The Southern Handicapped Association was founded in 1985 in Mauritius to provide support and services for handicapped individuals in the southern region of the island. In 1990, they opened their first Day Care Centre in Souillac to provide education for handicapped children identified through a community survey. Their student population and programs expanded over the years, requiring moves to larger facilities. In 2000, they opened their current facility, the Sha Lady Sushil Ramgoolam Special Need School Day Centre. Currently they care for about ninety handicapped individuals aged 4-35, providing education, vocational training, and support through various partnerships and sponsors. Their goal is to help these students become good citizens.

1. SOUTHERN HANDICAPPED ASSOCIATION
1985-2010
SILVER JUBILEE
The Southern Handicapped Association was founded in May 1985, registered with Registrar of
Association in 1986 and was affiliated with the Ministry of Social Security In 1987. At that time
the Managing Committee comprised of the only ten volunteers members who were elected
annually during a General Assembly. Without forgetting that it was the only handicapped
Association found in the south of the island. At that very beginning some sport and cultural
activities were organized on and off. In 1990 a survey was carried out between the coastal
villages of Souillac and Baie du Cap where it was found that there were many handicapped
children in these regions who were left to themselves. This consequently led to the opening of a
Day Care Centre for these handicapped children at Souillac. A religion body helped us by letting
us a building for classroom purposes. Soon after that the American Embassy purchased some
pieces of furniture and school materials for our students. On the other hand the United Way
helped us with the salaries of two teachers, the MSS and NCRD also helped us with other major
expenses. In 1997 our student’s population increased as more students came from the regions of
Riviere Des Anguilles, Tyack, Camp Diable and L’escalier. Definitely there was a lack of space
as our first building could not accommodate all these students thus we had to move to Surinam.
There with the collaboration of the School of the deaf a special teaching class was set up and a
new teacher was recruited for the deaf students. In the year 2000 a new building was erected at
Surinam at our present address that is Sha Lady Sushil Ramgoolam Special Need School Day
Centre, Coastal Road, Riambel, Surinam. It comprises of an office, a waiting room, three
classrooms and some amenities. We are thankful to Trust Fund for social and vulnerable group

2. and Ngo trust Fund, the United Way, the School of the Deaf, Rotary Club of Mahebourg and
often donations that always support us. For without them, there would not have been the
existence of this new building. In 2002 with the foundation Espoir and Development we set up
our “Atelier Protégée” where the young handicapped after completing the pre-primary and
primary courses were given intensive training in the handicraft sector. Our students are now able
to make baskets of all sizes, trays, dustbins,and jute bags. Today we have a “Boutik Artisanal” to
market our products. Since January 2004 we have started working in close collaboration with the
C.B.R and the EU Decentralized Co-Operation. In 2005, we also set up a Special Need School
which was registered by the Ministry Of Education. In 2009, we were affiliated to the CSR. In
the year 2010 on the occasion of our Silver Jubilee, we opened a pre-primary unit still being the
first one in the south. Our he artful thank to Innodis, Foundation Nouveau Regard Shanti
Maurice and A.M.L which are still sponsoring us to stand with our projects. We are also
introducing Information and Technology for our students. At the present moment we are caring
for about ninety handicapped persons aged between 4-35 years. We are really grateful to all the
bodies which always support us, especially the Bio Culture Mauritius Ltd one of the main
sponsors, together with MACOSS, with public collection and other well wishes. One main
priority for the incoming year is to have a specialized room with qualified carers with all the
necessary comforts for the severely handicapped children. For the others we wish to have a vast
playground where they can relax and play during their precious time because television time and
extracurricular activities are carefully considered against other activities.
Our mottois tohelpthesestudents tobecomegoodcitizens because<There is time for everything, aseason for every activityunder
heaven>.