A SPECIAL Special Needs School in Nairobi

Heshima is the kiswahili word for dignity. It's also the name of a small, but growing center for special needs children that Tracey Hagman started in the Ngando slum in the southwest corner of Nairobi. See: (http://www.heshima.org).

The center currently serves 14 children between the ages of 2 and 15. Heshima recently broke ground for a new school complex that Tracey envisions will serve up to 75 children.

Things I like love about this school:

 - to make sure all families are given the opportunity to pay for the services their children receive, mothers work part-time for Dignity Designs, a small jewelry business started at the center. They get an hourly wage for creating beautiful jewelry that is sold in Kenya and around the world.

 - two older children with cerebral palsy and cognitive deficits are being trained to become paid teacher assistants. The two boys set tables, help feed some of the younger children, make sure they get to the therapy rooms, push strollers, etc. These are children who would normally have no employment options to look forward to. What a sensible way to provide dignity and hope!

 - two substantial hot meals a day!

 - there are enough teachers, assistants and therapists to ensure that every child gets a lot of loving, one-on-one attention every day.

And, as an SLP, of course, I loved that there were visuals of activities, needs and behavioral expectations attached with Velcro to walls and trays.

I spent several hours at Heshima: problem-solving with Tracey and head teacher Nelly, working with three of the children, reading to little ones, and cuddling.