The Centre for Children with Special Needs (KACA) was established to raise the welfare of people with different abilities in the country who have not attended any formal guidance or training, to enable them to be independent and able to pursue their studies at government and private primary schools.
From opening the first branch in the Brunei-Muara District, the association expanded to Belait and Tutong districts, with another new branch officiated in Temburong District on Thursday.
Acting Temburong District Officer Hassan Baha bin Haji Umar officiated the opening of the branch.
Also present were Legislative Council member Yang Berhormat Haji Sulaiman bin Haji Nasir, KACA president Dato Paduka Awang Haji Zainal bin Haji Momin, village heads, the president of the Council for the Welfare of Persons with Different Abilities (MKOKU) and senior officers in the district.
The ceremony at the premises of the new KACA branch, located at a renovated government barrack under the sponsorship of Ganesan Subramaniam.
KACA Managing Director Haji Abdul Alim bin Haji Othman in his welcoming remarks said that the opening of the new branch means KACA is now represented in every district. KACA programmes serve the benchmark for rehabilitation and education based on early development education models, from toddlers to Year 6 students, said the managing director.
Until May this year, 121 individuals have attended programmes and daily activities at KACA.
The Brunei-Muara District branch currently has 360 members, Belait at 90, Tutong at 111 and Temburong District at 35.
The centre also boasts 15 staff members and over 70 volunteers.
A mock key was presented by Ganesan to the KACA president at the ceremony before a tour of the exhibition on KACA activities. – Lyna Mohamad
