This is Caleb. Caleb is almost 18 years old and he is a JAM student in Kishanje. He is one of the most unique students in the Juna Amagara program, and not because of his Autism.
Caleb was the only student of the thousands I met in my whole trip who had a cognitive difference (with the exception of my buddy Timothy in Mbarara with Downs). Now I'm not sure if that is because less children where I visited had learning differences or they just never received the opportunity to attend school. In rural areas there is ignorance towards health differences and I can imagine in many places around the world these kids are never treated equally.
Caleb's story is quite the opposite. JAM could see the light behind Caleb's eyes and yearned to do whatever they could to ensure it didn't dim as Caleb grew older. Now almost an adult, JAM is still caring for Caleb and learning more and more about him each day:
He is caring. He held my hand and gave me many, many, many, many hugs. He worries for others and brings them gifts made from things he finds in the yard.
He is charming. His big brown eyes and even larger smile never lose their brightness. I never saw Caleb become visibly upset, even when a situation confused or challenged him.
He is creative. The first day I met Caleb, Eliazar pointed out to me that he needed new shoes. We indeed found Caleb a bright red pair of Converse (There isn't a more perfect shoe to put on this boy's feet! He looked like a rockstar). What was amazing was that when we removed Caleb's way-too-small-toes-poking-out-from-the-tip shoes we saw that Caleb had fashioned himself homemade socks from scraps of fabric he must have found around the school. By doing so, Caleb's "socks" saved his feet from many blisters and sores as his shoes grew too small.
He is clever. Caleb has a hard time communicating with words. It is difficult for him to speak out loud so instead we spoke with gestures. I found this ironic that because we each knew different languages, we'd have to communicate this way anyways! Caleb found ways to express to me that he wanted to make a bracelet. Blow bubbles. Eat popcorn. Take off his shoes. I think I communicated with Caleb better than anybody else on the trip.
He is cared for. Because of Juna Amagara Caleb has had a wonderful life filled with warm meals and the love and support all children (and especially children with Autism) need in order to thrive and learn. Looking at Caleb you can see that he knows how special that is. His expression completely transforms an entire room when he locks eyes with somebody that he loves.
Caleb is the vision of Juna Amagara Ministries. Every child deserves a loving home. I recently read Katie Davis's memoir Kisses from Katie. My favorite bit from the whole book is the first sentence on the first page:
"I've noticed something about people who make a difference in the world: they hold the unshakable conviction that individuals are extremely important, that every life matters. They get excited over one smile. They are willing to feed one stomach, educate one mind, and treat one wound. They aren't determined to revolutionize the world all at once; they're satisfied with small changes."
It is those individuals--the ones who get excited about one smile, one giggle, one full belly--that change the world. They might not change the whole world, but they change the world for those people.
No comments:
Post a Comment