Teddy and Jason: A Family Academy Miracle

Teddy’s life has been marked with one heartache after another, and seemed to have culminated with her little boy, Jason.

Despite a life of poverty and despair, Teddy braved her odds, met her struggles head-on, and cherished all her children.

When Jason, then her youngest, was born, she was filled with love and hope. But as the months went by, she got worried and became fearful of her son’s future. He was already four years old, yet he still did not speak a word. He never called out his siblings, never played with other children, and relied only on gestures to communicate. Teddy longed to hear him call her “Mama” but the days that passed only told her that he will never speak at all.

“I asked God what have I done to deserve a mute baby?” her voice, heavy with pain.

Through ICM’s Family Academy (FA), Teddy, 37, witnessed a miracle. A neighbor, who was a Family Academy coach, talked to her about FA, and how this 10-week program coached parents to be their children’s primary teachers, and be involved in developing basic the children’s skills in math, and pre-literacy skills such as phonics.

Teddy saw this as an opportunity for Jason to learn, though she was uncertain. She enrolled Jason, as she simply wanted him to have some sort of education even if he could not speak.

Eight weeks in the program, FA coach Catherine noticed changes in Jason. He exuded eagerness to learn, and to interact with other kids after the class.

Then one day, Catherine broke the great news to Teddy: Jason spoke. “The first time I heard him pronounce the letter ‘A’, I couldn’t believe my ears,” the coach recalled.

Teddy was in disbelief. Jason uttered letters, would and was now forming words. “I never imagined this could happen,” she said. “Hearing my son speak for the first time is a miracle I will never forget.”

After graduating from Family Academy, Jason is now in a public school, wears his school uniform with pride, and dreams of becoming a teacher like his Family Academy coach.

As for Teddy, she vowed to dedicate every shilling she can earn to Jason’s education. She doesn’t have all the answers yet, she is determined to find a way not just for Jason, but for all her children.