A Project by Melati School Indonesia on how children can appreciate each other even though they are different. A warm story for Design for Change Indonesia contest

1. MY “SPECIAL” FRIENDS Presented by : 7th Grade Students of Melati Indonesia Junior High School 2010

2. INTRODUCTION COMES FROM LOVE AND CARE TO EACH OTHER, MAKES OUR HEART MOVE FORWARD TO DO THE CHANGE AND SHOW TO OUR WORLD THAT WE ARE EQUAL

3. LEFT TO RIGHT : REVIN Y. ABRAHAM FAUZI ATALLAH VARKAS ANGGANA FAJAR RAHMAT ( This is our classmate in 7th Grade )

4. FEEL WE NEVER FEEL THE SITUATION LIKE THIS BEFORE. BEING IN THE CLASS THAT CONSIST ONLY OF 4 STUDENTS AND MOREOVER 2 OF THEM ARE SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENT. WE DON’T KNOW YET WHAT SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENT MEANS? WE FEEL SURPRISED, BORED, WORRIED, AND UNCOMFORTABLE AT THE BEGINNINGOF OUR KNOWING EACH OTHER.

5. SITUATION DURING LESSON TIME

6. One question in our mind glanced at that time “WHY DO WE HAVE TO STUDY TOGETHER WITH SPECIAL NEED STUDENT IN THE SAME CLASS ?” They were not able to communicate , They like to be alone, laugh suddenly, talk to them selves. They’re very sensitive and don’t like to have a joke. They cry and get mad easily whenever we get wrong to say something. Day by day we’ve understood and found the answer to our confusing finally. THE ANSWER IS ………………..

8. IMAGINE There’s always way to cover the difficulties “WE COVERED THESE DIFFICULTIES BY OURSELVES” We only thought that we are same, equal in rights to have knowledge and experience in study. WE’RE JUST CHILDREN THAT NEED TO STUDY TO KNOW THIS SAME WORLD, INTERACT, DEVELOP, AND SOCIALIZE TO EVERYONE It is not fair for them if they are rejected, being neglected and separated entering a regular school and playing with regular children just because they are special

10. We believe that in our age we’re easily to understand the feeling of special need children cause we have the same think and dream, but HOW ABOUT ADULT AND OUR PARENTS ? Don’t they think that they also have a big part to support them WE BELIEVE THEY ARE ALWAYS WANTED AND TRIED SO HARD TO STUDY AND PLAY IN REGULER ENVIRONMENT WE BELIEVE ALL OF US CAN ACCEPT THEM AS CHILDREN IN THE SME WORLD

11. DO The hardest thing to do is to assure people that in our age we’re able to make a change and change by :

13. WE MAKE A CHANGE TO SHOW THE WORLD THAT CHILDREN CAN MAKE A CHANGE because CHILDREN IS THE WORLD FUTURE

14. WE SUPPORT OUR “SPECIAL FRIENDS” IN ALL OF THE WORLD