THEATRE EXPERIENCES FOR EVERYONE The Association for the Disabled in Turku Region granted the Krykä Award to Turku City Theatre this spring. The Award is presented yearly either to a person or to a community that has for the past year paid special attention to the disabled in their actions. The actions of the theatre have pleased the visually impaired, cancer patients as well as allergic persons. “Let’s make theatre for everyone” is an idea that appeases both the makers and the clients. The Play of an Island Gave a Face to Diversity For the disabled, the highlight of the year in the City Theatre was the play called Saari (an Island) in which all the actors and actresses were disabled or chronically ill. The play was so popular that extra performances were organised. Saari brought out the disabled and chronically ill members of our society, those who are not seen sufficiently in public given their vast number among us.
The play takes place on an island in the summer. Its tranquillity is disturbed by the disabled. There were amusing but also sentimental and touching scenes between the disabled and the healthy. Although all the participants had some kind of a disability or disease, the play was not about lamentation or melancholy. Disablement was dealt with in a refreshingly humorous manner. Unscented Shows for Allergic Persons, Previews for Cancer Patients The Turku City Theatre co-operated with the Allergy and Asthma Federation in organising unscented shows for allergic persons. All kinds of perfumes and smoke or other such special effects are forbidden. The previews of the popular Festus and Mercury plays that have been a part of the repertoire for ten years already are often played to children with cancer. For the next Christmas a new show for cancerous children (“Festus and Mercury and the Santa Machine”) is planned. It is nice to see the joy and gladness on children’s faces who are watching the play.
Also the Visually Impaired Enjoy Theatre If agreed beforehand, the visually impaired have an opportunity to enter the theatre before others. They can go up the stage and familiarise themselves with the actors and actresses who talk about their roles and costumes. The visually impaired are also allowed to touch the costumes and, naturally, discuss with the actors and actresses. The City Theatre of Turku received a prize from the Finnish Federation of the Visually Impaired. The intention of the Turku City Theatre is to offer experience for everyone. The unprejudiced actions of the Theatre are continued and developed. Welcome to everyone’s theatre! Further information: Mrs Ritva Kilpinen Marketing and Public Relations Turku City Theatre e-mail: ritva.kilpinen@turku.fi
SMALL FUNDS, BIG HEARTS-DISABILITY IN UGANDA Disability is a major problem for children in developing countries. Up to five percent are born with a disability or become disabled during their childhood. Being a volunteer on a Ugandan school for children with special needs (Entebbe Children’s Welfare Unit) I experience every day many health workers, teachers, parents, politicians, NGO’s and aidprogrammes, working hard for a better living for the disabled. In Uganda, with its high rate of illiteracy (45,8% women, 25% men), one might think that parents are not aware of the special needs of disabled children and leave the children without the stimulation of family love and support. This is far from my experiences. Especially mothers are well aware that their disabled child needs special care. But there is an urgent need for counselling and appropriate schooling of children with physical and mental handicaps. In 1997 the government implemented a new education programme aiming at
ensuring free primary education for all children in Uganda, also those mentally disabled. However, as most schools – especially in rural areas –have 50-100 pupils in one classroom with one teacher, the advantages for disabled children are doubtful. But school attendance does positively affect the disabled – they enjoy going to school. Interactions with other children give them a feeling of being socially accepted. Actually, this is a major step for disabled children in Uganda. Good intentions and initiatives often face economic constraints, giving slow progress of the development for disabled. Yet I experience from my daily work at the school that in many people’s hearts there are no limits of what they will do - I find caring and encouraging teachers (some not on payroll!) and children with all kinds of disabilities exploring school work and everyday life activities. The driving force of the school staff is the urge to help and develop these children more than economic incentives.
The Ugandan schools need more people with big hearts, yet there is also a desperate need for financial means for the daily running and for further development of the situation for the disabled in Uganda. written by Ms Lone Kamper Jensen Entebbe, Uganda e-mail: c.rietz@infocom.co.ug
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