Salvation Army's Joytown special school praised for pioneering work

First Lady Margaret Kenyatta on Friday heaped praise on the Salvation Army church for its pioneering role in promoting special education in Kenya.

Speaking as the chief guest at Joytown Secondary School in Thika, Mrs Kenyatta described the church as "true pioneers in special education having successfully inspired and drawn many of us into supporting this institution."

Joytown Secondary School, a national school for students with physical challenges, was started in 1980 by the Salvation Army church with a student population of 20, a number that has today risen to 219.

The First Lady commended the school’s management board and the parents’ association for efficiently managing the institution and coming up with innovative ways to make learning easier for students.

"I am impressed to learn that this school is in the process of registering a foundation to ensure an assured source of funding for the school's diverse needs. I commend you for pursuing sustainable services," said Mrs Kenyatta.

Mrs Kenyatta was also impressed with the students’ learning progress, praising them for acquiring skills that many people take years to master.

"You know how to be happy in spite of challenges, you think about others not just yourselves. You practice compassion and kindness with one another. You have learnt to live in gratitude and to live with your hearts not wasting a single minute of life," the First Lady said.

This is the third time the First lady is interacting with the students this year.

The school management requested the government to increase funding into the school to enable them put up more learning infrastructures to be at par with similar facilities.  

Thika Town MP Alice Ng'ang'a promised the school Sh5 million.

(Editing by Joel Muinde)