Children with disabilities in poverty-stricken areas of Lima, Peru, reach their potential at a Columban-founded school.
Fr Ed O'Connell at Manuel Duato Special School in Lima, Peru. Photos: Fr Pat Raleigh SSC
In October, 2019, Columban Fr Pat Raleigh visited the Columbans in Lima and said that his visit to Lima would not have been complete without visiting the project of the Manuel Duato Special School, located next door to the Columban Central House in Sol de Oro, Lima.
He wrote: “I am indebted to Columban Fr Ed O'Connell for taking time out to explain the background and showing me around.
Manuel Duato is a school for physically and intellectually challenged children and adolescents. The children attend school in the mornings, accompanied by their parents. Fr O’Connell is President of the Civic Association Fe y Esperanza which oversees the management of the school.
It is the largest special needs school in Peru and was founded in 1976 by an Associate Priest working with the Columbans. The building is well constructed and well laid out. It has its own auditorium, playground, computer rooms and many other rooms for therapy and learning.
There are classes for deaf children, those suffering from autism, cerebral palsy and other cerebral disabilities.
The children who attend the school range from moderately to severely disabled. They come from disadvantaged areas and the fees charged are minimal.
The classes for the children include babies less than one year old through to kindergarten and into primary school. Lots of work is physical motion, physiotherapy, art and music.
Having parents involved is central to the children’s development. What the parents learn in the various classes they continue at home. The emphasis is on life skills rather than academics. A life project is worked out for each child with his/her family. While the main responsibility falls on the mother and/or father it is very important that the whole family become involved.
The school is also involved in advocacy work at municipal and national levels to ensure that the right to a decent education for children with special needs is upheld and followed through.
Fr Ed O'Connell and team put a lot of effort into raising funds to keep this important project going. All costs are funded through the generosity of benefactors and some grants apart from the salaries of the teachers that are paid by the State with the exception of the head teacher and cleaning staff.”
Fr Pat said that he was impressed by the quality of attention that each child receives from dedicated and well qualified teachers.
“One could not help but be touched by the warmth and outpouring of love for the children who would otherwise have little to look forward to.”
Columban Fr Pat Raleigh worked for many years in Pakistan and is now semi-retired in Ireland.
Listen to "A better life for special kids"
Related links
- Read more from The Far East, January/February 2020
