Rural Ability
Mission statement
We aim to positively influence the lives of disabled people and give them access to opportunities that the environment and its history has restricted them from. We hope to provide skills and knowledge that allow not only disabled people but the whole population in our area to make health promoting choices that prevent further disability. We work alongside the Zithulele Therapy Departments vision of Rural Rehabilitation and provide accessory services that enhance the lives of disabled people and expand their possibilities in terms of health, occupation and personal freedom. We want to share our knowledge and support other Rural Rehabilitation workers as a strategy of retaining professionals and their skills in rural areas.
Objectives
Relationship between Zithulele Rural rehabilitation dept, and Rural Ability
Zithulele Therapy Department staff are involved in administering and overseeing the activities of Rural Ability, but are not exclusively active in actually doing the work. As much as possible we aim to enable disabled people themselves towards a sense of agency whereby they are able to take ownership of the small projects themselves.
Key activities
We aim to positively influence the lives of disabled people and give them access to opportunities that the environment and its history has restricted them from. We hope to provide skills and knowledge that allow not only disabled people but the whole population in our area to make health promoting choices that prevent further disability. We work alongside the Zithulele Therapy Departments vision of Rural Rehabilitation and provide accessory services that enhance the lives of disabled people and expand their possibilities in terms of health, occupation and personal freedom. We want to share our knowledge and support other Rural Rehabilitation workers as a strategy of retaining professionals and their skills in rural areas.
Objectives
- To support and enhance the work of the Zithulele Rehabilitation department and maximise the rehabilitation potential of clients
- To provide disabled people in the Mqanduli Area with opportunities to experience some of the adjustments to ones home and mobility that would increase their independence.
- To increase practical and business skills at a training centre and provide temporary employment. This could happen alongside a protective employment centre where people with Intellectual Impairments can be taught skills and produce a product that allows them to generate an income.
- To provide a place for disabled people to meet together, support one another, express their needs and formulate plans to meet these needs. Including disabled community members in Action research may be one way of doing this.
- To provide a place that facilitates disabled people inspiring and mentoring other disabled people, as well as through formal peer training.
- Network with other rehabilitation services, and support those in remote and rural places
- Promoting the occupation of rural rehabilitation through awareness raising amongst students and also curriculum involvement at the Universities.
- Promoting wellness in lifestyles and choices.
Relationship between Zithulele Rural rehabilitation dept, and Rural Ability
Zithulele Therapy Department staff are involved in administering and overseeing the activities of Rural Ability, but are not exclusively active in actually doing the work. As much as possible we aim to enable disabled people themselves towards a sense of agency whereby they are able to take ownership of the small projects themselves.
Key activities
- Funding for projects that create opportunities for disabled people to access educational/employment opportunities.
- Supporting the rehabilitation of clients through support of physical resources (wheelchairs, adapted toilet?s etc)
- The building, equipping and maintenance of the Rehab Hut
- Fundraising support for specialized equipment including demonstration models of Rural Wheelchairs and mobility devices.
- Awareness raising events.
- Networking with other providers of assistance to disabled people.
- Supporting the effort to share best practice with other rural district hospitals, in terms of human contact, Web based presence, and financial support of accommodation for visitors to this area.
- Support the Zithulele Rehabilitation Department in terms of connections with other professionals
Current Projects
Background information about Rural Ability
Rural Ability originated out of the Therapy Support Project of the Jabulani Rural Health Foundation (JRHF). It continues to be a project under the umbrella of the JRHF, and to operate closely with the work of the Zithulele Therapy Department.
Rural Ability exists to support disabled people in the area, following the objectives outlined above. Opportunities for projects and partnerships that arise, are channeled through this project of the JRHF. This means that organizations or individuals who are interested in working in alignment with these aims and objectives, are facilitated through Rural Ability.
Achievements
Since the start of the Therapy Department Support Project, people in our area have been assisted in terms of the provision of plastic commode chairs, 14 of these in 2009. These allow people who struggle to get outside to the toilet or the forest, to toilet in privacy and comfort.
We have also been supported by Rumdel Cape in the building of a Rehab Hut, which will enable the rehabilitation work at the hospital to be situated in a more contextual environment, which is especially important for preparing people with new disabilities for returning home. The impact of this facility will affect many people, as it will be used daily, especially for the block therapy weeks which happen monthly for 3-4 people as they learn to adapt their lives to accommodate their new physical restrictions. It will also be a place for group meetings, celebrations, training and workshops.
Linking up with Motivation Africa, a Cape Town based NGO that encourages independence for wheelchair users, we have been part of one Wheelchair users workshop. We were also at that time donated three sports wheelchairs, which have already been used in an inter-hospital event!
Hope Therapy is one branch of our rehabilitation service that encourages people with AIDS or severe TB to become more active doing activities that inspire hope in them. These include pampering women who have seemingly given up hope, or providing occupational activities to stimulate their intellect. Already we have seen a number of patients blooming under this project.
- The building and equipping of the Rehab Hut
- The support of the local fledgling wheelchair basketball team.
Background information about Rural Ability
Rural Ability originated out of the Therapy Support Project of the Jabulani Rural Health Foundation (JRHF). It continues to be a project under the umbrella of the JRHF, and to operate closely with the work of the Zithulele Therapy Department.
Rural Ability exists to support disabled people in the area, following the objectives outlined above. Opportunities for projects and partnerships that arise, are channeled through this project of the JRHF. This means that organizations or individuals who are interested in working in alignment with these aims and objectives, are facilitated through Rural Ability.
Achievements
Since the start of the Therapy Department Support Project, people in our area have been assisted in terms of the provision of plastic commode chairs, 14 of these in 2009. These allow people who struggle to get outside to the toilet or the forest, to toilet in privacy and comfort.
We have also been supported by Rumdel Cape in the building of a Rehab Hut, which will enable the rehabilitation work at the hospital to be situated in a more contextual environment, which is especially important for preparing people with new disabilities for returning home. The impact of this facility will affect many people, as it will be used daily, especially for the block therapy weeks which happen monthly for 3-4 people as they learn to adapt their lives to accommodate their new physical restrictions. It will also be a place for group meetings, celebrations, training and workshops.
Linking up with Motivation Africa, a Cape Town based NGO that encourages independence for wheelchair users, we have been part of one Wheelchair users workshop. We were also at that time donated three sports wheelchairs, which have already been used in an inter-hospital event!
Hope Therapy is one branch of our rehabilitation service that encourages people with AIDS or severe TB to become more active doing activities that inspire hope in them. These include pampering women who have seemingly given up hope, or providing occupational activities to stimulate their intellect. Already we have seen a number of patients blooming under this project.
