Study Visit

University of Mauritius

Report on Study Visit

Submitted byMiss Satee Ansuya GOOLY

1318043

Diploma/BSc (Hons) Social Work- Part TimeSH410

A Report on Study Visit The Study visit was carried on 05 June 2014 to Social Service Organisations to familiarise the students with the social service institutions in Mauritius.IntroductionThe purpose of the visit was to develop knowledge and skills in the practice of social work methods and to create understanding of theories about human development. Also to produce social work practitioners who are accountable, reflective and function in a self-critical manner, sensitive to cultural diversity and impact of injustice and inequality on individualsThe selected organisations were namely: Le Fondation Georges Charles at Pointe aux Sables. Dr Idrice Goomany Centre at Port Louis

Description of the Institution visitedLe Fondation Georges Charles

Founded in 1976 at Pointe-aux-Sables, Georges Charles Foundation a non-governmental organization (NGO), which operates as a day-care centre, and specialized school for children with intellectual impairment or physically handicapped children and caters for the welfare of mentally retarded persons

The centres objectives is: La rehabilitation, la formation et la reinsertion sociale des enfants, des ados, et des jeunes adultes porteurs dun handicap.Objectives of the centre:1. To teach the child to care for his daily physical needs.2. To teach the child to live with other children.3. To develop the childs capacity to the fullest so that he may more adequately carry on activities in his limited environment.4. To teach the child to play and be happy.5. Enlarge a childs knowledge, experience and imaginative understanding.6. Awareness of moral values and capacity for enjoyment7. Enter the world after formal education is over as an active participant in society and a responsible contributor to it.8. Capable of achieving as much independence as possibleReport of the experience

On 05 July 2014 at 10.30 visiting the Fondation Georges Charles was a good way to learn the effectiveness of the centres practices. It has currently, 92 mentally impaired children and young adults aged 4 to 32 yrs. Mr Jac Falzara the Director warmly welcomed us, accompanied by Ms Nishta and Mr Ved both occupational therapist at the centre, and Mrs Delphine instructor.

Through a guided visit by Ms Nishta helped us discover more about the centre consisting of a pre-primary unit, a fully registered specialized school, a specialized unit for Les Autistes, an art & crafts Academy, a woodcraft workshop, a needle craft workshop (mainly for girls), a book binding workshop. Most of the students were at the Rose-Hill stadium for sports day and the remaining few were busy enjoying in the Zumba class in the yard which hindered our conversation with them.

All the children attending the Georges-Charles Foundation, says the therapist, come from very low-income families, which cannot afford to send them to school. Most of them, however, have attended primary school and know how to read and write. Operating as a day-care centre, the Georges-Charles foundation manages to welcome the children and provide them with various courses and training depending on their interests in subjects like agriculture, farming, sewing and craft.

The centre not only dealt with children with mental impairment but also those suffering from autism. The therapist Ms Nishta explained a bit about autism, which is a mental disorder originating in infancy that is characterized by absorption in self centered subjective mental activity especially when accompanied by marked withdrawal from reality, inability to interact socially and avoided eye contact.It is clearly understood through the visit that the centre is in line with its objectives. Mrs Nadine explained that the centre had no specific cleaner, hence cleaning and maintenance of the centre relied entirely on them. Children were initiated in cleaning of toilets, yards, classrooms under the supervision. But one thing should to be pondered is that besides making the children independent was it necessary that these kids do the cleaning of the centre themselves. This is what made me ponder for very long time. I totally agree that they should be completely independent in self care but the fact that they perform the job of cleaners couldnt be digested by me. If I had someone in the centre would I appreciate that they are indulge personally in cleaning toilets and yard? Instructors believe that children make substantial gains in self-help skills.RecommendationsHowever, being a social worker, our aim is to make the child socially accepted, enable him to be in the home with the rest of the family and get along well. From what I have gathered through the instructors, parents are not fully involved in the centre. The centre is playing the role of baby sitter during the day. The classrooms as per my observation seems a bit too small to accommodate 15 to 20 students as highlighted by the instructor, as these children are not normal and not used in confined areas and they need to have more space.A social workers contribution will be required to ensure that no material aspect of the childs background is overlooked. Parents should be fully involved and enable them to contribute to childs assessment. Family circumstances as a whole must be taken into account for consideration of childs needs, including the investigation of any aspect of a childs performance that is causing concern. From what I have observed and noted, the children considers one day absence as a form of great punishment. That is the less the stay at home the best it is for them. This clearly indicates that there is a problem at home which should be taken care of and which is being disregarded may be due to lack of personnels. Keeping a seriously handicapped child in his own home seriously handicap the freedom, productivity and mental health of the normal health of normal members of the family. Parents should be fully involved in the centre and its activities like PTA meetings, active participation in group discussions as and when required for growth and development of the child, creating a user friendly environment.Each child should have a personal folder containing details of a childs special needs and follow up action taken to meet them. It should be kept in strict confidentiality as it contains relevant information and childs social background or family relationships and medical information. Educating a severely handicap child help to maintain the effectiveness, stability and cohesion of the family unit. As a social worker I believe that it is good that a child with a disability should be able to attend the same school as his brother or sister. Thus creating an opportunity for children in ordinary classes to be aware of children with special needs, which is completely in contradiction to the centre where there are only mentally impaired children. Area health authorities should seek to ensure that all pediatricians and other hospitals consultants send copy letters about these needy children to social workers, as the instructors informed that there are children who are confined in their houses for several years. For example the instructor informed the case of a 19 yr old girl who remained in her only for all those years. The education service should be informed about children with special needs as son as possible. If early educational opportunities are to be provided for them and also the social services department must be informed of its support is to be provided for the family. The education service is clearly well placed to identify signs of special need among children in nursery.Even the teaching staff at the centre must have a follow up with a social worker. From what I gathered, the instructor has been working with the institution since 22 yrs and she is showing signs to be affected with the job. Hence a follow up with a social worker along with a psychologist is a must as working with these children as requires great dedication. The teacher while speaking to us got very emotional and started crying showing signs to be weakened with time. A follow up from time to time or getting involved in workshop or seminars would be very beneficial. The lack of contacts with social workers is particularly striking.

Dr Idrice Goomany CentreThe Dr Idrice Goomany Treatment Centre for Prevention & Treatment of Alcoholism & Drug Addiction is a grass root NGO which came into operation in 1986 to reduce the incidence and prevalence of drug use in Mauritius through prevention, treatment and rehabilitation sessions. Over the years, the institution has helped around 6500 clients and their families in providing medical detoxification and counseling.The outpatient Centre offers a multidisciplinary approach in the treatment of addicts. The services are an outpatient 10-week medical detoxification programme, individual, family and group counseling and follow up activities. It is composed of an out of school youth prevention programme for high risks adolescents (TEEN HOPE). The TEEN HOPE programme has been a real success story due to its multidisciplinary approach based on non-formal education, life skills development and sound and healthy alternatives to drug use and abuse.

It has its mission A drug free Mauritian society and to reduce the incidence and prevalence of substance abuse and HIV/AIDS in Mauritius as its vision.Objectives To provide primary prevention intervention against licit, illicit drugs and sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDS To provide out-patient medical detoxification treatment to heroin addicts and alcoholics To promote the social reintegration of recovering addicts and alcoholics. To provide harm minimization services to out of treatment heroin addicts like needle exchange program

Report of the experience

On 05 July 2014 at 13.30 Upon arrival at the Centre we were welcomed by Mr Samad, animator of the Centre and in the lecture hall, he introduced us by a power point presentation explaining the Centres mission, vision, objectives and services provided to a client such as court mandated cases (as per Dangerous Drug Act), intravenous drug user, ex- detainees, commercial sex workers, youth, people having different sexual orientation.

We had no guided physical visit and we had only an overview of how the Centre operates in day to day activities. We had not a chance of visiting or seeing people undergoing medical treatment, counseling for reintegration in the society and rehabilitation process for unspecified reasons. Only a pamphlet was handed over to each student for ease reference in the lecture hall. We also had brief visit at the Centre library annexed the lecture hall just to get an idea of presence of a documentation unit.

Recommendation

The NGOs need to have more means to fight drugs. Treatment and rehab should be revisited. I would even suggest a coordinating body to supervise all action concerning drug-abuse we need to put into practice all the recommendations of the national drug control master plan. We should not think that drug addiction is merely the lot of the so called minority segment of the population. It is clear that there is much still to be done to ensure that young people get appropriate help for substance misuse problems.

Drug addicts should not be blamed and their addiction is but a symptom of a deeper malaise. One must not think that we are immune from it because of our background or creed. Drug addiction is a complex problem. A complex problem entails a multidisciplinary response with the participation of all the components of society coupled with a strong political will. And harsh punishment should be part and parcel of any approach. Balancing therapeutic work with individuals with investment in community. Aim should be to reach drug abusers who are not in treatment.

Conclusion

As a professional social worker, working in the mentally retarded and drug rehabilitation centre can be especially fulfilling in terms of helping people overcome adversity even though emotionally draining. It demands objectivity, emotional maturity, personal responsibility and most importantly sensitivity to people and their problem gaining maximum benefit from the tour.Page 5