ROKPA Times March 2017 - For strong girls and women

WOMEN AND WORK: ZIMBABWE
Working for mothers
of children with disabilities
Chitungwiza is located about nine kilometers south of Zimbabwe's capital Harare. Here,
<strong>ROKPA</strong> operates the Relief Day-Care Center, a day-care center for children with
disabilities. Winnie Mtapure is the coordinator of the Relief Center. In an interview with
Jane Soper, a trustee of the <strong>ROKPA</strong> Support Network Zimbabwe, she talks about the
everyday challenges of the children and their mothers.
Jane: What is your personal and
professional background?
Winnie: I am a development worker. I
am 59 years old and have 27 years’
experience working with children with
disabilities and their mothers. I was
trained in Harare Hospital at the
Children’s Rehabilitation Unit.
Jane: What motivates you to work for
the Relief Day-Care Center?
Winnie: I have two children with
disabilities of my own and know the
hardship
of looking after them. My daughter
passed away and my son lives with me.
I see the benefits of the Relief Center for
the families.
Jane: How does the Relief Day-Care
Center work in detail?
Winnie: The Center gives a place where
mothers can safely leave their children
with disabilities while they try to earn
From woman to woman: Winnie Mtapure
(left) supports the women in the Center.
money for the family. It also caters for
young siblings of the children with
disability. Originally the mothers met
with their children under a tree to give
each other support. Now some of the
mothers work at the Center while others
are free to engage in other work. A few
fathers are involved too.
Jane: You do disability-related
counselling to mothers. What are the
biggest challenges for the mothers and
their children?
Winnie: The challenges of women are
diverse. First of all, living conditions are
precarious - often a whole family lives in
a small room. Transportation is a
challenge - even if a child has a proper
wheelchair. The roads are bumpy and
not convenient for wheelchair use or
access. Often there is a lack of suitable
food for children who cannot chew and
it is difficult to get money for medicines.
There is also a lack of competent care,
such as physiotherapy for children
with disabilities.
Jane: What is the family background of
the mothers at the Day-Care Center? Do
they have support from their extended
family? What is their social status?
Winnie: Over 60% of mothers are
divorced or separated. This is mainly
due to the stress of caring for a child
with disability. These children are often
rejected by society. Their mothers are
blamed for their disability and some-
Mothers learn how to provide optimal
care for their children with disabilities.
times thought to be a witch.
Jane: What do you wish for the mothers
and for the Chitungwiza Relief Day-Care
Center in the future?
Winnie: My wish is for the mothers to
be self-sufficient in terms of housing, food
and other living needs. They also need
more support in caring for their children.
<strong>For</strong> the Day-Care Center, I would really
like to have a separate therapy room and
suitable equipment. At the moment there
are only wheelchairs. There is also a lack
of therapy options for the children.
Educating parents in proper child care
and massage therapy would also benefit
the children.
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