On 11th April the Wingate Centre was delighted to play host to Father Wili Maningi from Moshi Diocese in Tanzania.
He has spent the 25 years of his life as a priest working in the education sector, and has set up and run two 1500 student colleges. He is currently on a one year sabbatical in the UK researching disability and education.
On his return to Tanzania, he is tasked with setting up the first ever integrated residential secondary school for physically disabled and able bodied children to study along side each other.
At present children with disabilities leave school at 9, and are unable to support themselves, except by begging. It is a multi-faith and Government initiative to work together to provide a better education so that these children will be able to play a full part in their society.
Fr Wili came to look at the specialist facilities of the Wingate Centre and was particularly interested in the gymnasium as he was concerned that a lot of sports were not open to children with a disability.
Chris Bridgman, Centre Manager said,
‘It was a pleasure to meet Fr Wili and hear about his plans for the new school. We were delighted he choose to visit the Centre and view our facilities as part of his fact finding tour. We wish him and his team in Moshi,Tanzania all the very best in bringing this project to fruition and hope to get an invitation to the Opening Ceremony!’
The Wingate Special Children’s Trust, based in Wrenbury, provide gymnastics training to local children and adults with disabilities and are also the foremost children’s respite holiday centre in the UK. During a season over one thousand children with multiple disabilities will visit the centre for a residential break.
For more information on The Wingate Centre please visit www.thewingatecentre.co.uk or telephone 01270 780456.
Photo: Jill Butler, Facilities Co-ordinator, the Wingate Centre, Fr Wili Maningi, Chris Bridgman, Manager of the Wingate Centre
