Non-public Special School and Educational Center of John Paul II at ZOL for Children in Jaszkotle, is an institution run by the Congregation of the Sisters of Mary Immaculate since 2004. The center conducts educational and care-giving activities for children with intellectual and motor disabilities and chronic diseases. Some of them use wheelchairs. Our pupils are the charges of the Children’s Care and Treatment Institution to the ZOL. most often go to the ZOL due to the lack of parents or pathologies in the family and their disability. NSOSW runs a boarding school for school children and a primary school. Children learn in the scope adapted to their abilities, they also learn everyday life skills such as: independent toilet, getting dressed, making beds, preparing sandwiches and cooking. Each child has its own measure. First of all, we try to create a home for children that they do not have, so that they feel wanted and loved. Our employees are experienced educators and teachers involved in work and education. All employees are a family for children who spend their lives here until they come of age. After the age of 18, each of them is forced to move to other centers for adults, usually Nursing Homes. However, it happens, although not often recently, that children are adopted or go to foster families. It is important to us that children are happy despite their disabilities. We organize excursions, walks, cinema, winter holidays, camps, holiday trips. (Very limited or suspended altogether during the pandemic). In the Center, we have a chapel with the Most Holy Sacrament, where the Eucharist is celebrated with the participation of children and employees every Sunday and on holidays. On the occasion of the world, we are preparing a nativity play and the Lord’s Passion. We try to celebrate holidays, especially Christmas, by sitting down to the Christmas Eve supper with the children, breaking the wafer and singing Christmas carols. Our friends help us in our work. They support us materially, financially, and even more through a personal relationship with children. I am full of admiration for the commitment of employees and people who are friends with the Center. It is not only a job but a mission that we try to fulfill with all our heart. They are not only children, but also almost 50 employees. We are all family.
S.M. Natalia Kozieł
To learn more about the children and the specificity of the facility, please visit our Facebook: Non-public Special School and Educational Center in Jaszkotle.