50 special children pay Gwen a visit

CEBU, Philippines - Close to 50 special children from a special children center in Mandaue City paid Governor Gwendolyn Garcia a visit yesterday.

"Just to introduce our children and our center. To let people know that other people care about them," Lee Jennie, founder of Adam Jennie's Christian Center for Special Children Inc., said.

Jennie said it is difficult to teach children, whose age ranges from five to 25 years old, and are suffering from either Down syndrome or autism, but they make the teaching better by applying multimedia interaction.

The 69-year-old American founder said the center provides free services to people with exceptionalities, but it also seeks help to keep the enrolment free.

He said the center is affiliated with 18 colleges, universities, and caregiver schools.

The center has three classrooms at Norkis Park in Mandaue City donated by Dr. Norberto Quisumbing, Jr. and Mayor Jonas Cortes.

Simone Thorning, a volunteer for six months now from Denmark, said it is really hard teaching the children but at the same time fulfilling.

"We learn as much from the kids as they learn from us. They don't speak English but we teach them. It's really nice to have this connection," Thorning said.

Jennie, who founded the center January this year, instead of continuing his plans to start an ice business here, has decided to use his savings to create a center for special children and sponsor as many as he could.

He aims to provide an ideal community for these children guaranteeing their welfare and developing their full potential. - THE FREEMAN