Special Needs Carnival 2016 hailed a huge sucess

Over 80 Special Needs children from across St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) on Thursday, June 23, participated in the second edition of the Special Needs Carnival.

The event was held at the School for Children with Special Needs play-ground in Kingstown from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.{{more}}

Principal of the School for Children with Special Needs Kingstown Nazeem Smith, in describing the 2016 edition of the school’s Carnival a major success, said the event serves as another creative way of enhancing learning among the students. Smith added that it is hoped that the teachers will now seriously consider incorporating more music in their teaching, as music helps to enhance the students’ skills to move to rhythm.

Smith said the event surpassed all expectations, adding that all the children had an unforgettable time. She said the event also exposed the creative side of both the teachers and the students at the School for Children with Special Needs, since all the face masks that were worn by the students were created as part of an art and craft project at the school.

The school’s principal said the idea of a Special Needs Carnival was conceptualized to expose the children to that unique aspect of the Vincentian culture, explaining that it has been found that many of the students who attend the Special Needs Schools across SVG do not get the opportunity to experience the grand spectacle in Kingstown on Mardi Gras. Smith said the school’s Carnival activity gives the students a unique opportunity to interact with masqueraders and a number of SVG’s top local artistes, including: L Pank, Kev, Naptali and Digicel’s Brand ambassador Mad Skull.

On display at the event were two different sections from the Digicel Nelson Bloc 2016 Mas production, along with mascots Peppa Pig and Sponge Bob.

Smith expressed much appreciation to Digicel for supporting the Special Needs Carnival event and urged the company to continue to support and encourage persons with disabilities to be bold, confident and to enjoy their environment, culture and life, as all other citizens do.

Digicel’s country manager John Gidharry commended the management of the School for Children with Special Needs for conceptualizing an event that is not only fun, but also educational. Gidharry encouraged the school’s management to continue doing its best to give the students the most rewarding experience possible, while they are in their care.

Journeying to Kingstown to be a part of the Carnival event were the Sunshine School for Children with Special Needs Bequia and the School for Children with Special Needs Georgetown.