A day to remember

KOCHI: To see is to learn. To understand more about psychological disorders a batch of students of Global Public School visited the Pelican Centre, a rehabilitation centre for the poor and needy in Kanjiramattam. Victims of schizophrenia, down syndrome, and other disorders co-exist peacefully in the warm environment offered there. Students were briefed by teachers to behave warmly to the inmates and see how they reacted.   The staff of the centre introduced the inmates to  the students.    To break the ice, the students requested the inmates to sing and some even sang two songs. Students were encouraged to interact freely with the inmates which was the most interesting part of the session.  Some inmates conversed cheerfully, imparting details about their families and homes, and some even enquired about the students’ background. Some others displayed symptoms of disjointed speech and thought processes, while some others demanded that the students stay and talk to them longer. Some inmates, simply turned their heads away and refused to speak.  Surprisingly some of them told the students to inform their families that they wanted to go home. They wanted the students to convince the staff that they were alright and to be let out. Many of the inmates desired to go home, but their family no longer wanted them. Some of them were attached to the place. An old woman said that she did not want to leave the place.  After an hour of interaction the students were taken to a small workshop where some of the inmates worked in the daytime. They spent time making paper plates and candles that are sold locally. The inmates were happy to show their products and demonstrated the methods employed.  The trip gave a picture  of what it takes to be a psychologist - to be able to understand and relate to even the most strangest of people, remembering that they were only human beings who saw the world differently.