Himalayan News Service

Pokhara, February 10:

Though hard to believe, it is true. A Japanese man has devoted 26 years serving mentally retarded children in Pokhara. Father Ooki Akijiro, 79, has been teaching the mentally retarded children at his Child Development Centre (CDC) at Bagale Tole.

The CDC, established and managed by the Human and National Development Centre, a non-governmental organisation, in 1978, ran into financial difficulties and was on the verge of closure. Thanks to Akijiro that he put his own money to run the centre.

The centre has 18 children, aged between 7 and 14. Every day classes start at 11 am after children perform physical exercise for an hour, said Ram Narayan Shrestha, a teacher.

The children take a lunch break at 1 pm, followed by sports and dance classes. Shrestha said children are not boarded at the centre. The students are divided into separate groups based on their comprehensive ability. They are taught to carry out their daily activities and to welcome guests.

Father Akijiro proudly said some of his students have been running shops in their houses.

The centre charges Rs 200 per student every month and those who are financially weak get Rs 50 discount.

Akijiro said Rs 30,000 is collected from students but the centre’s total expenditure is Rs 1,25,000 a month.

He manages expenses with the help of his Japanese friends. The centre has six teachers and two helpers to cook launch for students and clean the school premises.

The centre takes in students over seven years of age and stops the education when they reach 14. Ninety students have completed the course so far, Akijiro told The Himalayan Times.

Shrestha said there are two schools at Phulbari of Pokhara and Ramadi of Nirmalpokhari respectively for the mentally retarded children.