One of the most special sub-programmes at PSE is undoubtedly the Handicapped summer continuity programme . At the NGO’s headquarters in Phnom Penh, children with different degrees of mental and motor disabilities are treated the same way as anyone else. In Cambodia, however, their personal growth tends to come with a lot of social rejection, and at times, physical abuse. This is in part due to a lack of information and mistaken beliefs towards the cause of disability.
A team with extra motivation
Working with these children requires an extraordinary amount of patience and positivity, because their reactions are very different from those of other children. No less comforting, but different. Eating for example is an arduous task which requires a lot of help. Moving around, for those who have some kind of paralysis, is also an action which needs assistance. A beautiful thing here however is the intimacy created when one helps another with their basic human needs.
Celia, coordinator of this sub-programme, is in love with these children. She has been treating them every summer for three years and knows some of them well, especially those who live in PSE throughout the year. In total, a team of 20 monitors takes care of 50 children, divided into two groups. The first group includes children between 8 and 21 years of age who can move independently, while the second group of about 15 children include those who require help to move in a wheelchair, the majority affected by severe cerebral palsy.
European and Khmer monitors of this sub-programme receive help from experienced staff who work with these children throughout the year also have the help of specialised staff who work with these children throughout the year. “They are great and make our work much easier,” Celia remarks.
Two stories of overcoming and optimism
Every child in this PSE programme deserves to have his story told as an example of hope for a better, brighter future. Two inspirational stories which will no doubt bring a smile to your face involves Lisa and Chetrá, both part of the Handicapped summer continuity programme.
“She couldn’t walk, then she could, and now she’s running!” Celia
Lisa has a mild degree of paralysis that affects the lower part of her legs. Two years ago she could not walk, according to Celia who has been following her evolution, but in 2017 she started walking on crutches and, finally, this summer the Handicapped coordinator was surprised to see her walking and running, although sometimes she needs to sit down due to fatigue. “The dentist recently took out a tooth and she did not even complain,” Celia says. Lisa’s constant smile affects all who approach her and, of course, her strength is transmitted with the same transparency.
On the other hand, most people in PSE have heard about Chetrá. His cerebral palsy forces him to sit in a wheelchair and be pushed around by someone. However, his mind flies free and is as fast as Messi’s legs, who he always mentions while playing soccer with a giant ball, thanks to monitors helping to push him.
Chetrá is 17 years old and has spent the last thirteen years in PSE, where besides Khmer, he has learned English, French and some Spanish. In fact, thanks to Celia, he already knows how to greet the Spanish monitors that come his way. The phrase that leaves them stupefied is: “¿Qué pasa, tronco?” From that moment on, he’s already made new friends.
Integration and mutual knowledge
Among the objectives of the Handicapped subprogramme is the integration into Cambodian society. With this idea in mind, the coordinators organise mixed activities with the resident students of PSE (pensionnaires). The result is enriching for both groups as it enables mutual knowledge on a different experience and normalises the encounter.
An encounter which has been avoided for a long time due to Cambodia’s belief that a handicap is the cause of a bad past life. This saying is derived from the Theravada Buddhist School, the oldest and most conservative school which teaches the most practised religion in Cambodia. Besides a long-term belief, the big absence of information about disability also plays a big role in this negative perception.
Smiles that are worth ten
Handicapped children enjoy the summer programme as much as the other kids, although many of them express it in a different way. It is evident that they love the presence of the monitors. Monitors who try and make them laugh or smile and who celebrate any funny outburst of any kind, trying ultimately to stimulate them as much as possible.
A magical moment is to see how those who have sufficient mobility dance. Celia confesses that Samron, one of the children and the son of a PSE worker, is a great dancer and knowing his own skills, immediately shows off when he hears any rhythm, especially reggaeton.
Those fun moments make the monitors feel like their work is valuable and has the biggest positive impact. The confidence and effort these children show on a daily basis proves how surprising people can be if we just give them the help and chance to reach their full potential!
Our sponsor
PSE would like to thank Banco Santander for its financial support to the Handicapped sub-programme.
A day at the camp
