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Kai Yokoyama

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Special Children of Kattankudy

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Rusaith is looking at himself. ... to see them just once a month.

1 of 30 © 2024 Kai Yokoyama

Rusaith is looking at himself. He lives with three other students. Separated from their families, he is able to see them just once a month.

Ilma prays at the school&#3...hers during the call to prayer.

2 of 30 © 2024 Kai Yokoyama

Ilma prays at the school's mosque. Deaf, she cannot hear herself or the voices of others during the call to prayer.

Suffering from Down’s...e of play by Ilma, who is deaf.

3 of 30 © 2024 Kai Yokoyama

Suffering from Down’s Syndrome, Ashra is chased during a time of play by Ilma, who is deaf.

Wearing his favorite cap, a tra...me. There are no glass windows.

4 of 30 © 2024 Kai Yokoyama

Wearing his favorite cap, a traditional Islamic taqiya, Simar, who has Down's Syndrome, stands in the corridor after class. Wire mesh fences are stretched around the window frame. There are no glass windows.

Munseef, who suffers from mild ...e of traveling to school alone.

5 of 30 © 2024 Kai Yokoyama

Munseef, who suffers from mild mental retardation, comes to school on a bicycle. He’s one of the few students capable of traveling to school alone.

Rusaith returns to his dormitor...fering from mental retardation.

6 of 30 © 2024 Kai Yokoyama

Rusaith returns to his dormitory to change from his uniform into plain clothes. Suffering from mental retardation.

Ashfak, who has autism, prefers...chool and the surrounding area.

7 of 30 © 2024 Kai Yokoyama

Ashfak, who has autism, prefers to be alone and hides behind one of the pillars in the schoolyard. Spotting me, he turns to face me. The blue line above him indicates the height of the tsunami waters of the 2004 Sumatra earthquake which damaged the school and the surrounding area.

Munshif poses in front of the s...ow when I’m shooting.

8 of 30 © 2024 Kai Yokoyama

Munshif poses in front of the school building. Deaf, he’s unable to hear the noise of the camera shutter or know when I’m shooting.

Safahi, who suffers from mental...ially liked being photographed.

9 of 30 © 2024 Kai Yokoyama

Safahi, who suffers from mental retardation and learning disabilities, he said he wanted to be a model. He is one of the children who especially liked being photographed.

Inshahu, suffering from mental ...ten fights with other students.

10 of 30 © 2024 Kai Yokoyama

Inshahu, suffering from mental retardation, poses with the fans. He often fights with other students.

A portrait of Ilma.

11 of 30 © 2024 Kai Yokoyama

A portrait of Ilma.

Posing for a group photo in one...any get a job after graduation.

12 of 30 © 2024 Kai Yokoyama

Posing for a group photo in one of the classrooms, these children, all born with various disabilities, will learn, graduate and go on to live full lives. They learn to sew on the sewing machine which will help many get a job after graduation.

The school owns just two tuk-tu...o pay for a bus fare or a taxi.

13 of 30 © 2024 Kai Yokoyama

The school owns just two tuk-tuks (a three-wheeled bike) which are used to transport children to school. As such, many cannot attend school every day because their families can’t afford to pay for a bus fare or a taxi.

A student and teachers are praying in a mosque on campus.

14 of 30 © 2024 Kai Yokoyama

A student and teachers are praying in a mosque on campus.

Students often fight.

15 of 30 © 2024 Kai Yokoyama

Students often fight.

Safahi is posing for photos.

16 of 30 © 2024 Kai Yokoyama

Safahi is posing for photos.

For emergencies, phone numbers of the students are on the desk.

17 of 30 © 2024 Kai Yokoyama

For emergencies, phone numbers of the students are on the desk.

A teacher is looking at the mobile phone alone in the classroom.

18 of 30 © 2024 Kai Yokoyama

A teacher is looking at the mobile phone alone in the classroom.

Ahammed is cleaning the dining ...rmitory, he has to help clean .

19 of 30 © 2024 Kai Yokoyama

Ahammed is cleaning the dining room. He lives in the dormitory here. To live in this dormitory, he has to help clean.

Wire mesh fences are stretched ...me. There are no glass windows.

20 of 30 © 2024 Kai Yokoyama

Wire mesh fences are stretched around the window frame. There are no glass windows.

Simar looks out from the school building .

21 of 30 © 2024 Kai Yokoyama

Simar looks out from the school building.

Tea time. They drink teas and e... a typical custom in Sri Lanka.

22 of 30 © 2024 Kai Yokoyama

Tea time. They drink teas and eat sweets twice a day. It is a typical custom in Sri Lanka.

Students are taking a math class.

23 of 30 © 2024 Kai Yokoyama

Students are taking a math class.

Munshif is deaf, he does not re...crouching that the leader says.

24 of 30 © 2024 Kai Yokoyama

Munshif is deaf, he does not recognize the sign of crouching that the leader says.

The principal is playing a game with the students.

25 of 30 © 2024 Kai Yokoyama

The principal is playing a game with the students.

The principal's room. C... to teachers by the government.

26 of 30 © 2024 Kai Yokoyama

The principal's room. Computers are not provided to teachers by the government.

Ahammed, suffering from mental ...tudents.

27 of 30 © 2024 Kai Yokoyama

Ahammed, suffering from mental retardation, is taking a computer class how to use it. There are only 3 computers at school for students.

Students are waiting for a tuk-tuk to go back home after class.

28 of 30 © 2024 Kai Yokoyama

Students are waiting for a tuk-tuk to go back home after class.

A tuk-tuk was broken by tsunami...ceived from the government yet.

29 of 30 © 2024 Kai Yokoyama

A tuk-tuk was broken by tsunami. The cost of repair is not received from the government yet.

A long time since their last ou...go out for a much-needed break.

30 of 30 © 2024 Kai Yokoyama

A long time since their last outing, students rent a bus and go out for a much-needed break.

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Thumbnail of Rusaith is looking at himself. H_e to see them just once a month.

Thumbnail of Ilma prays at the school&#39_thers during the call to prayer.

Thumbnail of Suffering from Down’s _me of play by Ilma, who is deaf.

Thumbnail of Wearing his favorite cap, a trad_ame. There are no glass windows.

Thumbnail of Munseef, who suffers from mild m_le of traveling to school alone.

Thumbnail of Rusaith returns to his dormitory_ffering from mental retardation.

Thumbnail of Ashfak, who has autism, prefers _school and the surrounding area.

Thumbnail of Munshif poses in front of the sc_now when I’m shooting.

Thumbnail of Safahi, who suffers from mental _cially liked being photographed.

Thumbnail of Inshahu, suffering from mental r_ften fights with other students.

Thumbnail of A portrait of Ilma.

Thumbnail of Posing for a group photo in one _many get a job after graduation.

Thumbnail of The school owns just two tuk-tuk_to pay for a bus fare or a taxi.

Thumbnail of A student and teachers are praying in a mosque on campus.

Thumbnail of Students often fight.

Thumbnail of Safahi is posing for photos.

Thumbnail of For emergencies, phone numbers of the students are on the desk.

Thumbnail of A teacher is looking at the mobile phone alone in the classroom.

Thumbnail of Ahammed is cleaning the dining r_ormitory, he has to help clean .

Thumbnail of Wire mesh fences are stretched a_ame. There are no glass windows.

Thumbnail of Simar looks out from the school building .

Thumbnail of Tea time. They drink teas and ea_s a typical custom in Sri Lanka.

Thumbnail of Students are taking a math class.

Thumbnail of Munshif is deaf, he does not rec_ crouching that the leader says.

Thumbnail of The principal is playing a game with the students.

Thumbnail of The principal's room. Co_d to teachers by the government.

Thumbnail of Ahammed, suffering from mental r_students.

Thumbnail of Students are waiting for a tuk-tuk to go back home after class.

Thumbnail of A tuk-tuk was broken by tsunami._eceived from the government yet.

Thumbnail of A long time since their last out_ go out for a much-needed break.

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.

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