Linking Arms

The project has been implemented in partnership with local community in the north and in the south of Tajikistan. There are community-based rehabilitation centres, which over the last three years have developed into its current strength, reaching over 100 children and families regularly with services and information in both locations. The activities at CBR (Community Based Rehabilitation) centres are focusing on rehabilitation services and inclusion of children as well as advocacy.

Children with disabilities come to the centre and receive rehabilitation services weekly. Moreover, their families are given legal advice and support to receive their social benefits.

While implementing the project, a strong focus was on building local capacity, especially among a group of mothers, who were first volunteers and later became social workers, who provide services to children and train other mothers. They are very active in promoting rights of children with disabilities as well as providing quality services.

Story: We learn together to improve our lives!

Each quarter staff of three CSOs learn and update their knowledge on providing rehabilitation to children with different disabilities. Nazira is a mother of a child with disability, and a new staff of Manbai Mehr, who participated at the training on Early intervention for children with hearing and visual impairments. The training was conducted by an international expert, who has many years of experience working with children with hearing and visual impairments.

Nazira was bringing her child for rehabilitation services to Manbai for several years. Her child has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy and he also has hearing impairments. Nazira was an active mother, who worked hard for the development of her child and worked closely with the staff in the organization.

She works as a social worker in an organization with children with disabilities. After participation at the training, she is better equipped with knowledge and skills and uses that in her daily work activities with children. The training topics and practice were very helpful and effective to Nazira.

Nazira says: “Since my child has hearing problems, I try to learn something new every day and help my own child and other children with disabilities to improve their health, skills and social communication.  I am very thankful to be a part of this intervention, as I had an opportunity to learn the Sign language, so that I could communicate with my child and understand his world better. I do not want him to feel lonely. After attending at their training on how to work with children with hearing and visual impairments, I understood the importance of using flashcards and started to practice that with my own child. As a mother, I share my knowledge with parents and after participating in the training, I recommend each family regularly do the checkup of the hearing aids of their children”.

Staff and children with disabilities at Rehabilitation center in local community Rudaki district were very excited to receive the new equipment and devices for rehabilitation and physical therapy. Daily around 40 children with disabilities and their families come to the center to attend the group-based or individual services where the children improve in their physical, cognitive, emotional and social development skills based on the goals set in their individual development plans (IDP).

In order to conduct the qualitative rehabilitation services, we provided equipment such as dry pool, walkers, swings, balls, Swedish walls and a massager for physical therapy and improvement of health of children with disabilities.

Using this equipment for therapy and rehabilitation is inclusive and fun, meaning children who suffer from a wide range of physical limitations can benefit from this.

Especially the dry pool is something innovative that the center did not have and practiced before. Playing in such pool, children are amenable to physical activity, which has a beneficial effect on the overall development and health of the child.

Also, during active games in the pool all muscle groups are strengthened, and correct posture is formed. Children can also have positive effect on the psycho-emotional state, feel great pleasure and joy, plunging into the "waves" of the pool and having fun among a variety of different colored balls.

Saida’s story

Saida is an 8-year girl who has Cerebral palsy. She came to rehabilitation center with her mother one year ago. At the beginning Saida had a difficult physical condition and her mother was very eager to help her child. Saida did not miss the therapy and rehabilitation activities conducted at the center as well as her mother was doing exercise with her at home.  Six months later, Saida’s mother could see improvements in her daughter’s physical condition and noticed that her daughter’s cognitive skills became belter.   She appreciates the staff of rehabilitation center to have equipment to provide all types of exercises to help her daughter.  Saida enjoys being in the dry pool and doing exercises with the ball.  Her mother says: “When I bring Saida to your center, I can feel how excited she is. I have a hope for her and try my best to help her to achieve her potential in the future!”

Links:

• Linking ARMS