A couple months ago we started a new term of the Early Childhood Intervention Program (ECIP), which a few Peace Corps Volunteers serve at monthly. The program was started by some concerned significant others of St. George's University faculty, one of which was a previous serving Peace Corps Volunteer. They identified a need for a support program for Grenadian children with special needs who haven't yet reached school age. Children with a wide variety of special needs, from down syndrome to autism and all in between.
From 9-11:30am on the third Saturday of the month, we gather at a daycare in Grand Anse and conduct a one-on-one play therapy session with these children. What is so incredible is not only the small steps of progress we see in the children, but the smiles we see on the faces of their parents, who get just a couple hours to themselves while their children are tended to in a healthy environment. For some parents, this is the only break they receive for the month, and we all know working with special needs is a full time job times some.
For the two or so hours we work with these children, we focus on the basic skills needed for children to function successfully, things like fine motor skills, language skills, and gross motor skills. Each child is paired with a volunteer who knows the abilities of the child and the milestones we are trying to reach. Its amazing how much effort, discipline and patience it takes for not only the children to stay focused, but also the volunteers. Small successes is what keeps up coming back every month, and these children truly are incredible.
Katie and Steph working on simple directives with Jumorie and Jayden
Steph working on balance with Jayden
Katie and Jumorie working on balance. See him making eye contact? That's a form of communication for nonverbal children.
Kaleb, who stole my heart. This poor child is young for the program, but its necessary he is there because we are told he sits in a crib all day long at his current day care.
Lendell working on simple directive during snack time.
Leslie-Ann is a sweetheart. I told her to smile, this is what I got...
Christine and Alexei working on fine motor skills during painting.
Errin's music room is one of the childrens favorite.
I apologize for the influx of blog postings today, but I found some time and realized I had a lot to update my followers on, so here it goes!
First, the organization I work for, Grenada National Organization of Women, as well as many other island NGO's came together back in September and organized the World AIDS Day Committee. This is the second year for the committee and we learned valuable lessons from the dysfunction of last year, helping to make this years committee much more proactive and committed.
The WAD committee organized a series of events for the 16 Days of Activism to protest violence against women (Nov.25-Dec.10), as well as events on World AIDS Day (Dec.1st). We have been extremely busy organizing over 7 events for the month and I think we are doing a great job executing so far. Our first event was last week, the first ever Freeze Flash Mob to hit Grenada and man was it a hit!
Check out the video for yourself:
We organized local affiliates and community members to meet at the Esplanade mall on a Friday afternoon at 5pm. Outside the mall is a hot spot for secondary students and college aged kids to mingle and relax on a Friday afternoon, so the crowd was definitely present, and them BAM! people started freezing, and stood there for 7 minutes total. Each person represented a myth related to HIV, whether it was you cant get HIV from mosquitoes, to using protection and even a first aid demonstration. Overall it went phenomenal and I was extremely pleased.
We have two more flash mobs planned for the month, both of which will be dancing flash mobs and I'm excited to see people pull these off as well. Good things happening in Grenada folks!
Happy Thanksgiving to my dear Americans. Sadly, I'm in the office preparing for a two day workshop that begins next week, but I'm thinking of all of you today. I wish I could be home with my family, sharing a meal and remembering past holidays.
The Peace Corps will be celebrating our Thanksgiving tomorrow, as its more convenient with all of our crazy busy schedules. I'm of course in charge of the green bean casserole, because I LOVEEEEEEEE green bean casserole. I shall make one for myself and one for the others. haha.
