The COVID-19 pandemic posed a unique challenge for the St. Catherine’s Twinning Association of Port of Spain, disrupting a 35-year tradition.
Despite this setback, the Association triumphantly resumed its Annual Treat for differently-abled children on Wednesday at the Port of Spain City Hall Auditorium, where the voices and presence of approximately 100 children were joyfully heard.
According to President of the St. Catherine’s Twinning Association, Allison Alexander, the aim behind this initiative is to demonstrate and remind the children how much people care for them.
“Today we are welcoming the children from the physically challenged children from the schools, the various schools, Lady Hochoy, Princess Elizabeth, School For The Deaf and School For The Blind. We normally treat them as a little family fair like and they are happy with it.”
Pinky Toolsie, a teacher at the Cascade School For The Deaf, said this is her first time attending the event due to the challenges presented by the COVID-19 Pandemic, which resulted in the Association being unable to host the event during the past five years.
“We would expect, as with other ventures, when we take our children out to expose them to the different cultures in our country, to expose them to the different things and different types of people so that they could have an expectation of what the world has to offer them.”
Special Education Teacher of the Princess Elizabeth Special School, Natelia Williams, said the staff looked forward to events such as these, especially seeing the smiles on the children’s faces.
“We don’t see the disability, we see the child, and the child don’t see their limitations, they just go with the flow. So the children actually help themselves on to the bus as well. All we have to do is like close up the wheelchairs, some of the children we might have to physically lift up and place into the maxi seating but they actually help themselves. So it’s not difficult at all.”
Tricia Bruce-Phillip, a teacher at the School For Blind Children in Arouca, said they are very happy to know their students are being thought of. She said the benefit of socialising, communicating, and participating in everyday events increases students’ confidence.
“We just want to give them an opportunity to socialise, meet new people, they don’t get to go out as often as we would like them to. So a lot of their incidental learning takes place in that regard, so we just want them to have fun and to be able to meet new people.”
During the Annual Fun Day, children were treated to a puppet show, food, snacks, and given a party bag to return home.
The St. Catherine’s Twinning Association comprises one part in Trinidad and Tobago with their counterparts located in Ontario, Canada.