ROKPA Times November 2018 - With ROKPA to independence

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ZIMBABWE SIMBABWE ROKPA Projects in Chitungwiza, a poor suburb of Harare: young people learn a craft. Gaining independence by learning new skills Since its beginnings in 2000, the ROKPA Support Network in Zimbabwe has focused on supporting the weakest and the neediest: children with disabilities and their parents, orphans and their carers, as well as the chronically ill. They support as many of these people as possible using the self-help approach, for example by offering assistance in their daily life with HIV, or by advising and training them how to build up a small business or how to grow low-cost but nourishing vegetables and spices. One of these projects is the ROKPA Day Care Center in Chitungwiza. Here, around 35 children, some with very severe disabilities, are looked after every day during the week. The children receive treatment relevant to their needs (physiotherapy, activity therapy, speech therapy) as well as medical support, food, toys and equipment for creative activities. A specialist therapist visits the Center at least once a week. Under the direction of a coordinator, the Center is run by the parents of the children. The parents receive a basic introduction to the therapies used, which enables them to continue supporting their children at home. The project ensures that both parents and carers have enough time to earn an income whilst the children can develop skills in a secure environment which will help to make them more independent. The Sewing Project is one of the initiatives being put into practice at the ROKPA Chitungwiza Center to promote the development of entrepreneurial skills. The project aims to achieve at least three things: the participants gain new craft skills, they can earn an income, and they are able to satisfy local demand for clothes and other textile items. In the Sewing Project participants transform old jeans into uniforms and other products that are designed by the participants. ROKPA supports the mostly young people in their work and encourages the continued development of their skills as well as their product range. Children with disabilities receive the personalised care they need. Photos: © ROKPA Support Network Zimbabwe, Lea Wyler 8
SOUTH AFRICA SÜDAFRIKA “Stork bundles” for independent women In a poor district of Cape Town new mothers are provided with “stork bundles”, sandwiches and food vouchers from ROKPA. In this way, the women are able to concentrate on the welfare of their newborn babies rather than having to struggle for each meal. “The baby’s clothes are passed on from family to family” reports Zan, a “Circle of Nourishment” volunteer who distributes food and stork bundles. “In the most extreme cases this will prevent a baby from dying of cold in a draughty tin hut.” The mothers are aware that these packages are a temporary measure which should help them to find ways to improve their own situation. The aim of this project is to help them towards independence. A stork bundle contains disposable nappies and clothes for newborn babies, which the new mothers are very grateful to receive. Carrie, aged 34, is expecting her second child. She suffered domestic violence at the hands of her partner for years and was completely reliant on him. After a particularly bad fight, he left the heavily pregnant Carrie with nothing to live on. She explains that she would often go to bed hungry herself, but always made sure that her five-year-old child was fed by a neighbour. Carrie says that she cannot continue to ask for help from neighbours who are themselves struggling to make ends meet. When we gave Carrie food vouchers she cried tears of joy, saying that she had never expected to receive help in this way. Two weeks later she was given more vouchers which will help her to eat healthily during her pregnancy. Her child will soon be born – and then she’ll receive a stork bundle too. Photos: © Suzanne Louw, Lea Wyler The “Circle of Nourishment” Project In collaboration with a maternity hospital in Cape Town, ROKPA comes into contact with between 250 and 300 destitute mothers and their newborn babies each week. Many of the mothers are very young and have to fend for themselves. Project activities include: • Preparing and distributing nourishing sandwiches and fruit. • Giving new mothers a stork bundle comprising sanitary and hygiene products and a basic kit of clothing for their newborn. • Handing out food vouchers. • Providing moral support for the women, many of whom have to deal with sad and difficult circumstances. 9
Page 1 and 2: No. 3 / November 2018 / Volume 38 W
Page 3 and 4: ROKPA INTERNATIONAL The encounter t
Page 5 and 6: NEPAL Working despite physical impa
Page 7: TIBETAN AREAS OF CHINA TIBETISCHE G
Page 11 and 12: ROKPA TEAM Obituary ROKPA is sad to

ROKPA Times November 2018 - With ROKPA to independence

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