A unique programme gives support to parents and caregivers of people with disabilities.
The Partners for Life Caregiver Support Programme was established prior to 2006 when the Breede Valley Association for Persons with Disabilities partnered with the Kinderfonds Mamas from the Netherlands.
This was to provide much needed psycho-social support services and training to the caregivers of children and youth with disabilities.
This exciting programme, also known as the “Mamas Project”, has two ultimate goals.
Firstly, it aims to provide opportunities to newly identified caregivers of children and youth with disabilities from Worcester, Rawsonville, Touws River and De Doorns for disability specific education, support and skills transfer. “In the process we hope to empower these caregivers to improve their lifestyle, parenting skills, self worth, coping skills, home circumstances and even secure employment.
“By providing emotional and peer support to the caregivers, we aim to enable them to stay focused and motivated and provide optimal care to their children and/or youth with disabilities while avoiding burnout.
“Secondly, we aim to provide caregivers of children and youth with disabilities from Worcester, Rawsonville, De Doorns and Touws River with the opportunity to start functioning more independently from the Partners for Life Programme and enable them to provide support to other parents and caregivers, organise events and/or programmes for persons with disabilities and play an active part in advocating for an inclusive society with accessible services,” BVAPD says.
These groups meet on a monthly basis at predetermined venues in their communities.
The past year was highlighted by various awareness raising puppet shows, directed and presented by the caregivers in November as part of Disability Rights Awareness Month (#DRAM).
Every year is concluded with a prestigious end-of-year celebration where all the mamas get together and share their hopes, dreams and experiences.
Through the years many other projects and programmes were initiated as a result of the Partners for Life Caregiver Support Programme, including but not limited to the CommKidz Project, the BVAPD Developmental Social Service Model, activity groups for youth with disabilities, the Caring and Sharing Special Care Centre in Touws River, The Umnenge Special Care Centre in De Doorns and the Partners for Life Adult Care Centre in Worcester.
With the recent addition of four community development assistants to the social work team, they are excited to see what new, creative and interesting dynamics and opportunities for further development they bring to these Mamas groups.
BVAPD invites all who are interested to contact a social worker at the Breede Valley Association for Persons with Disabilities on 023 347 2002 for more.
