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. TRAVELLERS' TALES: CARE PROJECT, CAPE TOWN - SOUTH AFRICA . |
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Sophie Bufton / Care with Disabled and Special Needs Children in Cape Town - South Africa / British - French |
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“Denver Road? Taxi to Denver Road!”. I break away from the crowd shuffling
out of Claremont station at 7:50am Thursday morning. Squeezing onto the
minibus, I take the 33 South Backpacker muffin out from my pocket and
nibble it as we drive. In this beat-up minibus, seat-belt free, we pass
schools of children play-fighting in the playgrounds and texting on
mobiles. I dismount at my stop and feign ignorance of the cat-calls
coming from the teenage school kids up the road, and walk to Bel Porto
School for Mentally and Physically Impaired Children. Two schools within
a 10 minutes walk of one-another; two very different realities. Arriving at the school I am greeted by a multitude of students I have never seen before in my life. None-the-less they don’t hesitate to come up and hug this stranger, ask how she is, tell her that they love her, and follow this humbled girl to class. At the Nursery, the children spill out onto the play ground as in any school. Callum, on the other hand, is wheeled out. For he has a severe form of spastic cerebral palsy, meaning his limbs constantly swing around, uncontrolled, making the most basic actions like communicating and eating a serious and sometimes impossible challenge. I take him out of his chair, over to the sandpit. I lay him on his belly, across my legs, which allows him to feel the sand with his hands. Noticing that he can direct his hands in certain motions, enough to dig areas of sand away, I collect some different coloured spades and bury them in front of him; “Callum,” I whisper, “can you find me the pink spade?”. His movements calm for a moment. Then he begins to move the sand and uncovers the pink spade. We play this game for the rest of playtime, finishing with a perfect score. It is a place of daily struggle for many children, but the first thing that hits you at Bel Porto (second to the embraces of small children), is a rare thing: innocent loving-kindness. There is a lot of love at Bel Porto. Children here have difficulties ranging from being kinesthetic learners to suffering from crippling cerebral palsy. Yes they may be dependent on the care of others for their whole lives, but this is not to forget that their life is just another way of being a human being. So one thing I can truly say I have taken away from this experience is that there is no ‘normal’ way of live, only a common way of life. The children here have very different abilities, but they all share a desire to please you, propelling them to learn at all levels from literacy to buttering toast. So if Callum can reach out so desperately determined to prove his understanding, there can never be an excuse in my life for not trying, for taking pity on my limitations, and no excuse for not to striving to overcome them. |
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| Siobhan Scarlett / Care work at a School for Special Needs - South Africa / Irish | ||
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 Positive
Experience - Working in Bel Porto school with special needs children. It
was amazing to see how the children really appreciated the one on one
time you were able to give to them as a volunteer. Even though it may
not have been anything substantial you could see that the extra
attention they may not be getting when just in a class really made them
feel good about themselves. During some one on one time with a lovely girl in the junior classes who had speech problems and was confined to a wheelchair, we were playing a small game to help with numbers where she had to pick a block which had a certain amount of holes in it and fit it onto something with the corresponding poles sticking out of it. When she got one right I congratulated her with a simple 'well done' and clapped. Her face immediately brightened and she became so happy she hugged me. It's small moments like this that help you realise what a difference your presence is making even if you feel like what you're doing isn't really helping. Seeing her so ecstatic for such a small congratulations shows just how much they gain from the smallest amount of attention.  |
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| Kimberly Jones / Care work at Vera School for Autistic Learners - South Africa / British | ||
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I
value any experience I get with children with disabilities but being able to
work exclusively with Autistic children is a very valuable experience. I am
learning new methods of dealing with challenging behaviour and different
ways of working with Autistic children to help them as much as possible.
The best
thing about this placement is living
in South Africa. I feel that actually living in a country for more than
a month gives you a proper 'taste' of the culture and lifestyle and
this is an experience that I feel has made me stop and think about my
own values. Living in the Lodge not only allows you to experience
South African Culture (and Observatory is an amazing place to be living) but
also cultures of different countries as you live with people from all
over the world.
I think travelling and volunteering is something most people should consider. The placement that I am on is tough and challenging at times but it is so rewarding and enjoyable. The staff are very friendly and helpful and allow you to take on many responsibilities if you are happy to do so which is obviously very rewarding and allows you to gain more experience.
I
would definitely recommend it especially to someone who has an interest
in working with disabled children or wishes to maybe get into the
psychology side of working with children. People do not need to have
experience with Autistic children although it may seem daunting at first
if you have no experience. However you are given a very good induction
and are shown a video on Autism and the staff are very friendly and
helpful and never make you do anything you are not comfortable in doing Can you describe a typical day? I arrive by car which I share with Ruth who is on placement just around the corner. I start at 8.30 and just help out in the classroom (I have a different classroom each day and help with Eurthmy on a Friday when I finish at 12.15), I sometimes help the teacher just by keeping a general eye on the children, but more often I work one-to-one with a specific child and help them with their written work, manual work such as beading, or other activities. I go to a different class at lunch time to help the younger children with their PECS (which is where the children use pictures to communicate). I have a half hour break at 11 while kids play outside and then help in the classroom, until 2. I am then given a hot lunch and then work until 4pm in the hostel. I am in a different hostel each afternoon. I help the children get changed, play games with them, supervise outside and serve their yoghurt and tea. I leave at 4pm. I also help out with swimming, in the office, horse riding and other activities. I personally cannot think of how I would improve the placement, every single person I have been in contact with through Travellers has been very helpful. Natalia and Eleanor are ALWAYS around if I need them and have been more help than I could have ever asked for. I feel totally supported here. The lodge I have been put in is great and the placement is well thought out - even very detailed information on how to get to the school and the mini-bus run given by Natalia. It made me feel more comfortable which is obviously very important when you start a placement in a foreign country on your own. |
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Zoey Marshall / Care work at a Youth Centre and Street Kids Project- South Africa / British |
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Both
placements I attended were great - a real experience of a life time to
remember for ever! My experience in Kynsna is definitely not one I’m going
to forget in a hurry it will be with me for ever! I met a lot of amazing
people who I will never forget! As my project changed due to schools being
on strike I really didn’t no what to expect when I had the chance to work at
the Street Kids Project and the Youth Care Centre, but I discovered both are
really amazing places! Youth Care Centre My first day was at the Youth Care Centre was working with the 4 babies. My first reaction was that these children have nothing; we need to buy them some toys to bring in tomorrow. After being there an hour or so I realised these children don’t need anything more than they have got here already. They are the most happy children and are very content in their surroundings, they are fed well and clothed and kept warm and have a bed - everything a child needs. Especially after hearing the children’s backgrounds I realised that they are very lucky to be in a place like the Youth Care Centre. The children enjoyed my company and I enjoyed seeing them so happy. I now realise children don’t need lots of toys etc to be happy or to develop. All the children could put their shoes on and off at such a young age. The few toys that they did have they could do a lot with, for example Duplo bricks, they could line them up, stack them, take them apart, push their towers over, share them, work together to build, work with the older children etc. The next day I took some paints in just to see how the children would react they really enjoyed the activity with me but soon went back to wondering around the activity room and playing together or climbing on the bench. This proved to me that these children are happy with what they have and don’t need new toys or anything to make them happy, they are already happy and are occupied with the resources they have - and they can entertain themselves in different ways. Street Kids Project The next project I did was at the Street Kids Project. This was another eye opener for me. Children so young living on the streets taking drugs, smoking, alcoholics, and the same age as me! It’s like a different world even though I am very aware it’s the same in many countries including England. I worked in the crèche with some other volunteers teaching the children the alphabet and days of the week, singing, games and all kinds of fun activities. These made the children so happy and want to come into the centre day after day! I know that during the time that I was there, the children were having fun whilst in crèche, whatever they were getting up to once it was over at the end of the day. All the older youths enjoyed the centre too. I enjoyed talking with them and trying to pick up on some Afrikaans in the afternoons!
Kynsna is a place I will never forget. An unforgettable experience!
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