Kathy Bowler's July/August Update!
Community Sensitization Training – A COBT First!
For the first time COBT conducted Community Sensitization Training in the 8 rural and peri-urban communities that we work in. There will be three training sessions in each community this year. The first training took place in August and was on HIV/AIDS. The next 2 are booked for early October and will be on disability and the rights of people with disabilities. It gives us the chance to talk about the issues that people with disabilities and their families experience in the communities. We have guest speakers at the sessions, including community activists as well as some of our kids with disabilities that have now grown up and are able to speak about their own experiences.
Rehabilitation Students – Extra Therapy for the Kids!
August through October is a time for Rehabilitation Technician students to come and do their paediatric practicums. First we had 2 young women for 6 weeks and now we have 2 young men. They are enjoying the opportunity to learn a lot about how to help children with disabilities. At Children of Blessing Trust we have lots of children everyday as well as a large variety of types of disabilities so it is an ideal place for them to learn!
Best Wishes and Thank You to Clara! On September 27th we said goodbye to Clara. She has been with us since June 2008 as a Rehabilitation Technician. Her husband moved up north to Mzuzu in February to start a new job in his field. Though we will miss Clara a lot we know it is important for her whole family to be together! So we wish her all the best. None the less the party was a very tearful event as Clara is part of our family and everyone was sad to see her go!
We now have 14 students at the School for the Deaf! We were very excited to get 3 more children into the school for the deaf this year. This brings our total up to14.
Sylvia always has a bright smile on her face. Sylvia attends our Preschool regularly and is also working on learning how to stand and walk on her own. Her twin sister has started attending Primary School already. Sylvia has perceptual motor and fine motor problems that are stopping her from joining her sister. Please pray with us for the funding that is needed to have a fulltime Occupational Therapist at our centre to help kids like Sylvia.
Austin has come along way! When Austin first starting coming to COBT he was only able to sit by himself. His legs were very weak and he was unable to move around by himself. Like Sylvia he attends the Preschool faithfully and through therapy he has learned how to stand and walk by himself using a walking frame. He was given a walking frame to use at home from the funds we received for the Equipment Loan Program through the US Ambassadors Small Grants Fund. Next stop Primary School!
A record graduation class! 12 children graduated from our Preschool this year. To celebrate they went to the Lilongwe Wildlife Centre to see all the African animals there. This was our very first Preschool Field trip and it was a great success! I am sure it will now be an annual event. All 12 of the children are now attending Primary Schools in their home communities