STEM clubs coming in September for differently-abled children

With the world of technology rapidly advancing, the Guyana Council of Organisations for Persons with Disabilities is striving to ensure differently-abled children are not left behind and are instead equipped with equal knowledge like regular persons.
This was revealed by the Programme Coordinator for the Council, Ganesh Singh during a recent interview with Guyana Times.
He informed that at the beginning of the new school term in September, special needs children will be taught about Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) programmes as well as robotics.
These programmes will be introduced at four special schools in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) as a pilot programme to see how the children respond. Singh explained that it will help them to develop critical thinking skills as they combine parts to make robots and get involved in computer programming.
“The STEM programme will be done at the special schools so it will be for the students who are in those schools. We are hoping that with once funding becomes available, we can do a STEM club outside of school that will cater for persons that are not within the formal school system,” Singh told this newspaper.
In addition, he explained that programmes are also in the pipeline for older persons living with disabilities. For this initiative, the Guyana Council of Organisations for Persons with Disabilities has partnered with the Board of Industrial Training.
“That programme tentatively will commence in September and we also have skills training programmes that we are doing in partnership with the Board of Industrial Training where we are training young persons with disabilities and also even older adults. We are training them in various skills areas including website development and management, computer repairs, food processing, computer skills training and we even have some plumbing and craft,” the programme coordinator added.
Singh was keen to note that he sees Guyana heading into the technological age and is determined to not let persons with disabilities be left behind.
Persons interested in participating in the other programmes can contact the Society on 652-8975 or 231-7976.
On the other hand, while the Organisation recognises the importance of developing capacity in this area, it is also very passionate about developing basic life skills for differently-abled children.

As such, a five-day programme recently concluded which was geared towards boosting independent living skills. Singh reported that the children who participated in that initiative really enjoyed themselves, but most importantly, they learnt a lot when it comes to taking care of themselves.

Challenges
Although the Organisation has major plans to assist persons living with disabilities, it is challenged by a lack of finances.
According to Singh, “As usual we always say financial resources is the major stumbling block for any programme that we want to implement. We do not, we cannot afford an office of our own because we do not receive any subvention or any money really to rent an office and pay administrative staff”.
He explained that the Organisation would usually receive funding from donors for specific projects, however, there is hardly any “assured income” at any given month. This, he said often curtails the work of the Organisation.