as they continue this unending story of love and care.