Kai Yokoyama

Photographer
    
Special Children of Kattankudy
Projects (4)
Public Project
Special Children of Kattankudy
Copyright Kai Yokoyama 2024
Date of Work Oct 2018 - Oct 2018
Updated Nov 2019
Location Kattankudy, Batticaloa, Sri Lanka
Topics Children, Deaf, Disability, Documentary, Education, Islam, Mental Illness, Minority, NGO, Photography, Photojournalism, School/College, Youth
Located in eastern Sri Lanka is the city of Kattankudy. In a country that is 70% Buddhist, nearly all of the city’s 40,000 residents believe in Islam. 40 students attend “Zahira Special School”, a school for children with disabilities. In Sri Lanka, Muslims and children with disabilities are considered minorities. Because of various problems, including poverty, few resources and prejudice, they receive little support from the country.
The school owns just two tuktuk (a three-wheeled bike) which are used to transport children to school every day. One of them was damaged by the tsunami waters of the 2004 Sumatra earthquake, which also damaged the school and surrounding area. The funds necessary to repair it has till not been received from the government. As such, many are unable to attend school because their families cannot afford to pay for bus fare or a taxi to get them there.

2,974

Also by Kai Yokoyama —

Project

The day you were born, I wasn't born yet

Kai Yokoyama / Tokyo
Project

I miss the smell of jasmine in Palestine

Kai Yokoyama / Tokyo
Project

"Yes, Lord, you know that I love you"

Kai Yokoyama / Sri Lanka
Special Children of Kattankudy by Kai Yokoyama
Sign-up for
For more access