Following Years of Isolation, Saeed Takes Up Playing and Learning Again

 Raed Al Nims

Back when he was three, Saeed Al Husseini fell and broke his upper jaw and front teeth. Following the fall, he started suffering from electric-like spasms which limited his ability to walk. He had trouble communicating with his family and friends, felt he did not fit in and turned into an introvert.

Saeed’s family made relentless efforts over the years to help him and end his isolation. They enrolled him in kindergarten after kindergarten, but Saeed did not do well in any of them. He was extremely fearful, did not want to learn or play with other children and was passive and non-responsive. As he did not understand what he was being taught, he became even more introvert, was afraid to go out to play and became aggressive.

The whole situation was frustrating for Saeed’s family. But then they heard about the PRCS’ kindergarten in Khan Younis which caters to children with similar conditions and has made great strides in the fields of education and integration. They quickly enrolled Saeed in the kindergarten.

According to Ahlam Abed, who works at the kindergarten, “Saeed arrived in a very bad mental state. He cried and screamed all the time, refused to take part in activities such as music, story-telling and games, and preferred to be alone. We drafted an educational plan for him based on learning through games, drawing, music and story-telling. We engaged him in activities aimed at helping him cope and integrating him with other children. Saeed responded well to these activities and his attitude changed. He is now more socially interactive. We will continue to work with him to develop other elements of his personality and to build his capacities. Saeed now plays with other children and sees things differently. For example, he used to crawl up the stairs because he was afraid of staircases. Now he just walks up and down the stairs like any normal child does”.

As for Saeed’s mother, she said: “Before joining the PRCS’ kindergarten, Saeed had a very negative attitude both inside and outside the house. He was afraid to leave the house and was aggressive, hitting other children when they came to visit. We took him to many doctors but none of them could help us.

Now Saeed is much more independent. He can walk normally, goes alone to the neighborhood shop, says hello to neighbors and passers-by, and wants to continue to play, learn and go to the kindergarten. This is a great improvement. I am filled with joy when he asks me how I am or when he sees I am sad and tries to make me feel better. Saeed shares our lives fully now and is no longer living in fear and isolation. I would like to thank PRCS for all the work it has done to help Saeed”.

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