Monday, January 16, 2006
Helping Out A Bit
After my place at Sepilok was confirmed for a February start i very much hoped i would get a chance to use some of my "spare days" in January doing something useful for the local community.
Last year, four of us from Amex had helped out for a day at Court Meadow School in Cuckfield - a special school for boys and girls aged 2 to 19 who all have severe learning difficulties.
http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/reports/index.cfm?fuseaction=summary&id=126165
That day we moved the books from an old library into a new library and then joined in with their end of term "fun day".
It was such a rewarding day for all of us, so two weeks ago I got back in touch with the School and offered up my time again.
Happy to report they were glad of an extra helper, so I have just spent the past 3 days with Class 3 over there. The class currently has nine autistic boys aged between 4 and 13 years old who have been doing their absolute best to keep me on my toes!
It's been a truly humbling experience seeing first-hand how the teachers and helpers there are making such a difference to the lives of 100+ children at the School.
I'll be going back again on Friday for another day, then will do two or three more days the following week before starting my packing for Borneo.
One thing i had to smile at today - Aaron, one of the guys who volunteered with me last year is cousin of the lead singer of Nizlopi. (see http://www.nizlopi.com/) and on the wall of a corridor at the school is a great picture of their JCB song, so i snapped it on my phone and forwarded it to him...
...how cute is that??!!
Last year, four of us from Amex had helped out for a day at Court Meadow School in Cuckfield - a special school for boys and girls aged 2 to 19 who all have severe learning difficulties.
http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/reports/index.cfm?fuseaction=summary&id=126165
That day we moved the books from an old library into a new library and then joined in with their end of term "fun day".
It was such a rewarding day for all of us, so two weeks ago I got back in touch with the School and offered up my time again.
Happy to report they were glad of an extra helper, so I have just spent the past 3 days with Class 3 over there. The class currently has nine autistic boys aged between 4 and 13 years old who have been doing their absolute best to keep me on my toes!
It's been a truly humbling experience seeing first-hand how the teachers and helpers there are making such a difference to the lives of 100+ children at the School.
I'll be going back again on Friday for another day, then will do two or three more days the following week before starting my packing for Borneo.
One thing i had to smile at today - Aaron, one of the guys who volunteered with me last year is cousin of the lead singer of Nizlopi. (see http://www.nizlopi.com/) and on the wall of a corridor at the school is a great picture of their JCB song, so i snapped it on my phone and forwarded it to him...
...how cute is that??!!
