Category: test

“A, A, ants on the apple”

   

September 16, 2021 brought a big change in the lives of Yusufu, Mohamed Ali, Ibrahim, Mukeh, Christiana, Amara, Joe, Gibao, Massah and Kadiatu. On that day the Nyandengoh! School for Special Education opened its doors. For some children it was their first school day ever. Others went to school but spent year after year in the same class. They could copy pages full of words without being able to read them, or count to a hundred without realizing that these numbers actually meant something. Sadly, children like them are often considered stubborn. They are called names and frequently beaten by their teachers or parents. At the Nyandengoh! school they now have a safe place to play and learn. They make puzzles, they sort and count, they sing “A, A, ants on the apple..” and count goats and chickens on walks through the neighborhood. And above all, they are told they are special, valuable, and loved. Over the coming years, we hope to provide three years of basic education, after which children either (re)integrate into mainstream schools, or move on to life skills / vocational training.

   

It was a busy time for the team to get everything ready, in addition to the many other tasks related to the care of a total of 93 children with disabilities. Dr. Jon and Heleen Yoder were finally able to travel to Sierra Leone in August and could help with training, resource development, screening and medical care. They brought two suitcases filled with toys and games, crutches and office supplies, much of which was donated by generous supporters around Christmas last year! While the initial plans were to start with one class, some worrisome local events highlighted the vulnerability of children left without care when parents need go to work, tend to their gardens, or even go to the market to buy their daily food. So in about three days, a simple structure was erected next to the office, where a daycare/preschool provides care for children who are not yet ready to go to Class 1.

We can assure you that the whole experience has been a steep learning curve! Visiting children in their homes is one thing, but to have eight of them in a little room…. Children who have a short attention span, who are not used to schedules and structures, who have seizures, and who often have experienced bullying and abuse. We are grateful to God for Elizabeth and Lucy, two godly and gifted ladies who joined our team as teachers. Please pray for them and the rest of the team as they learn about special education and interact with the children.

One other event we want to highlight is the training of pastors and Sunday School leaders on Friday September 10. In earlier blogs we have shared about the stigma faced by children with disabilities and their families in their communities. The Nyandengoh! team developed a Sunday School curriculum with seven lessons on disability and the Bible. The training was attended by 38 representatives of 22 churches in Mattru Jong and surrounding villages. We had good, deep discussions in which we explored both healing and ongoing suffering in the lives of God’s children. The participants also made practical plans on how to welcome children with disabilities into the church and support their parents. The participants were each given a curriculum to take back to their churches and teach their congregations. Please pray for an abundant fruit in the churches and communities.

We thank you for your prayers and support! For more pictures, for example of the distribution of school bags for children attending mainstream schools, please check out our Photo page.

Nyandengoh! Blog posts

Welcome to the first blog of Nyandengoh! We are so grateful to finally connect with
all of you in this way. On April 22, 2020 Nyandengoh! saw its first anniversary. We
feel blessed beyond measure when we think of all that has happened in this first
year. There is no way that we can update you on all of it in one blog, so over the
next few weeks and months we are hoping to catch you up on some of our stories!
From a few children in Mattru Jong, the total number of children served by
Nyandengoh! has now grown to 74, with children from surrounding villages like
Luawa, Mowogor, Moyowa, Tihun, etc. After Heleen Yoder left for the USA, Sylvanus
French took on the role of Program Manager. He is assisted by community workers
Esther Sopay and Abdulai Jengbeh Jr., and intern Miatta Fofanah.

Over the past few months, the team has had to adjust their activities due to
restrictions related to Covid-19. The effects of the pandemic are felt even in the
smallest villages of Sierra Leone. The suspension of weekly markets makes it harder
for farmers to sell their produce, or fishermen to sell their fish. Small traders have
less opportunities to sell their wares. Children feel unsettled as they miss the daily
routine of school. People don’t find comfort in their daily or weekly religious
gatherings. The fear of the Ebola crisis is still fresh on people’s mind and many avoid
health care altogether, increasing the risk of prolonged suffering or death from
conditions other than the Coronavirus disease.

Despite restrictions in physical contact and get-togethers, the team has continued to
serve the children. We received a donation from Hope Universal
(www.hopeuniversal.com) which enabled us to bless our Nyandengoh! families in a
special way in this time of need. In the days leading to the second nation-wide
lockdown every family received a 25 kg bag of rice. More recently the team
distributed handwashing stations: a jerry can with a spigot and a piece of soap. As
they visit the homes (while maintaining safe distance and wearing masks) they
encourage the families and educate them on Covid and the government regulations
that have been put in place. When our team noticed that school-going children were beginning to forget some of the things they had learned, they put together small
“home-school” packages which enable the children to keep studying. Abdulai, our
community outreach worker who was trained as a nurse, has been making sure that
despite the fear of attending health care facilities, children with health needs are
taken to the hospital and treated for malaria, seizures, pneumonia and other
conditions. Every month he distributes medication to children in our program who
live with epilepsy.

The team’s compassion and enthusiasm brings joy to many families and transforms communities. Not too long ago we did an intake for a child who had just moved into one of the villages we work in. When we asked the mother how the community is
treating her, she told us: “In my old village it was not easy. But because Nyandengoh! visits the village I now live in, the people treat us well.” We have never held any meetings or campaigns in this village. People simply observed our workers as they related to the disabled children and started changing their attitudes. In this same village we witnessed the response of people as one of our children experienced a seizure in the middle of the road. Immediately they invited the boy to rest on their veranda and gave him water to wash his face. This is a beautiful response in a country where many still believe epilepsy is contagious and demonic. As the Nyandengoh! team continues its activities, we would appreciate your prayers for God’s protection over them and the children.

Lastly, we are sending you this blog because in the past year you have shown interest in our work. If you rather not receive these emails, feel free to unsubscribe through the link below. If you want to know more about us and see lots of pictures of our precious children, please check out our website: www.nyandengoh.org.