Tulsipur, Dang
DISABILITY LEARNING CENTER

Construction of a residential home

Place

Tulsipur,
Ward-7,
Tulsipur Sub-Metropolitan City,
District Dang

Who

Implementation: Chay Ya Nepal,
Tulsipur Sub-Metropolitan City

Partners

Symphasis,
Karl Zünd Stiftung,
Chay Ya Austria,
Chay Ya Switzerland

When

2021 - 2023

For

20 children and teenagers with disabilities ages 5-15

Status

Ongoing

Project

Chay Ya, together with the local government in Tulsipur, intends to establish and operate a residential and learning center for children and young people with disabilities to enable them to lead a dignified, self-determined life. The center will cater to children suffering from blindness, deafness or any other form of physical disability. Priority will be given to orphans and half-orphans, children from the Dalit caste (“untouchables”) and socially or economically disadvantaged families and children neglected by their families. Initially, 20 children and adolescents (10 girls and 10 boys) between the ages of 5-15 years will be admitted. However, if demand increases, it is possible to double the size of the building, which will be taken care of by the local government if necessary.

The aim is to support the children and teenagers in the center by developing their motoric and intellectual skills parallel to the inclusive visit of the regular village school. The aim is also to teach practical skills such as cooking, personal hygiene and handicrafts so that they can later lead an (at least partially) independent life and make it easier for them to find work.

Additionally, the future school garden will not only improve the kids’ nourishment, but will also teach them how to sow and grow plants. A physiotherapeutic playground will hopefully help them build some muscles while playing.

At the same time, however, a rethinking of the traditional Hindu society in dealing with people with disabilities in everyday life is to be stimulated in order to enable the kids from the Disability Learning Center to pursue a professional career. For this purpose, events in and outside the center plus trial apprenticeships in companies and in the public sector are to be organized. Furthermore, a long-term and cross-disciplinary strategy based on a “Theory of Change” (ToC) is to be developed with the local government to enable people with disabilities to participate fully in all areas of life (inclusion).

Sustainability Claimer

Due to the special focus on sustainability, the teachers’ salaries as well as the teaching material at the schools we support are normally paid by the government.

Under special circumstances, such as in very remote schools or in the case of marginalised ethnic groups, these costs are covered by Chay Ya for one year.

Sustainability Claimer

Updates

Update April 2022
The building itself is already standing and the electrical lines are being laid. To the left of the center there is still space for a kitchen garden and under the trees a playground is planned especially for children with disabilities. The connection to the school could not be better: the yellow school building is directly opposite.

During a visit, we were not only able to see for ourselves the progress of construction, but also to meet the local self-help group for people with disabilities and to begin drawing up a guide with local politicians. The aim is to break down prejudices and enable real inclusion in society.

Update September 2022
That was fast 🙂 The building is ready and the first 14 children and teenagers with disabilities have already found a new home here. Together with the school across the yard, an opening ceremony was organized (including a local TV station!) – we couldn’t have wished for a better start. There have also been talks with the job center – hopefully the interest will continue so that real inclusion can be achieved.