At 39 years old, Martha Tehiva is an educator at the Papa Nui center. A center that welcomes children with Down syndrome and children with intellectual disabilities. A place where they evolve and Martha is a key character in their development. A portrait signed Corinne Tehetia.
There is no room for routine when working at the Papa Nui center in Papeete.
Martha has been working here for a year and a half as a special education teacher. “Repeat, lots of patience and kindness”are the main qualities required in this profession.
Since working at the Papa Nui center, the young mother has done a lot of work on herself…“Sometimes it’s not easy because they will continue in their way of doing things…we stop the activity, we settle down, and then we try to resume”she says.
The report :
Being around people with disabilities is nothing new for her. His dad worked in another center and one of his sisters was disabled. Her daughter was diagnosed with epilepsy at 1 year old. A hard blow for Martha. “I could not accept that my daughter was epileptic, with the time I had to stay present, all the medical visits that we were able to do calmed me down a lot,” she specifies.
Then with 4 teenagers and an adult, she leaves for the dojo. “As it’s judo, they really like it”remarque Martha, “it allows them to channel themselves and relieve stress and irritation… When they return to the center, they are very tired.”
A few parents made the trip, like Heilani. Her daughter has been enrolled at the Papa Nui center since the start of the school year. It’s no regrets. “She adores her educator, especially Martha, and another Laura. She only talks about her or Laura…it’s as if they were her aunts”admits Heilani.
In judo, people with disabilities can also flourish. • ©Polynesia the 1st
Martha continues to support these children and adolescents as best she can. She would also like to change mentalities towards people with disabilities. “There are still people who have difficulty accepting, or integrating with people with disabilities…They are people like us, who just have something special.”
Special children with whom she shares precious and unforgettable moments. Special exchanges that allow Martha to see life differently.
2024-04-16 21:57:20
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