In response to the pressing needs of children with intellectual and developmental challenges, the Sisters established Don Guanella Special School in the remote village of South Thamaraikulam, located 16 km from Kanyakumari town. This mission began on 11th February 2009, as a humble yet powerful gesture of love and service to the most vulnerable.

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Today, the school lovingly supports around 45 special children, aged 5 to 23, who come from 18 surrounding villages. These children, each with their own unique abilities and needs, receive individual care, special education, and emotional support in a safe, nurturing, and inclusive environment. Most of them belong to economically disadvantaged families, who rely on daily-wage labor to make ends meet.

 

Reaching the Unreached

The Sisters operate a dedicated school vehicle that travels through interior and underserved areas to ensure that no child is left behind due to distance or poverty. The vehicle reaches children from the following localities:

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• Then Thamaraikulam

• Agasthisvaram

• Kottaram

• Rajavur

• Keezhamanakudi

• Kovalam

• Kanyakumari

• K.P.Vilai

• Vadaku Thamaraikulam

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Through this outreach, the Sisters bring not only education but also hope, healing, and human dignity to families who would otherwise have limited access to such specialized care.

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The Sisters at Don Guanella Special School are deeply committed to their mission—to uplift, educate, and empower children with special needs by providing holistic care, compassionate teaching, and a sense of belonging. With hearts full of charity and a spirit rooted in the legacy of St. Louis Guanella, they continue to transform lives, one child at a time.