At the beginning of the year I was asked by one of our Family Facilitators (FFs) to go and visit a home where there was a 3 year old girl who is disabled. I went to visit and discovered that this little girl was hemiplegic and was not walking and not using her left hand at all. She had been to physioytherapy once but had never returned.
I spent a long time counselling the mother, grandmother and FF, encouraging them not to do everything for this little girl and to encourage her to walk and use her hand. We also spent some time discussing the different activities and exercises they could do to help her to regain function. They then attended physiotherapy and occupational therapy at the local clinic.
I had not seen this little girl again until earlier this week when we went to spent some time in her home. She is walking and running well and participating in all activities with the other children. It was so encouraging to see how with a little extra information this family has been able to change the life of their little girl so she can participate fully in the family and community activities around her.
Friday, September 9, 2011
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Getting the Gogo's involved
Iris Mzila, one of our Senior Trainers, had a great experience recently when conducting a support visit with a Family Facilitator from Matimatolo and we asked her if she would share her experience with us:
“ On the 10th of August I visited Gugu Cele while she was visiting a family in Matimatolo. I was so pleased to see that the Gogo was participating in the activities that were being done by the children and the Family Facilitator. The Family Facilitator was encouraging cleanliness and safety in the home by telling a story about picking up papers and rubbish in their yard. Both children and adults listened intently to the story. Afterwards the Gogo spoke to me about the benefit of the programme to her family. She is very happy that her grandchildren are able to be a part of this programme. She likes to listen to the children as they engage with the Family Facilitator and while I was there she also told a story to the children.” Iris Mzila.
It is stories like this that encourage us and remind us of the difference we can make in the lives of the families that we work with. Well done Gugu for including caregivers in your morning programme, making them feel that they are important, have invaluable experiences to share and play an integral role in helping their children learn and grow.
“ On the 10th of August I visited Gugu Cele while she was visiting a family in Matimatolo. I was so pleased to see that the Gogo was participating in the activities that were being done by the children and the Family Facilitator. The Family Facilitator was encouraging cleanliness and safety in the home by telling a story about picking up papers and rubbish in their yard. Both children and adults listened intently to the story. Afterwards the Gogo spoke to me about the benefit of the programme to her family. She is very happy that her grandchildren are able to be a part of this programme. She likes to listen to the children as they engage with the Family Facilitator and while I was there she also told a story to the children.” Iris Mzila.
It is stories like this that encourage us and remind us of the difference we can make in the lives of the families that we work with. Well done Gugu for including caregivers in your morning programme, making them feel that they are important, have invaluable experiences to share and play an integral role in helping their children learn and grow.
What makes me smile :)
Once again, in the midst of the busyness and all the problems that we face when working with communities and families, in the midst of sometimes feeling despondant because we have done all that we can but that doesn't feel like enough or doesn't solve anything, in the midst of all this I was faced with a story that made me smile....
Our Eshane Family Facilitators have just finished their ECD training for Home and Family Based ECD practitioners and last week we asked them for feedback on the course and what it had meant to them. The women said they enjoyed the training and now they know what to do with the children they work with whereas before they felt less confident and empowered. One of the things that really stood out for me is that they said that now they know what to do if a child is injured while they are playing with them and how to follow all the safety procedures correctly. I was encouraged that they have so easily incoporated what they learnt into their programmes and that we have been able to make a difference in not only their lives but in the lives of the children they work with.
Our Eshane Family Facilitators have just finished their ECD training for Home and Family Based ECD practitioners and last week we asked them for feedback on the course and what it had meant to them. The women said they enjoyed the training and now they know what to do with the children they work with whereas before they felt less confident and empowered. One of the things that really stood out for me is that they said that now they know what to do if a child is injured while they are playing with them and how to follow all the safety procedures correctly. I was encouraged that they have so easily incoporated what they learnt into their programmes and that we have been able to make a difference in not only their lives but in the lives of the children they work with.
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