A visit to the Center for Mental Abilities Development in the city of Janzour

Implementing the instructions of the Deanship of the College on the necessity of positive communication with local community institutions, and achieving community and environmental service indicators in providing services of mutual benefit to the community, and implementing the vocabulary of some curricula in the College’s academic programs, and within the framework of the College’s endeavors for continuous development and improvement.

 The Department of Community Service and Environment at the college organized a scientific visit to the Center for Mental Abilities Development in the city of Janzour,  in cooperation with the kindergarten program, targeting some female students of the psychological counseling course,  accompanied by the subject’s professor, Awatif Al-Shteiwi, the head of the Department of Community and Environment Service at the college,  and Professor, Maha Al-Gharari, a teaching assistant in the kindergarten program.

 They were received by the Center Director, Mrs. Laila Qahs, who welcomed the team and expressed her happiness with this initiative from the neighboring college. She expressed her desire for joint cooperation with the college in a way that is consistent with its job and mission.

 This center is one of the largest centers affiliated with the Social Solidarity Organization in the beloved Libyan territory, which was established since the 1970s and has provided rehabilitation, education and training services to people with moderate and mild mental disabilities for decades.

 It was opened recently after maintenance and development work took place on it

 The team toured the center’s facilities, accompanied by Mrs. Maryam Abdel Jalil, head of the Social Service Office. They learned about the study system that is based on the educational system (Montessori) and the method of admission, qualification and training. They learned about all the scientific departments, preparation, educational, cultural, and vocational training, and the speech office (speech therapy and speech disorders).  He visited the gym, the playground, the activity and computer learning halls, learning through art and music, and training in the arts of embroidery, drawing, sweets making and agriculture. He also visited the social service and psychological counseling offices and learned about the method of modifying children’s behaviour, the methods of family counseling, the methods of learning, evaluation and psychological and educational measurement.

 At the end of the visit, the head of the Department of Community and Environmental Service discussed the proposal for cooperation with the center in some curricula for kindergarten programs, a classroom teacher, sociology, and social service. She stated that the college is in the process of opening a special education program that will provide the center with qualified female trainees for the category of people with mental disabilities.

 The head of the center expressed her desire to appoint some female students who have the ability to deal with this segment in the aforementioned departments, and some ideas and proposals were discussed and will be presented to the dean of the college for the possibility of improving them in the future.

 This afternoon, we left the center with the hope of returning soon for joint scientific exchange. The students said I was waiting for graduation so that I could join this humanitarian and educational team that provides education and training to God’s beloved children, children with Down Syndrome and some other mental disabilities.

 A. Awatif Al-Shteiwi

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