Play-away project at PCTC

Play-away has committed to provide both PCTC centre’s with indoor soft play areas for the disabled children. In September 2012 we linked together with 2bears.org.uk cycling from Liverpool to Leeds canal. The money Play-away raised will be going to help set up these areas. We will return this year in November to finish the project, painting the rooms in bright colours and provide further resources. I can’t wait to see the equipment in place with the children playing in a safe environment.

These are some of the children who will benefit from having a safe soft play area, which will physically challenge them and stimulate their senses.

“The right to play is a child’s first claim on the community. Play is nature’s training for life.

No community can infringe that right without doing deep and enduring harm to the minds and bodies of its citizens.”

David Lloyd George (1926)

PCTC Art project

On my first visit with 2bears.org.uk, in 2011, I organised a large-scale art project which would involve all the children. I had previously completed a hand painted tree with the nursery children in Uganda and all the children thoroughly enjoyed the tactile experience of getting messy with hand paints. The beauty in this simple project meant that children with disabilities worked together creating the canvas and everybody became involved. It would be fair to comment that on this occasion even the teachers became excited about their creation and the finished product shows how much enthusiasm and life the whole group put into it.

The project this year was to create a large Elmer elephant, made out of scraps of different material, which the children glued onto the canvas. The finishing result was fantastic and the children sat patiently spreading the glue and watching the elephant take shape. Both pieces of art work take pride of place on their wall and I felt very proud to see what they had achieved.

Yet another special moment.

Peoples Craft Training Center (PCTC)

The charity 2bears.org supports the Peoples Craft Training Center (PCTC) , which is based in the rural district of Tiruvannamalai. The center works with deprived and disabled children, helping to increase their independence, socialising and offering valuable parental support. The setting and atmosphere at the two centres PCTC run is one of peace and full of love. There is a wide range of ages and disabilities but their spirit and determination seems as one.

The children and their families welcomed us into their homes and shared their stories of hardship . There was one childs story that I found difficult to manage my emotions. He is eleven years old and spent all the time I saw him smiling and watching others, unable to walk unaided. Zavier , the organiser of PCTC, told us he suffered from muscular dystrophy (MD). Children who have this muscle weakening disease can gradually lose the ability to do the things most people take for granted, like walking or sitting up. I have a son very similar age to this child and it was hard to imagine how I would cope with such a crippling disease, particularly with little money or support. Stories like his remind you of how valuable the work such centre’s like PCTC really are.