Activities

27 students participated in this visit, some with their parents. It was a very exciting and meaningful visit. The firemen were very patient with the students, explained procedures and allowed the students to handle the fire fighting equipment. They did demonstrations of putting off a fire, and even got the students to participate. Even the most fearful students and the introverted autistic students came out of their ‘world’ and joined in the activities.

The finale was taking the students for a ride in the fire engines and allowing them to sound the siren in the fire engine. One of the students, who was initially crying because he could not tolerate the sound of the siren surprisingly accepted it after the ride in the fire engine.

We had to bring 2 of our own fire extinguishers for the firemen to show us how to use them and buy 5 lits each of petrol and diesel to start a big fire. It was worth the show.

This visit involved 7 of the older students, ages between 11-16 yrs. The students were required to write letters to their parents and a classmate. At the post office, they bought their own stamps and posted their letters.

The students were then given the opportunity to buy their own food and drinks for refreshments, count the cost and ask for the change on their own, before returning to the centre.

They were taught to look out for each other before the visit. During the visit, they showed so much responsibility towards each other, it was marvellous to see that they can be trusted to carry out instructions.

A few of these students are quite close with each other. However, there were 2 students who were not a part of the group. This visit helped them to bond with these two and they are now included and accepted in their class activities.