Children with Disabilities

Product Details

This is a small, low-budget centre set up by women who want to care for the disabled children in Vallarta. It was opened in 2000 by a group of concerned mothers in a society where there is little understanding and even less provision for children with cerebral palsy and other physically/mentally debilitating illnesses. They currently care for just a small group of children but have a vision to expand and increase to meet the considerable needs facing affected children and families. In January 2004 there were 15 children. The project is designed to help the children by offering them physical therapy, stimulation, care and contact with other children. In many cases these children are normally kept at home without adequate care or attention which results in their limbs and co-ordination becoming underused. The project is also designed to assist the mothers and families of the children by taking care of the children up to 4pm every day and thereby allowing the mothers some relief and the possibility of working. Inevitably the children come from very poor homes in the area. This is a very needy project, but highly rewarding for volunteers prepared to commit to it. It would be ideal for physiotherapists but volunteers without specific skills would also be extremely useful.

Responsibilities / activities

Volunteers choosing this project must have a concern for affected children and be prepared to be very committed to the centre. Although it is painful to see the way these illnesses have affected these young lives it is immensely rewarding to offer them care and attention and see them respond to assistance and love. In some cases children will learn to walk for the first lime and the input of the volunteers will be vital to this process of rehabilitation and new strength for the children. It is an emotionally difficult project in a needy area of town but the hours are relatively light. Volunteers will be needed to work between 9 am and 4:00 p.m. with the children on weekdays only. The centre is based in a section of the town with little evidence of tourism but totally part of the vibrant street life and close-living that is so characteristic of Mexico. Volunteers will be involved in caring for the children in terms of feeding, washing, playing, teaching and generally stimulating them. Suitably qualified volunteers will also be giving them specific therapy and co-ordination exercises.

Accommodation / food / language / time off

Volunteers will either be accommodated with a Mexican family linked in some way to the project, or will share a project house with other Outreach volunteers. Food will be provided by their family, or organised communally in a shared house. The accommodation will be in town. This project offers volunteers very high exposure to Mexicans and Spanish. Volunteers will have the weekend off as well as the late afternoons and will be close to other Outreach volunteers based in Vallarta.

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Our users say...
"I will never forget the day Uriel actually walked two steps unaided, Andrea started giggling when I tickled her toes, or how the strength and colour returned to Pepe allowing him to hold his head up without my support" - Lilli Geisendorfe.

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