Sambodhi School – a special school for physically and mentally disabled children
Only some of the teachers at Sambodhi school speak English. The children know some simple phrases, “hello, goodmorning, sit down” for example. Other than that, all of my communication with the children is through hand signals, gestures and drawings.
For my first group, I was in class of boys, ages 9-14, all very different ability levels. I had them make mandalas with craypas. It was very interesting to watch the drawings develop. Once the boys were finished we hung the drawings together on the wall. I pointed to the drawings and said “same, different, beautiful -In Sinhala, eh-kah-mah, ve-nahs, la-sa-na”. Then I pointed to each of the boys and said the same thing, (I hope they got it). There was one deaf student in the class, so the teacher helped me by writing the words in Sinhala so he could understand.
Another group I have done with a few classes is a hand tracing drawing. For this group we used colored pencil sticks by crayola, because they don’t leave marks on hands. I traced each student’s hand on a sheet of paper. Then they traced mine/and or their own, then each others’ hands. After we colored in the spaces the hands connected. I felt this group was successful for forming relationships with the students. There is something really intimate about having your hand traced, and the students seemed to enjoy it very much.
I also had the children free draw with different materials to see what they enjoy drawing and what materials they gravitate towards. When a child finishes a picture, I touch the drawing and say “la-sa-na (beautiful)” then I point to their heart and say “la-sa-na”, and touch their head and say “la-sa-na.” I am hoping that they will understand that their beautiful artwork comes from their beautiful hearts and minds.
Mostly, I am running art therapy groups with the assistance of another teacher in the class with me, although the staff of the school is low and sometimes I am a substitute for a class. If this occurs I am teaching English and Math, and occasionally sports. I try using art and music as much as possible. It is a bit difficult with the language barrier and the varied disabilities of the children, especially since I am still meeting most of the children for the first time.
Sambodhi Home – a home for physically and mentally disabled children and adults
After my mornings in the school, I run 1 or 2 art therapy groups at the home. The residents there are so sweet, loving and very giving. They are a family, they take of each other and their home. It is truly amazing to witness. Art materials were scarce when I first arrived and I was quite worried about what I was going to use. We spent some time cleaning out a box of pencils to use for drawing. Thankfully, a volunteer group from Texas, called Hope for the Silent Voices, came to the home. They brought all sort of art materials, toys, musical instruments, plants and other necessities for the home. Their presence brought happiness and sunshine.
With the residents from the home, our art groups are more free and open ended since the ability levels are varied and challenging. I am trying to focus more on color and sensory simulation with them. We had a wonderful time using homemade clay. The residents are so delighted to just have someone there to be with them. It is really heartwarming.
It seems that my working patterns at home are continuing here in Sri Lanka. I have only been here for 1 week and I was asked to volunteer at another school. It is called Gana Goda school in Akmeemana. They need help with their art program and want me to paint murals on their walls. (My first day there will be tomorrow actually.)
I also have started a job here, working with an Autistic child. His family wished for a therapist to work with him on attention and use of his right hand. He has seen many doctors and had a very helpful assessment done in England. The family is Muslim and I will work with boy in his home 1-2 times a week for a couple of hours. The family speaks English well and is so loving to the boy. He is eight years old and his name is Faddy.
Thank you all so much for reading. I hope you enjoy the pictures. I will try to post more but it takes much longer to do then I had thought and the internet here is a bit temperamental…
