Education Uganda Project #58452

Empower caregivers of children with cerebral palsy

by Child and Family foundation uganda

Project Report | Jan 22, 2024
Empower Care givers of Children with CP, Q1

By Ruth Nakalembe | Community officer

In the last quarter, CFU continued with the initiative of empowering caregivers of children with cerebral palsy. The main aim of this project is improving the livelihood of the families with children affected by cerebral palsy. This is to be done through training the caregivers different income generating activities and then save to develop their financial stand. This report gives the progress of the project. These caregivers who were trained in the principles and methodology of VSLAs received all the materials such as saving boxes, saving pass books, counter books for record keeping, pens and stamps to enable them save their money safely. These caretakers were taught the advantages of keeping good records of their money, tracking the loans taken by the members as well as opening a group bank account in any favourable commercial bank in Uganda. Upon receiving all the above information, the caretakers agreed to start saving with a common goal of improving their livelihood and providing good social services for their children Activities: • Distribution of saving boxes, pass books, stamps and records counter books to some of the saving groups. • Guiding the group members to open bank accounts and how to monitor it. • Monitoring the new saving groups as they start to save. • Conducted two training sessions on record keeping and managing loans in VSLAs • Provided ongoing support and guidance to the VSLA groups • Conducted two sessions focused on understanding cerebral palsy and its management Achievements and Outcomes: • Groups got materials for running the saving groups such as saving books. • Caregiver saving groups opened Bank accounts as they were encouraged by CFU team. • Groups started saving. • Caregivers demonstrated increased knowledge of financial concepts, savings strategies, and loan management. • Caregivers reported feeling more confident in managing their finances and participating in community-based savings and lending groups. • 80% of caregivers reported an increased understanding of cerebral palsy Lessons learnt • VSLA groups brings about unity and cohesion in the group • Involvement of community leaders like the VHTS, LC 1 chairpersons and the secretary for women is very key and essential • It is better for members to select themselves based on how well they know each other • Weekly meetings encourage members to participate fully and keep interested Conclusion: The training program on the principles and methodology of VSLA has been successful in helping caregivers of children with cerebral palsy to improve their financial well-being. The VSLA groups are still in their early stages, but they have the potential to make a significant impact on the lives of caregivers and children with cerebral palsy.

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Sep 20, 2023
Empowering Women Q1

By Nakalembe Ruth | Livelihood officer

This report provides an overview of what transpired in the last quarter at CFU. The caregiver that are in enrolled in the program were trained in the principles and methodology of VSLAs. The training was done in the VSLA groups that were formed and each VSLA consists of 5 to 10 members. The main training objective was to equip the caregivers with the knowledge of VSLA and how it operates. And also, for the members to understand the importance of being in the group and saving in the group. Formation of their groups and selection of leaders and amendments of the constitution and how they will be operating in their groups.

Training objectives

• Support VSLA to elect their own leaders.

• Support the VSLA groups in the amendments of their constitution.

• Support VSLA groups in the establishment of their meeting days and venue.

• To create unity and oneness among the group members.

The training adopted participatory adult learning approach. This design was deemed best to ensure that caregivers share their experiences with one another about savings in groups. The designed supported participatory learning such as role plays, open plenary sessions and group discussions.

Activities:

Conducted two training sessions on the principles and methodology of VSLA for a total of 40 caregivers of children with cerebral palsy
Established three VSLA groups for caregivers of children with cerebral palsy
Provided ongoing support and guidance to the VSLA groups

Achievements and Outcomes:

All 30 caregivers who participated in the training sessions were able to successfully complete the training and start saving and lending in VSLA groups.
Three VSLA groups were established with a total of 30 members and the established groups were supported in electing their leaders.
Caregivers demonstrated increased knowledge of financial concepts, savings strategies, and loan management.
Caregivers reported feeling more confident in managing their finances and participating in community-based savings and lending groups.

Conclusion:

The training program on the principles and methodology of VSLA has been successful in helping caregivers of children with cerebral palsy to improve their financial well-being. The VSLA groups are still in their early stages, but they have the potential to make a significant impact on the lives of caregivers and children with cerebral palsy.

Caregivers raising hands to vote their leaders

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May 23, 2023
Quarter One Report on Empowering caregivers

By Ruth Nakalembe | Livelihood officer

Community Engagement, Kawewmpe Division

In the last quarter at CFU we were able to carry out 3 community sensitization meetings.

COMMUNITY MOBILISATION MEETINGS

The aim of the meetings was to Increase awareness of and access to rehabilitative services and empower caretakers/families of 300 caregivers of children with cerebral palsy. Both group and consultative meetings were held with concerned stakeholders. These meetings proved to be fruitful in that they brought out new knowledge beneath fears, hopes, and needs that need to be addressed. The method used was the non-directive approach method where the CFU team explained issues surrounding children with cerebral palsy and sought support and action from the community members. Where a one-on-one consultation was held, expert advice was carefully explored through direct questions on the care and management of children with cerebral palsy. Group discussions were very important sources of information. Over 200(caregivers, Village health teams, health workers) attended these meetings

Success

A community mobilization exercise has the advantage that it may be used to achieve various ends. Effective community mobilization can be developed and maintained for successful joint decision-making and joint problem-solving which are necessary for empowering the caregivers of children with cerebral palsy. We successfully carried out a community sensitization where caregivers were able to share some of the challenges and solutions to the challenges they are facing while taking care of children with cerebral palsy like stigma both in the community and their own families, some of them were divorced or separated from their spouses, Most of the caregivers stopped working because they couldn’t work with their children.

Enrollment and assessment

Assessments for 5 children with cerebral palsy were done and these children were enrolled in the CFU project for empowering caregivers with children with cerebral palsy.

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