The Hope Centre for Inclusive Education in Abuja, Nigeria, offers a Montessori program that promotes inclusive learning by enhancing the diverse needs and abilities of students with and without disabilities, both children and adults.

The “Take Me to the End of My Dreams” project specifically and concretely aimed to improve access to education for disabled children from poor families who could no longer attend school. Poverty and lack of financial resources mean that families are unable to pay for transportation and school fees or buy school uniforms, and limit access to assistive devices.

Sr. Sylvia, the school principal, explains the different steps that made the project possible:

1 - Transportation: we identified 18 children who had dropped out of school due to the high cost of transportation and geographical distance. We enrolled them in the transportation system set up by the school to ensure their regular attendance.

2 - School fees: we covered the costs for 30 children whose parents could not afford to pay them, removing the financial barrier to education and allowing them to focus on their studies. 

3 - 30 children received new uniforms and now attend school regularly, with joy and a sense of security and stability, on an equal footing with their classmates. These uniforms have not only improved their educational prospects, but also their overall well-being.

4 - Hearing aids for five children: Joel Nathaniel, Amanda Okoli, Favour Okoli, Onyinye Paulinus, and Emmanuel Ibe. These devices have significantly improved their learning: they participate more effectively in class and interact more with their classmates. The hearing aids have given them new hope and allowed them to have more confidence in what they do. The school received assistance from audiologist Sr. Martha Ali of the Lindalva Inclusive School in Benin City in evaluating three of our children. 

Here is Joel's story and the impact it had on his life:

From an early age, his parents noticed that he did not respond to voices. After a series of tests, he was diagnosed with hearing loss. The news was difficult for his family to accept, but they were determined to give him the best support and opportunities possible. Joel was initially enrolled in a regular school until his parents enrolled him in the Daughters of Charity Hope Center for Inclusive Education, where he began learning sign language. Now, thanks to his hearing aids, Joel can hear and respond. He is undergoing speech therapy to improve his speech. Joel is able to interact more with his classmates. He is doing very well and is happier going to school!

The project is not financially self-sufficient. The Hope Center plans to expand its vegetable farming, poultry farming, and fish farming for its own consumption and for sale, generating income for the development and sustainability of the school. At the same time, it will continue to carry out numerous public awareness campaigns to promote the school and encourage people to enroll their children, whether disabled or not.

“I would like to sincerely thank those who have enabled us to bring smiles back to the faces of our children living with disabilities.” Sr Sylvia

Learn more about the Daughters of Charity in Nigeria: https://www.daughtersofcharitynigeria.org/index.php