The main and most important project result for both partners is improved quality of life of disabled children.
For Visaginas “Verdenės” gymnasium: Three non-formal educational-training programs for disabled children „Theatre educational program“, “Ethnocultural educational program” and “Making dolls in folk pedagogy” were created by gymnasium teachers with a help of Latvian colleagues. All programs were pilot tested during project implementation period, the participation in educational-training programs is very useful for disabled children, it helps children to get involved in active life of community more easily, helps to find new friends, socializes and motivates to be more curious about everyday world. During these programs, participants became familiar with the surrounding environment, household, social roles, perceives social life rules and cultural heritage, got to know better their environment, various material specifics, developed their work skills and creativity. As a result, children’s motility skills got better, they got to know and recognize colours, shapes, structures of materials. Participants become more creative, deprived of everyday tasks and routine. Created programs helped disabled children to show their real feeling, worries and thoughts indirectly.
Gymnasium has repaired the sports ground where disabled children and youth could exercise, take part in sports events, summer camps. Repaired sport ground attracts young people and motivate them to exercise, socialize and take part in team activities. During summertime disabled children come to exercise with their parents, during school year -with a help of teachers. Every summer together with NGO “Visagalis” and Visaginas municipality administration we organize sports competition for disabled on the sport ground to promote healthy living and equal opportunity.
Also school has repaired and fully equipped educational-training classroom for disabled students where the new education-training programs of the project are being implemented. New room extended the abilities of the school in providing services for disabled children, because repaired room planned in a modern way with furniture-transformer and all necessary equipment that allow to organize educational process differently but most important comfortably for children. The room is used as for formal as for non-formal educational activities such as movie watching, musical lesson and art lessons.
More information about infrastructure works that had been done in Visagino “Verdenės” gymnasium can be found here: https://verdenesgimnazija.lt/projektine-veikla
For Aleksandrava boarding school: Long term employment program “Development of the basics of agricultural skills” was created to develop the basic skills of agricultural works, to develop independent work, social and communicative skills and abilities, correcting mental and physical development disorders, improving the life quality for children with special needs. Program tasks are to create an idea of agricultural work in the summer; to create new and correct incomplete independent work, social and communicative skills and abilities; to teach work culture, mutual assistance, collective work skills; to develop a positive attitude towards work; to develop skills for planning income and expenses; to develop the skills of work product realization.
Natural trail were created and constructed, the nature trail consists of 5 different stages, formed from the different type of road surfaces (sand, wood, grass, bridge, pebbles). The length of the nature trail is 140 m. It provides an opportunity to learn, to recreate, exercise and observe a nature. As educational elements, nature trail convey information about flora and fauna. Children are able to explore different tree species (maple, linden, oak, chestnut, ash tree etc.), also there is an ability to watch the beautiful landscapes, listen to the birds chirping, and explore fishpond and river called “Dzegužupe”. To improve children skill development and socialization, in the end of each section there is various activities – relaxation activities, educational activities and workshops for the children with disabilities. The ending of the nature trail is fireplace, where all the non-formal activities take place. Nature trail offers access for children who use a wheelchair.
Also, relaxation space for disabled children were prepared. Relaxation Space consists of salt room, multisensory room, aggression reducing room, room for workshops and movies. Cosmetic repairs were carried out in the premises – replaced windows, doors, floor, painted walls. The premises are equipped with purchased inventory. Multi-sensory room is equipped with musical water bed, sand therapy equipment, different lights and stereo system for children relaxation after the learning process.
More information about infrastructure works that had been done in Aleksandrava boarding school can be found here: http://www.aleksandrovasskola.lv/interreg.html
Users of all outputs are Lithuanian and Latvian disabled children and youngsters.