Yesterday afternoon Enable the Children’s Executive Board unanimously approved me as their newest Board member here in Sierra Leone and I have to say it is an honor to work with them.
Enable the Children is a charity set up by Vez, a good friend of mine, in 2007. I have been involved from the sidelines since its inception – basically by supporting my friend in her endeavors and referring patients from the Aberdeen Clinic to ETC for therapy. It is great to be a part of the work more formally and I hope that my advice and input will be valuable to the organization and children they are serving.
Enable the Children reaches out to provide physiotherapy and occupational therapy to children with disabilities in Sierra Leone. ETC is unique in that the rehab therapists meet the children in their own homes and teach the families or carers how to treat their own children using play, developmental positioning and feeding support. By doing this they promote the acceptance of disabled children, who are so often seen as outcasts in their communities. Their on-going visits show their commitment to the children. This has a great impact on the families and communities and in most cases the individual child becomes more accepted and included in life.
“We bring hope into hopeless situations and love into love starved lives.”
Once a year ETC hosts a beach gathering so that all of the beneficiaries can meet up and of course so that all of the children can have a good time. The children laugh and play. Some of them absolutely love the water and spend all of their time splashing around, while others sit on the beach and play with balls and other toys. It’s a good time for the carers as well, as they meet up with others who have children with special needs and can support each other in this. This past April, when Vez and her husband Rob came to visit Sierra Leone, ETC held their annual beach gathering. It was great fun to be a part of it. The children are amazing. We all had an amazing time. I’m thrilled to be able to play a bigger role in ETC.
For more about Enable the Children go to: www.enablethechildren.org
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