Alice talks about her amazing experience at our newest healthcare program

Voice from the field,  May 17, 2013 - Alice

As the first volunteer to work on the new healthcare program, I was excited to visit the special needs school to learn how it runs. The school is run by a group of the most dedicated and energetic mothers, three days per week. On top of running the school, they care for their own children with special needs, 24 hours per day and attend a busy schedule of therapy sessions.

During my stay, I was able to be involved in the centre’s equine therapy and music therapy programs as well as private therapy sessions. At the request of the school staff, we created learning materials so the staff can teach road safety and assisted with initiating a clothing drive to raise funds for the school.

I was pleased to find that despite having never learnt Spanish before, I could still manage to interact with the children and staff, most of the time, in other ways. I drew many similarities between therapy modes used at the centre and back home in Australia where I work as an Occupational Therapist. The mother’s explained that they had learnt their skills by attending workshops across the country.

I think it’s very exciting for GVI to be initiating this program to assist these tireless mothers to provide the best opportunities to these children. I look forward to following the GVI blog to see how this program develops!

Alice talks about her amazing experience at our newest healthcare program