Text von Annemarie Schlief
The topic of mental health is gaining more and more attention - the "taboo" is gradually being broken. The more openly the topic of "mental health" is discussed, the more explicitly it must also be mentioned that mental problems play a role in people's everyday lives not only in the European latitudes, but also in developing countries. However, such an infrastructure of psychological care is far less developed in Kenya than it is here - of course, how? In Kibera, Kenya's largest slum, there is a lack of running water and easily accessible paths.
With its day and therapy center, Child Destiny improves the lives of 50 children (25 who are cared for in the day center and 25 who come to therapy) and their (single) mothers. Now let's go with one Mental Health Center take the next step. Social exclusion (often also from one's own family), the double burden of caring for the child, earning an income and the risk of poverty are just a few of the many stress factors that reflect the reality of life for children with disabilities and their mothers. In this article you can read about everyday life in Kenya with a child with a disability.
In the course of our club activities we have witnessed a lot of bad fates. In an incredible number of situations, the use of a psychologist would have defused the situation early on and made it at least a little bit more bearable. One of the most defining moments for many mothers, but also for the children in their care, was the death of our founder and visionary Glorine from breast cancer. Especially for many of our (single) mothers she was a great role model and a support. But the death of three of our children and a mother left deep wounds in the Child Destiny family. Due to the weakened immune system as a result of the disability, many of the children are more susceptible to illnesses and infections, which can have serious consequences if treated too late.
Unfortunately, domestic violence and alcohol addiction are commonplace for many of the mothers of children with disabilities. Women often have to enter into dependent relationships in order to be able to financially support life with a child with a disability. From time to time, this results in a slide into alcohol addiction, which further complicates the life of the families. In many cases, the partners also have problems with alcohol and become violent towards the women.
With our Mental Health Center we want to help these families in the form of psychological help and care - but we can only do that with your donation! A small building in the garden of the day and therapy center is currently being converted into an office for a therapist. Counseling and therapy should be offered there, especially for (single) mothers.
With the opening of a psychological counseling and care center, we offer support and assistance in the event of psychological stress and in acute crisis situations. In order to anchor the topic of mental health more firmly in society in Kibera, our therapist should also develop a concept for workshops and training courses at nearby schools. For their implementation, further therapists are required, who are called in on a fee basis.
Update Juli 2023:
Für den Bau des neuen Bürogebäudes unseres Mental Health Centers konnten dank der großzügigen Spenden der Wiener Pfadfindergruppe 31 anlässlich des Sozialtages im Januar bereits zahlreiche Spenden gesammelt werden.
Anfang Juni hat die Wiener Pfadfindergruppe 36 anlässlich ihres 50-jährigen Jubiläums einen Charity Run zu Gunsten der Child Destiny Foundation organisiert und es war ein voller Erfolg! Mit großer Freude waren auch die ganz kleinen Kinder, die Jugendlichen und die Eltern dabei. Gemeinsam wurden unglaubliche 1.800 Runden gelaufen!
Ein herzliches Dankeschön an alle Pfadfinder*innen, Sponsor*innen und die Firmen: RIB SAA und Jakel Grünbau – mit diesen Spenden konnten wir unser Mental Health Center in Kenia nun vollständig realisieren!
Die Umbauarbeiten haben im Juni 2023 begonnen und mit Anfang August wird die Psychologin Pauline Kilonzo ihre Arbeit aufnehmen.
Update Oktober 2023:
Nachdem die Umbauarbeiten mit Anfang August vollständig abgeschlossen wurden, hat die Psychologin Pauline ihre Arbeit aufgenommen. Das letzte Bild in der nachfolgenden Galerie zeigt das fertige Gebäude, wo auf der linken Seite der überdachte Warte- und Gruppenbereich erkennbar ist. Neben dem kleinen Büro befindet sich auf der rechten Seite der Eingang zum Therapieraum, in dem die Einzelgespräche mit der Psychologin stattfinden.
Hier ein paar Eindrücke von den Bauarbeiten:
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