Our secret weapon
Today is the last in this series I’ve been sharing on our Outreach Programme, and I want to talk about the most powerful tool in our bag of tricks: a mother’s love.
Even though over 13% of Tanzania’s population has a disability affecting their daily lives, only 35% of this number have accessed public rehabilitation services.
Too often, what gets in the way is stigma.
Shame keeps children hidden at home, and it stifles discourse.
Parents often don’t know what is wrong with their babies, let alone that their condition can be treated – that a healthy, happy future is possible.
It’s why we make mamas our outreach allies.
When our patients are too little to be without their caregiver, their mothers stay with them at Kafika House, often for months at a time while their babies heal.
We use this opportunity to turn them into advocates for children with disabilities, and champions of our cause.
Our Mamas Education Programme furnishes them with business and life skills, and supports their mental health and wellbeing.
When it comes time to leave, each mama goes home with a discharge pack.
It contains a Kafika House t-shirt featuring our outreach phone number, a flipbook illustrating the conditions we treat, and flyers and posters for them to share at their local healthcare centres, schools, and village council offices.
Each child who returns to their community healthy and healed bears a powerful testament to our mission and vision – and the same goes for their empowered mamas.
Each discharge pack costs just $15.
Help us send 200 women home with the tools to transform stigma into hope.
Thank you for making lifetimes of difference.
With love,
Sarah