REF: EB/NL/33/22-23 DATE: 21st July 2022
AL MUNTAZIR SPECIAL EDUCATION NEEDS
The Al Muntazir Special Education Needs Unit (AMSEN) was established under the Al Muntazir umbrella in January 2013 with the aim to provide holistic care for students with special needs. This was achieved through cultivating their ability to learn through the introduction of an inclusive curriculum, which would enable students to succeed in their pursuits with their diversity and uniqueness.
AMSEN caters for children with ages ranging from 4 to 20 with learning disabilities, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Dyslexia, Down syndrome, Cerebral Palsy and many more. We provide different prospects for children with special needs to thrive and achieve their full potential.
Our goal is to create awareness, shape the future of our students and provide an environment that is healthy, encouraging, supportive and above all, loving where the students will inculcate essential skills to be independent, productive and lead a meaningful life.
To celebrate the World Autism awareness month, the AMSEN staff and students participated in variety of events with the goal to create awareness and a better future for the children with special needs.
AMSEN FUNFAIR
The theme of this year being “Inclusion in Work Place”, AMSEN organised a FUN FAIR where the students with special needs showcased their talents and skill sets in different jobs.
The day began with the guest of honour, Mr Charles Ray, Director of Special Olympics – Tanzania, together with the Jamaat Officials and CBE board Members visiting the vocational booths where students displayed their capabilities and how they can be independent in life if given the right opportunity.
The booths included:
Snack Booth – where students served tea, coffee, fresh made popcorns, ground nuts and healthy Ubuyus which were measured and packed by themselves.
Art Booth – Students showcased their talents in creating and decorating variety of items to enhance their fine motor skills.
Sewing Booth – The booth had variety of hand bags, pouches, phone covers, etc all made with the local Tanzanian kitenge material. Measured, cut and sewed by the students themselves.
Office management Booth – The students showcased how they are able to type information, print, photocopy, laminate and bind documents independently.
Gardening Booth – Here the students exhibited how they created variety of flower pots and planted beautiful plants to beautify the gardens and the environment.
The guests then proceeded to take their place so that the stage program could begin. The stage program included Quran recitation, National Anthem, East African song, welcoming speech, gymnastic presentation and a motivational song, all done by the students with Special Needs.
To see the students overcome various challenges, face the crowd and host the event with confidence is one of AMSEN’s biggest achievements.
RUN FOR AUTISM PRESS CONFERENCE:
As AMSEN continued to celebrate Autism awareness month; we attended a press conference along with other stakeholders for the Lukiza Run 4 Autism marathon, with the aim to partner with other stakeholders to spread Autism awareness far and wide so that no child ever fills secluded or forgotten.
RUN FOR AUTISM MARATHON:
On the 10th of April 2022, AMSEN joined hands with the Lukiza Autism Foundation for an Autism Awareness Month Fun Run. This was healthy for our minds and bodies and it was also a great opportunity to share our commitment to educate our community on Autism. We pledge to do our part so that more children with special needs can be reached and treated with dignity and respect.
VISIT TO THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY IN DODOMA
With the objective of creating awareness, the AMSEN team visited the Tanzanian National Assembly in Dodoma. We had the privilege to meet the Hon. Prime Minister and the Hon. Minister of State. The warm welcome and the introduction done by the Speaker Dr. Tulia Akson, made the visit more memorable.
The students also attended a special training which was aimed to highlight the functioning of the National Assembly.
Again, a great achievement as the students with special needs were able to travel for 9 hours to Dodoma and stayed there for three days with the staff and followed all the protocols of the National assembly, truly a huge achievement.
This article has been written & submitted by the AMSEN team.
Secretariat
Africa Federation Education Board