One day in a Central Asian school for children with special
needs
While working on a student practical task in one of the
Universities of Asia, in Department of Psychology, I had an
opportunity to visit a boarding school for children with chronic
psychic illnesses or underdevelopment. That was an unforgettable
experience. The boarding school was an old ugly building on
outskirts of a big city, behind a ravine, and very difficult to
find without a guide. Our group of students, walked there for
about 40 minutes, and eventually we found the high fence and
gray building behind it.
We were asked to put on white doctor smocks, and after that we
entered the building. First thing that shocked us, was very
unpleasant smell inside the school, we met the director and she
told us that unfortunately the amount of ill children had
increased and it had been very difficult to find any donations
or financial support for school. She asked us to bring old
clothes if we could, because school could not support everybody
and most parents just do not want to know and take care about
their children. Some parents visit children ones or twice a
year, and these children are considered lucky.
Then we were led to the girls' part of the boarding school.
There were girls of different ages, and as young specialists in
the field of psychology we were surprised that there were
children with different levels of underdevelopment in one single
group. Some of them had only some chronic illnesses without
mental disorders, but they were treated like mentally ill
patients! The day schedule was the same for them everyday - they
were sitting all in one room, all together about 35-40 children,
or they had small walks around the building. I must admit that
we had tears in our eyes, because it resembled a prison for
little criminals.
These girls tried to hug us and we understood that they are in
great need of love and attention. They were telling us that
their parents would take them home soon. Some of older girls
already had menstrual periods and they didn't know what to do.
Workers' salary in this school is very low and there is no
enough personal and nurses to help every child.
In the boys' section of the school we saw very similar sad
picture. About 35-40 children were sitting in one room with
walls and chairs only. Some of the children had become degraded
in those conditions. Having had finished our practice most of us
confessed, that during several days after the boarding school
visit, they were seeing those children in their dreams at night
while sleeping. That was a real shock for us. Most of us could
not eat and sleep. Some of the students brought clothes and toys
to that school.
This boarding school and other similar places are a very sad
unknown side of the otherwise beautiful country and friendly
people. Here in the United States, I have a huge wish and hope
to find donations and support for the boarding school I visited
2 years ago.