The Canossian family has started an inclusive pre-school that takes in both mainstream children and those with special needs.
The new pre-school, which comes under Canossaville Children and Community Services, has 70 children, seven of whom have hearing loss. It is located in the Canossian Eduplex in the MacPherson area.
The centre, which takes in children from 18 months to six years old, is also building a playground by the middle of the year to encourage the children – including those with special needs – to interact.
Sister Marilyn Lim, supervisor of Canossaville Children and Community Services, said it received funding from groups such as philanthropic organisation Lien Foundation, as well as alumni and the public.
A team of pastoral workers and specialists – including a speech therapist, an educational psychologist and a social worker – is being set up this year to cater to children who have special needs or learning difficulties.
After 77 years of caring for orphans and vulnerable children, the Canossian family closed its children’s home in April 2017 because of dwindling enrolment and the larger societal shift towards foster care. It has channelled its efforts to its student care centre, which now has about 80 children.
Instead of being just an after-school facility where the children complete homework, the centre also has a kitchen where pupils can learn to bake and cook. They also get to try activities such as sewing, while a rock wall is being set up by June 2018.
“We work as a team at Canossaville… it takes a village to raise a child,” said Sister Marilyn.
Read more here.
Source: The Straits Times, 16 February 2018