I am fortunate enough to have been given the opportunity to volunteer in Mexico this summer with The Seaver Foundation. We are going to continue the incredible work that has been carried out over the last few years on the four following projects: the R.I.S.E. (Refugio Infantil Santa Esperanza), PP (Projecto Pitillal), Summer Sports Camp and Sendero & New Beginnings.

Last week I was informed that my main project has been changed from the R.I.S.E. to Projecto Pitillal.

Projecto Pitillal is a Day Care for children and young people with disabilities. It allows families or carers to go out and work to provide for them. The children have a range of needs, ranging from complete paralysis to high functioning autism. The centre provides nutrition and personal care daily, but are short-staffed and underfunded, so often fall short in consistent daily physio, stimulation therapy and education. Here I will assist with physiotherapy and other daily care, aim to create additional stimulation tasks and run adapted sports sessions. This will no doubt be physically demanding and emotionally challenging.

I will however also be volunteering with the R.I.S.E. whenever I can. The R.I.S.E. is a refuge, housing 46 children 0 -15 years, who do not have safe family homes due to family death, addiction, abandonment or abuse. They rely entirely on charity and our presence will help deal with the summer staff shortages. They average 2 nannies for all of the children (including 15 babies) restricting time for play, education and one-to-one attention. Our time will provide sufficient supervision to get the children out and about, which is a rare occurrence for most, and a new experience for some.

The R.I.S.E vision is to ‘go beyond integral needs such as food and shelter, and to offer a stimulating and enhancing environment.’ I hope my time in Mexico will further help to make this vision a reality.

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