A very special love

Children are a wonderful lot to observe. Long time ago, while an expat student here in Bahrain, I visited a concert organised by the Indian Ladies’ Association (ILA).

On entering the building, and following my parents to the concert hall, I was stopped mid-route by a very small, fragile hand. Turning around, I saw it was a boy with a huge smile on his face. He held my arm tight, and with a warm grin and seemed determined to assist me in some manner. All I could do was smile back and let him lead the way into the concert hall. I still remember having been so touched by this gesture that I was glowing and, for some inexplicable reason, blushing too.
A visit to the Sneha Centre revived that memory as I first laid eyes on these children. I got to see the little angels who are a wonder to watch, and I mean it literally. They were bent over their work, engrossed in detail and on being introduced to us they bobbed their heads happily and gave me their best smiles!
Started by the Indian Ladies Association in 1987 as “a respite to parents”, the Sneha Centre opened doors with just one very ‘special’ child. It was to be a recreation centre where expatriate parents could entrust their mentally-challenged children in to safe hands. The centre is approved by the Ministry of Social Affairs and is run free of charge for the students. Initially the centre had just volunteers but now has two trained teachers.
“This is a charitable institute and so we have a limit of 20 children only. Many parents may not be able to afford to send their children to institutes that ask a fee. We take children from five years up to 18. And since it’s a charitable centre, we are not permitted to keep more than 20 children.
If any parent comes for an admission and we have no place for a new student, we ask them to either return in six months or for those who can afford it, we direct them to other institutes,” says Meera Kamath, Sneha co-ordinator who has been with the centre since its inception.  
There are three classrooms with each dedicated to a bunch of children engaged in a particular activity like painting, art and craft sessions, reading and even computer skills. The centre regularly takes its students on educational and fun outings to places around Bahrain — like a supermarket, bakery or historical buildings.
The day starts at nine in the morning with simple exercises and a prayer. They then retire to three classrooms where they delve into painting and decorating earthen lamps, decorating dandiya sticks and so on.
The Sneha Greeting Cards project was launched in 2000 where children design and make cards, which are sold to corporate houses and individuals to raise funds for the centre. Over 100,000 cards have been sold in six years.
“We want these children to have an idea of what the world outside is like. We teach them basic numerical skills and functional literacy. For instance, we teach them how to be able to count money and collect change at a shop. In this manner, they will feel more confident and comfortable on a normal routine. This encourages them to feel more comfortable,” she added.
The children are also taught self-help skills, hygiene and basic cooking. They have also actively participated over the years in various sports events organised by the Bahrain Disabled Sports Federation, Special Olympics and Lions Club of Bahrain.
In order to practice, they have received immense support and co-operation from the Hope Institute in Isa Town on their grounds.
Apart from this, they have been involved with the Cherry Tree Trot, organised by the American Women’s Association and have won laurels at the Bahrain Garden Club shows as well.
At the end of my visit, I needed to take a group photograph. This is where the awards for the most patient, composed and determined human beings come. The first row, on the chairs, calmed down quickly. The row that was standing did not move a muscle. After a few more minutes of hustle and much pacifying, the little ones settled with their shy smiles and the outcome was a pleasant one.
“We want to bring out the best in these children. We want them to enjoy what they are learning and start inculcating these in their daily lives, when outside the school or when they have to go to public places.
In fact the children have managed here so well, that the best kind of punishment for them is when we threaten them with ‘no school’! They love it here. They can be themselves and this makes them very happy,” concludes Kamath.
For more information on Sneha, contact 17 531 468