Our work:
General activities
General activities
SDCC is a long running program established under Down Syndrome Society Nepal . the central objective of SDCC is to organize activities that enables the people with Down syndrome and intellectual disabilities to become able and independent.
SDCC currently provides services to 35 children with Down syndrome and other intellectual disabilities with 4 regular special education teachers. SDCC provides Self-help skills, vocational and recreational activities along with the
following services:
- Physiotherapy
- Speech therapy
- Music therapy
- Dance therapy
Volunteer column
SDCC is a long running program established under Down Syndrome Society Nepal . the central objective of SDCC is to organize activities that enables the people with Down syndrome and intellectual disabilities to become able and independent.
SDCC currently provides services to 35 children with Down syndrome and other intellectual disabilities with 4 regular special education teachers.SDCC provides Self-help skills, vocational and recreational activities along with the
Camilla Pande , Norway
I participated in the activity at Satyam Day Care Center in April 2016. Satyam is a progressive center with a lot of activity. As I experienced it was also quite well organized compared to other centers I were a part of in Kathmandu. While I was there, it was a daily dance session among some of the older students choreographed together with a dance teacher. These were goal oriented practices which resulted in performances in front of a large crowd at Down Syndrome Day and so on with huge success. The kids were easy to love and connect with as we shared a lot of joy and laughter. Even though it was difficult to communicate verbally due to different languages, I felt a common understanding and the language was not so important. There were school sessions, creative work of making candles and a lot of playing. 3 of the young boys even worked sometimes at a hotel to learn about professional life. My impression was that the older students also worked a little like role models for the younger ones. All in all, SDCC together with other care centers is the proof that there is a shift going on in Nepal. The attitude towards intellectual disability is changing towards a positive direction. Especially at SDCC, there were competent and devoted staffs that were good at using the potential of their students and activate them in a practical ways.
Harold , NTNU Norway
Last year at spring, I and three other physiotherapy students came from Norway to Nepal to have our practice for two months. Our task was to examine and treat children with Cerebral Palsy. We have only had a few lectures about CP in school, and few get to work with them in the practice periods. I am therefore glad I got this experience, and also an opportunity in Norway. It’s a challenge working with children with CP, because many of them have little or no language. It was even a bigger challenge in this case, when the children’s mother language as Nepali where as I am Norwegian. But this led to bigger learning for me, because I had a lot of body language which is great tool back in Norway. After all, the work with children gave me lots of joy. It is something special about these kids; they have big heart and lots of positive energy. It was really hard to say goodbye but I often think of Nepal: the beautiful country and the lovely children. Now I am graduated and I definitely will take this experience with me in my work as a physiotherapist.
Anna Karoline Osen, Norway
This is what I heard from the president of DSSN who also happened to be one of my supervisors at this day care center.
Despite, or maybe because of the variation in needs and diagnosis of the children, each day is structured with room for swapping activities. All students, regardless if they have Down syndrome , autism , cerebral palsy or ADHD, start the day with some gymnastic exercise – stretching as well as jumping, while singing the national anthem. This is followed by classes like math, writing and coloring. Puzzles are also a part of their learning process. Dancing is a huge part of their day, with fancy rhythms and expressive body movements. The day is usually ended with sports or games and the students are able to let go of all the energy they have inside before they are picked up by their parents to return home.
During my three weeks at SDCC, I was amazed by how intertwined learning was with Nepali culture. Before I arrived in Nepal, I had the impression that Nepali people were smiling, positive, energetic and warm- hearted. This impression was identical to the people I met at the day care center. The children are helping as much as they can and the adults working there are doing the same. This attitude, in addition to varied days with different kinds of games and learning styles provides the children with lots of learning but also a lot fun in the everyday life. Even though my three weeks ended a long time ago, I still feel like I could learn more from the children, the adults and the president of DSSN by coming back one day.
Ida Benedicte Cowburn, Norway
Last year at spring, I and three other physiotherapy students came from Norway to Nepal to have our practice for two months. Our task was to examine and treat children with Cerebral Palsy. We have only had a few lectures about CP in school, and few get to work with them in the practice periods. I am therefore glad I got this experience, and also an opportunity in Norway. It’s a challenge working with children with CP, because many of them have little or no language. It was even a bigger challenge in this case, when the children’s mother language as Nepali where as I am Norwegian. But this led to bigger learning for me, because I had a lot of body language which is great tool back in Norway. After all, the work with children gave me lots of joy. It is something special about these kids; they have big heart and lots of positive energy. It was really hard to say goodbye but I often think of Nepal: the beautiful country and the lovely children. Now I am graduated and I definitely will take this experience with me in my work as a physiotherapist.
This is what I heard from the president of DSSN who also happened to be one of my supervisors at this day care center.
Despite, or maybe because of the variation in needs and diagnosis of the children, each day is structured with room for swapping activities. All students, regardless if they have Down syndrome , autism , cerebral palsy or ADHD, start the day with some gymnastic exercise – stretching as well as jumping, while singing the national anthem. This is followed by classes like math, writing and coloring. Puzzles are also a part of their learning process. Dancing is a huge part of their day, with fancy rhythms and expressive body movements. The day is usually ended with sports or games and the students are able to let go of all the energy they have inside before they are picked up by their parents to return home.
During my three weeks at SDCC, I was amazed by how intertwined learning was with Nepali culture. Before I arrived in Nepal, I had the impression that Nepali people were smiling, positive, energetic and warm- hearted. This impression was identical to the people I met at the day care center. The children are helping as much as they can and the adults working there are doing the same. This attitude, in addition to varied days with different kinds of games and learning styles provides the children with lots of learning but also a lot fun in the everyday life. Even though my three weeks ended a long time ago, I still feel like I could learn more from the children, the adults and the president of DSSN by coming back one day.
Ida Benedicte Cowburn, Norway
- “My rewarding Experience”
Living on a planet crowded with 7.2 billion people and being faced by the immense competition present in every field today, it is hard to remain positive and not become selfish. Thus as an attempt to have a different perspective on life, my journey at the Down Syndrome Society Nepal started a month ago as I walked in as a volunteer, hoping to be resourceful in any way possible. The past month has been an experience that I would never have thought to experience and yet one that I can honestly say was the best thing that I have ever done. On the 19th of April, I was about to start a journey which I could hardly believe was beginning. As I was led into SDCC, I was overwhelmed with so many different feelings, not knowing what to expect. However, it was just a matter of time before the hospitality at the day care center made me very comfortable. As I spent more time with the children, youth and adults with Down syndrome, I was astonished to see how they lived as a family and how quickly they accepted me as their family. It was truly inspiring to see a team with a mission “to see ability in people” and empower individuals with Down syndrome to reach their full potential throughout life by pioneering and providing various facilities. This experience has personally helped me grow as an individual while inspiring me to make positive changes to my life. It has helped me develop a positive attitude and become more optimistic. Overall, this experience has been life changing and it not only boosted my self-esteem, but also made me feel needed.
Utkrist Karky
Medical fund
Our medical fund had been established with the intention for helping parents with low income groups who are in dire need of financial assistance in order to treat their children with Down syndrome. A large number of children with Down syndrome with potentialities are not being able to join the center in spite of their desires due to economic condition of their parents and families. To increase the strength and stability of DSSN, we specially appeal to all our friends to donate liberally to the Society.
Training/ Awareness / Workshop
The chief purpose of our workshops and trainings are to spread awareness among the public about Down syndrome and intellectual disability, ensure the fundamental rights of the people with Down syndrome and intellectual disability and to establish a non-discriminatory ,safe and approachable society for the same. The training/ awareness and workshop also varies from different topics that targets the people with Down syndrome and intellectual disability and also their parents, caretakers, educators , social workers and so on.
Counseling Parents and guardians
We provide counseling and adequate help to parents and guardians to equip them with a wide range of knowledge on Down syndrome and intellectual disability, to help them from feeling depressed and to convince them to cheerfully accept their children as they are.
Inclusive education
Children with disabilities are 10 times less likely to attend school than those without. Even if they attend school, they are more likely to drop out early while the level of schooling they receive is frequently below that of their peers. Children with disabilities are often unable to go to school because of unsuitable school buildings. In addition, there is a limited understanding within their communities and among educators about their learning needs, which is often fueled by prejudices around disability. The main goal is to create awareness to parents and community for strengthening the practice of inclusive education in regular schools.
Vocational Program
Our vocational program aims at providing employment opportunities to our subjects by training them in the professional fields of their own interests, so as to facilitate their personal source of income. Our vocational training ranges from making different shape and sizes of wax candles, and diyos for Tihar, preparing various spices and achaars. All our youths are trained with the presence of a supervisor who helps in making sure everything is done safely. Two of our students also received a 3 months waiter training organized by the government of Nepal for people with disabilities.