Bringingithome in Harare - with Sunshine!

The second course of ‘bringingithome’ ran in Harare on 16^th & 17^th January. 

 

The Sunshine Project (Sunshine-Zimbabwe-Project on Facebook) organised the course.  Sunshine is a division of Silver Linings Trust (written about in a previous blog) - the project offers vocational training and employment for young people and adults with special needs aged 18 years and above.  It was intended that any funds made from the course would go towards funding young people and adults with special needs who otherwise would not be able to access Sunshine’s program – this was how I started my involvement a year ago with Sunshine.  Despite keeping costs to participants for the course minimal, we are happy to announce that the course made over US$1500 to fund young people and adults with special needs to attend the project. Very exciting!  I look forward to a continued association with Sunshine in the future!

 

Sally Allen and Marion Du Preez, chair of Sunshine and administrator supreme, worked exceptionally hard over many months to contact and liaise with teachers, psychologists, doctors, paediatricians, rehab assistants, parents and others from many schools and organisations in Harare and beyond about the course. 

Sally and Marion - getting ready to begin!

 

Around 80 participants attended the course which was held at Hellenic Primary School in Alexandra Park.  Hilary Middleton, the headteacher, generously hosted the course and Sunshine Project volunteers ensured smooth running by serving much needed coffees and teas and lunches.

Hellenic Primary School - the hall

 

 

Discussions in groups

Brainstorming before feeding back

In discussion with course participants, I offered my support for their continued learning and skill development in relation to children with speech, language and communication difficulties. The plan is to provide further training in the future in Zimbabwe.

 

 

In a country where there is very little speech pathology provision, and when it is available charges are high, we discussed the possibility of providing telehealth sessions to meet some of the needs of some of the children with communication difficulties.  It is therefore possible that a speech pathology service will be provided, via Skype, or similar technology (between Australia and Zimbabwe) which would aim to assess and manage children with speech, language and communication difficulties in collaboration with parents and teachers who have attended the introductory training.

 

A quick - very quick - demonstration of PECs

 Bringingithome continues

 

The next instalment of this blog will look at developments that have occurred since the training courses took place, the ideas and possibilities that have been shared and the links and networks that are developing - the potential for the future!  Watch this space!